Maintenance Instructions for MICROVAP Microplate Evaporator

Maintenance Instructions for MICROVAP Microplate Evaporator
Like all laboratory equipment, it’s important to maintain your MICROVAP nitrogen evaporator to ensure it operates properly. By keeping up on regular cleaning and maintenance, your instrument should last you well over a decade.
This video will go over how to maintain your MICROVAP’s stainless steel needles, bath case, air filter, and digital controller.
It’s advised that you wash and dry your stainless steel needles after each use to prevent contamination between sample batches. Test tube MICROVAP models that have removable needles are able to be cleaned by hand, or with common laboratory washers such as an ultrasonic cleaner, or autoclave.
To wash them by hand, first wet a soft cloth or paper towel with acetone, ethanol, or THF.
Wipe the entire exterior surface of the needle until all oils and residues are removed. Set aside and repeat on all needles.
Then, fill a beaker or other container about halfway with a gentle cleaning solution. We will be using Liquinox in this video, but any laboratory-safe detergent will do.
Mount a needle on a 10-20 mL syringe and immerse the tip of the needle in the cleaning solution.
Use the syringe to draw the solution through the needle until the syringe barrel is about half full. Then depress the plunger until all the solution is back in the beaker. Repeat this process about 3 or 4 times, and set the needle aside.
Repeat until all needles have been cleaned.
Discard the used cleaning solution. Rinse the beaker and needles with deionized water. Refill the beaker about half way with deionized water.
Mount a needle on the clean syringe and repeat the same steps as with the solution.
Once the needles are all rinsed, make sure they are completely dry before storing them or installing them back on the unit.
Needles that are bent, clogged, or corroded should be replaced. If you’ve experienced any corrosion, consider using acid resistant needles.
For microplate units that do not have removable needles, the cleaning instructions are a bit different. You will need a clean 96 position deep well plate.
First, fill your deep well plate with a gentle cleaning solution and put it in the MICROVAP.
Then, lower the manifold as much as possible so the needles are sitting in the solution. Depending on where your stop collar is located, you may need to remove it.
Leave needles soaking for about 10 minutes. Lift the manifold up and out of the cleaner.
Remove the plate from the unit, put down a paper towel, and flow nitrogen or compressed air through the manifold to dry the needles thoroughly.
Rinse out the 96 microplate or grab a new one and fill with water.
Put it back in the MICROVAP and once again lower the manifold. Leave needles soaking for another 10 minutes.
Lift up the manifold, remove the microplate, and put down another paper towel. Again, flow nitrogen or compressed air through the manifold to dry the needles.
It’s important to clean any parts of your instrument that come in contact with solvent or solvent vapor on a regular basis to avoid corrosion. The parts to focus on are the bath case and manifold.
Be careful not to clean the blue epoxy surface with any organic solvents like acetone as it can deteriorate over time. Be sure to use a mild cleaning solution with a soft sponge or paper towel. If unsure about your cleaner, try testing it on an inconspicuous area first.
If your evaporator is being used on a daily basis, it is recommended that you replace your air filter once per year. For lower-use applications, your filter can last you upwards of 5 years.
You may need to replace it sooner if it becomes clogged, or if it’s been exposed to oil. The filter has an indicator that turns pink when contaminated with oil. If this happens, your gas source should be checked for contamination to prevent future issues.
And that’s it! That’s everything you need to ensure your MICROVAP lasts you years down the road. For any questions or concerns about maintaining your unit, please contact our team at 978-838-7300 or [e-mail].
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