BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator

BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator

The BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator is a high-capacity industrial evaporation system designed for solvent removal, concentration, purification, solvent recycling, and drying applications. Featuring a 20-liter evaporating flask, electronically controlled rotation, a powerful heating bath, and compatibility with multiple condenser and receiving-flask configurations, the R-220 SE provides the performance required for scale-up, pilot production, and small-batch processing. This refurbished BUCHI R-220 SE from American Instrument Exchange offers a cost-effective alternative to new industrial rotary evaporators while delivering the robust construction, process control, and operator-focused safety associated with BUCHI evaporation systems.

BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator Key Features

• BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE industrial rotary evaporator

• Includes full glassware assembly

• 20-liter borosilicate glass evaporating flask

• Recommended maximum sample volume of 10 liters per batch

• Electronically controlled rotation from 5 to 150 rpm

• Heating bath temperature range from ambient to 180°C

• Water- or oil-bath operation on standard configurations

• Electrically operated bath lift

• Integrated vacuum control on equipped systems

• Compatible with multiple condenser assemblies

• Single- or dual-receiver configurations available

• Continuous sample feeding capability

• Stainless steel frame and bath construction

• Soft-start rotation and blocked-rotation protection

• Automatic bath lowering and shutdown during detected faults

• Refurbished and tested by American Instrument Exchange

• 90-day warranty included from American Instrument Exchange

BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator Overview

The BUCHI R-220 SE is engineered for laboratories and production facilities that require more processing capacity than a conventional benchtop rotary evaporator can provide. The rotating 20-liter flask creates a thin film across the interior glass surface, increasing the effective evaporation area while promoting uniform sample mixing and reducing localized overheating. When combined with controlled vacuum, bath heating, and an appropriately sized condenser, the system can efficiently evaporate large solvent volumes at temperatures below their normal atmospheric boiling points.

BUCHI offered the R-220 SE with several glass assemblies for different process requirements, including descending, reflux, cold-trap, secondary-condenser, and reduced-height configurations. Receiving arrangements may include one 10-liter flask or two 10-liter flasks, depending on the installed setup. This flexibility makes the R-220 SE suitable for routine concentration, solvent recovery, reflux processes, foaming products, high-boiling solvents, and other industrial evaporation workflows.

BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator Key Specifications

Energy Efficiency & Operating Costs

The R-220 SE combines vacuum distillation with a rotating thin-film process to increase evaporation efficiency at reduced boiling temperatures. Properly matching the bath temperature, vacuum setpoint, rotation speed, coolant temperature, and condenser capacity can shorten processing time and reduce unnecessary heating and cooling demand. Continuous feed capability may further improve throughput by allowing larger product volumes to be processed without repeatedly stopping the system to refill the evaporating flask.

Operating costs depend on the installed heater, vacuum pump, recirculating chiller, solvent type, process temperature, and condenser configuration. Using a closed-loop recirculating chiller can reduce cooling-water consumption, while an appropriately controlled vacuum pump can reduce electrical demand and solvent emissions compared with operating continuously at maximum capacity.

Specifications compiled from BUCHI manufacturer literature, distributor technical references, and American Instrument Exchange product information. Exact glassware, receiver, voltage, vacuum-control, and condenser configurations should be confirmed for the individual system.

Common Applications

The BUCHI R-220 SE is commonly used for solvent evaporation, sample concentration, botanical and natural-product processing, solvent recycling, pharmaceutical formulation, chemical synthesis, chromatography fraction concentration, extraction workflows, crystallization, reflux reactions, and drying of liquid or powder-containing products. Its 20-liter flask capacity makes it particularly useful for pilot-scale processing and small production batches that exceed the practical capacity of standard laboratory rotary evaporators.

Ideal Laboratory and Production Environments

This industrial rotary evaporator is well suited for pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology companies, chemical processing laboratories, contract research organizations, cannabis and botanical extraction facilities where permitted, food and flavor laboratories, university research centers, pilot plants, process development groups, and industrial research departments. Facilities operating chromatography systems, reactors, vacuum pumps, recirculating chillers, freeze dryers, and analytical instruments frequently incorporate large-scale rotary evaporators into their concentration and solvent-recovery workflows.

Evaporation Performance & Process Control

The R-220 SE provides independent control of bath temperature, rotation speed, and vacuum conditions, allowing users to optimize evaporation for solvents with different boiling points and thermal sensitivities. Rotation spreads the sample across the flask wall to create a thin, continuously renewed film, increasing heat transfer and vapor generation while reducing bumping and stationary overheating.

