Heraeus BBD 6220 CO₂ Incubator
The Heraeus BBD 6220 CO₂ Incubator is a large-capacity cell culture incubator designed for laboratories that require precise control of temperature, CO₂, and relative humidity along with advanced contamination protection. With a 220 L (approximately 7.8 cu. ft.) chamber, actively controlled humidification, thermal conductivity CO₂ sensing, copper interior, and an integrated 180°C hot-air sterilization cycle, the BBD 6220 provides a highly controlled environment for routine and demanding cell culture applications.
Available used and refurbished from American Instrument Exchange, this Heraeus BBD 6220 offers substantial culture capacity along with environmental-control capabilities that distinguish it from more conventional CO₂ incubators. Active humidity regulation from 60% to 95% RH allows researchers to establish a defined humidity setpoint rather than relying solely on passive water-pan humidification, while rapid CO₂ recovery and high-temperature chamber sterilization help protect sensitive cultures during long-term operation.
Key Features
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220 L (approximately 7.8 cu. ft.) culture chamber
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Temperature range from approximately ambient +5°C to 50°C
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0–20% CO₂ control range
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Thermal conductivity CO₂ sensor with automatic zero calibration
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Active relative humidity control from 60% to 95% RH
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External water reservoir with thermally decontaminated humidification system
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Copper interior on this American Instrument Exchange unit
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180°C automated hot-air chamber sterilization cycle
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Rapid CO₂ recovery following routine door openings
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Fan-assisted chamber circulation for environmental uniformity
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Independent over-temperature protection
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RS-232 interface for external monitoring and documentation
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Professionally inspected and tested by American Instrument Exchange
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90-day warranty included
Heraeus BBD 6220 CO₂ Incubator Overview
The Heraeus BBD 6220 was designed for cell culture laboratories requiring more environmental control than a conventional temperature- and CO₂-regulated incubator. Its 220-liter chamber provides substantially more usable culture space than typical 150- to 180-liter models, making it well suited for laboratories maintaining multiple cell lines, larger numbers of culture vessels, or several experiments simultaneously.
Temperature is controlled from approximately 5°C above ambient to 50°C in the standard CO₂ configuration. A fan integrated into the rear chamber wall continuously mixes the incubator atmosphere, helping distribute temperature, CO₂, and humidity evenly around cultures positioned throughout the chamber.
CO₂ concentration is adjustable from 0–20% and monitored using a thermal conductivity sensor. The system incorporates automatic zero calibration to help maintain reliable CO₂ measurement during extended operation. Following a 30-second door opening under specified conditions, CO₂ recovery at a typical 5% setpoint occurs in less than two minutes.
One of the most important differences between the BBD 6220 and many conventional CO₂ incubators is its active humidity-control system. Instead of relying exclusively on passive evaporation from an open water pan, the BBD 6220 measures chamber humidity and actively regulates it between approximately 60% and 95% RH. This provides greater control over evaporation and culture conditions when humidity itself is an important experimental parameter.
Common Applications
The Heraeus BBD 6220 is well suited for mammalian cell culture, cancer research, tissue engineering, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, immunology, primary cell research, hybridoma production, vaccine development, reproductive biology, in-vitro fertilization research, and other applications requiring controlled temperature, CO₂, and humidity.
Its large 220 L chamber makes the BBD 6220 particularly useful for laboratories with higher culture volumes or multiple simultaneous projects. Researchers can organize different experiments or cell lines across multiple shelves while maintaining all cultures within the same carefully regulated environment.
Cell culture laboratories frequently use CO₂ incubators alongside biosafety cabinets for aseptic culture handling and laboratory centrifuges for cell harvesting, washing, and sample preparation. Laboratory refrigerators provide convenient storage for media and reagents, while ultra-low temperature freezers support longer-term preservation of cells and other biological materials.
Cell Types & Culture Recommendations
The Heraeus BBD 6220 provides the controlled environment required for a broad range of conventional and advanced cell culture protocols. Its large chamber and actively regulated humidity system can be particularly valuable for laboratories maintaining cultures for extended periods or performing experiments where minimizing media evaporation is important.
Common Cell Types
Typical Culture Vessels
The chamber is supplied with three divided shelves in the standard configuration and can accommodate additional shelving when higher culture density is required. This allows researchers to configure the interior around different vessel heights, quantities, and experimental layouts.
The BBD 6220 platform was also available with optional O₂ control from approximately 3% to 90%, allowing appropriately equipped versions to support hypoxic and hyperoxic culture applications. Because this capability was optional, O₂ control should be confirmed on the individual incubator rather than assumed from the BBD 6220 model number alone.
Environmental Control & Contamination Protection
The BBD 6220's combination of active humidity regulation and high-temperature sterilization is one of the strongest reasons to consider this incubator. These systems address two persistent challenges in cell culture: maintaining consistent environmental conditions and reducing the risk of contamination.
Humidity is actively controlled between approximately 60% and 95% RH using a capacitive humidity sensor and external water reservoir. Water used for humidification is thermally treated before entering the chamber, with the humidification system periodically heating the water to help reduce microbial contamination. Because the water reservoir is located outside the culture chamber, it can be accessed without unnecessarily disturbing cultures.
