Labconco FreeZone Benchtop Freezer User Manual
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Product Service: Domestic 1-800-522-7658, International 816-333-8811
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Congratulations on your purchase of a Labconco FreeZone®
Benchtop Shell Freezer, which is designed to prepare samples for
laboratory lyophilization procedures. The unit is easy to install
and maintain. Proper care and maintenance of this product will
result in many years of dependable service.
Freeze Dry Process
Freeze drying is an important process in sample preparation and
for the preservation and storage of biologicals, pharmaceuticals
and foods. Of the various methods of dehydration, freeze drying
(lyophilization) is especially suited for substances that are heat
sensitive. Other than food processing (e.g., coffee, whole dinners),
freeze drying has been extensively used in the development of
pharmaceuticals (e.g., antibiotics) and preservation of biologicals
(e.g., proteins, plasma, viruses and cell lines). The nondestructive
nature of this process has been demonstrated by the retention of
viability in freeze dried viruses and microorganisms.
Freeze drying is a process whereby water or other solvent is
removed from frozen material by converting the frozen water
directly into vapor without the intermediate formation of liquid
water. The basis for this sublimation process involves the
absorption of heat by the frozen sample in order to vaporize the
ice; the use of a vacuum pump to enhance the removal of water
vapor from the surface of the sample; the transfer of water vapor to
a collector; and the removal of heat by the collector in order to
condense the water vapor. In essence, the freeze dry process is a
balance between the heat absorbed by the sample to vaporize the
ice and the heat removed from the collector to convert the water
vapor into ice.