The available glass configurations allow the system to be adapted for standard distillation, foaming products, reflux processes, high-boiling solvents, low-boiling solvents, or applications requiring reduced emissions. Actual distillation rate depends on solvent properties, flask loading, rotation speed, heater capacity, vacuum level, condenser design, coolant temperature, and the temperature difference between the heating bath and condenser.

Recommended Sample and Solvent Applications

The BUCHI R-220 SE can be used with laboratory and process samples compatible with its borosilicate glassware, seals, tubing, and wetted components. Typical applications involve ethanol, methanol, acetone, water, toluene, acetonitrile, and other solvents used in extraction, synthesis, purification, and formulation workflows.

Solvent compatibility should always be confirmed before operation. Laboratories should select suitable seals, vacuum components, cooling conditions, and exhaust controls based on the chemical properties, flammability, toxicity, and boiling behavior of the materials being processed.

Refurbishment and Testing Process

At American Instrument Exchange, each refurbished industrial rotary evaporator is inspected and evaluated by our technicians prior to shipment. Testing procedures may include verification of rotation and speed control, bath heating, lift operation, vacuum control, temperature sensors, display functions, safety shutdowns, glassware integrity, receiving-flask valves, feed components, seals, and overall system vacuum performance.

Glass components are inspected for chips, cracks, and damage, while mechanical and electrical systems are evaluated for proper operation. Components showing excessive wear are serviced or replaced as needed. Final cleaning and inspection are completed before the system is prepared for shipment.

Shipping and Installation Considerations

The BUCHI R-220 SE is a large industrial system that ships by freight and requires adequate facility access, floor space, electrical service, ventilation, and cooling capacity. Buyers should verify doorway dimensions, ceiling clearance, final operating location, voltage, phase, plug or hardwiring requirements, and the availability of an appropriate vacuum source and cooling-water supply or recirculating chiller.

The unit should be installed on a stable, level surface by personnel familiar with industrial rotary evaporation systems. All glassware, clamps, seals, hoses, feed lines, receiving vessels, and safety shields should be correctly installed before operation. Processing volatile, flammable, corrosive, or hazardous solvents may require additional ventilation, explosion-protection measures, solvent recovery equipment, and facility-specific safety controls.

Related Laboratory Equipment

Laboratories purchasing industrial rotary evaporators often also require vacuum pumps, recirculating chillers, jacketed reactors, freeze dryers, solvent-resistant tubing, cold traps, analytical balances, and chemical fume hoods. American Instrument Exchange offers a broad selection of refurbished laboratory and process equipment to support pharmaceutical development, botanical extraction, chemical synthesis, chromatography, solvent recovery, and pilot-scale production.

BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator Frequently Asked Questions

How much sample can be processed in the 20-liter evaporating flask?

The evaporating flask has a total capacity of 20 liters. BUCHI recommends a maximum sample volume of approximately 10 liters to provide sufficient headspace for rotation, vapor formation, foaming, and safe operation.

What is the rotation-speed range of the R-220 SE?

The R-220 SE provides electronically controlled rotation from 5 to 150 rpm. The appropriate speed depends on flask loading, solvent properties, viscosity, foaming behavior, and the desired evaporation rate.

What temperature can the heating bath reach?

The standard R-220 SE heating bath operates from ambient temperature to 180°C. Water or oil may be used on applicable configurations, although the correct bath fluid should be selected for the intended temperature range.

Does the system include a vacuum pump and chiller?

Included accessories vary between individual systems. Buyers should confirm whether the specific R-220 SE includes a vacuum pump, vacuum controller, recirculating chiller, condenser assembly, receiving flask, continuous-feed components, and other accessories before purchase.

What condenser and receiving-flask configuration is included?

The R-220 SE was manufactured with several glass assemblies and either single- or dual-receiver arrangements. The exact condenser type, receiving-flask capacity, and continuous-feed configuration should be verified from the product photographs and equipment listing.

Can the R-220 SE perform continuous evaporation?

The platform supports continuous sample feeding, and specially configured continuous versions can automate product feeding and receiver draining. The capabilities of a particular refurbished system depend on its installed valves, sensors, glassware, and control components.

What safety features are built into the R-220 SE?

Safety features include soft-start rotation, blocked-rotation detection, separate bath over-temperature monitoring, safety-coated glassware on applicable components, and automatic bath lowering with heater and rotation shutdown when the controller detects specified faults.

What electrical service does the R-220 SE require?

Electrical requirements are configuration dependent. R-220 SE systems were offered in 200 V, 230 V, and 400 V versions at 50–60 Hz. The nameplate voltage, phase, current, and facility connection requirements should be verified before installation.

What warranty is included?

This refurbished BUCHI Rotavapor R-220 SE 20-Liter Rotary Evaporator includes a 90-day warranty from American Instrument Exchange.