At approximately 95% RH, humidity recovery following a 30-second door opening occurs in less than nine minutes under specified conditions. Maintaining high humidity helps reduce evaporation from culture media, while the ability to select lower humidity levels gives researchers greater control than conventional passive-humidification systems.
For chamber decontamination, the BBD 6220 incorporates a fully automated 180°C hot-air sterilization cycle. The process exposes the chamber interior, sensors, fittings, and other installed components to high temperature without requiring extensive disassembly. The sterilization phase maintains 180°C for approximately three hours, providing effective control of bacteria, fungi, and spores.
This particular American Instrument Exchange unit also features a copper interior. Copper's inherent antimicrobial properties provide another layer of contamination protection between scheduled cleaning and sterilization procedures.
Environmental recovery is equally impressive for a chamber of this size. Under specified conditions following a 30-second door opening, temperature recovery at 37°C occurs in less than three minutes and CO₂ recovery at a 5% setpoint occurs in less than two minutes. Rapid recovery helps minimize the amount of time cultures spend outside their intended environment when the incubator is accessed repeatedly throughout the workday.
Together, the copper chamber, active humidity control, thermally treated humidification water, 180°C sterilization cycle, and rapid environmental recovery make the Heraeus BBD 6220 particularly well suited for laboratories maintaining valuable or contamination-sensitive cultures.
Heraeus BBD 6220 CO₂ Incubator Specifications
| Specification |
Details |
| Manufacturer |
Heraeus |
| Model |
BBD 6220 |
| Equipment Type |
Humidified CO₂ Cell Culture Incubator |
| Chamber Capacity |
Approximately 220 L (7.8 cu. ft.) |
| Temperature Range |
Ambient +5°C to 50°C, standard CO₂ configuration |
| Temperature Control Deviation |
< ±0.1°C over time |
| Temperature Uniformity |
< ±0.5°C at 37°C |
| Temperature Recovery |
<3 minutes under specified conditions |
| CO₂ Range |
0–20% |
| CO₂ Control Accuracy |
±0.1% |
| CO₂ Sensor |
Thermal conductivity with automatic zero calibration |
| CO₂ Recovery |
<2 minutes under specified conditions |
| Relative Humidity Range |
60–95% RH |
| Humidity Control Accuracy |
±1% RH |
| Humidity Recovery |
<9 minutes at 95% RH under specified conditions |
| Humidification |
Active system with external water reservoir |
| Water Reservoir Capacity |
Approximately 4.7 L |
| Chamber Material |
Copper interior on this AIE unit |
| Sterilization |
Automated 180°C hot-air cycle |
| Standard Shelves |
3 divided shelves |
| Maximum Shelves |
12 |
| Maximum Shelf Load |
10 kg (22 lb.) per shelf |
| Interior Dimensions (W × D × H) |
Approximately 23.9" × 23.0" × 26.3" |
| Exterior Dimensions (W × D × H) |
Approximately 36.2" × 30.5" × 33.7" |
| O₂ Control |
Optional 3–90% on equipped configurations |
| Gas Inlet Pressure |
0.8–1.0 bar |
| Electrical Requirements |
120V or 230V, 50/60 Hz depending on configuration |
| Rated Power Consumption |
Approximately 1.2 kW |
| Approximate Net Weight |
236 lb. (107 kg) |
| Data Interface |
RS-232 |
Specifications may vary according to production date, electrical configuration, O₂-control configuration, and installed options. Confirm voltage, O₂ capability, shelving, accessories, and other specifications for the individual incubator before purchase.
Heraeus BBD 6220 CO₂ Incubator Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Heraeus BBD 6220 different from a conventional CO₂ incubator?
One of the biggest differences is active humidity control. The BBD 6220 measures and regulates relative humidity between approximately 60% and 95% rather than depending solely on passive evaporation from an open water pan. It also incorporates an automated 180°C chamber sterilization cycle and a thermally decontaminated humidification system.
How does the 180°C sterilization cycle work?
The BBD 6220 uses an automated hot-air sterilization process that heats chamber surfaces and installed components to 180°C, with the sterilization phase maintained for approximately three hours. This provides a comprehensive method for controlling bacteria, fungi, and spores without requiring users to remove and separately sterilize numerous chamber components.
How quickly does the BBD 6220 recover after the door is opened?
Under specified test conditions following a 30-second door opening, temperature recovery at 37°C occurs in less than three minutes, while CO₂ recovery at a 5% setpoint occurs in less than two minutes. Humidity recovery at 95% RH occurs in less than nine minutes.
Does the Heraeus BBD 6220 provide oxygen control?
Some BBD 6220 configurations were equipped with 3–90% O₂ control for hypoxic and hyperoxic culture applications. O₂ regulation was optional, however, so laboratories should confirm whether the individual incubator is equipped with this capability before purchase.
What is the advantage of actively controlling humidity in a CO₂ incubator?
Active humidity control allows researchers to establish a defined RH setpoint rather than accepting whatever humidity results from passive evaporation. This can help reduce media evaporation during extended culture and provides greater control for protocols where humidity consistency is particularly important.
Is this Heraeus BBD 6220 refurbished?
Used Heraeus BBD 6220 incubators offered by American Instrument Exchange are inspected, cleaned, and tested prior to shipment. Temperature, CO₂, humidity, controls, alarms, and other installed functions are evaluated as applicable, and refurbished equipment includes a 90-day warranty.
