Freeze-drying chambers, accessories, and replacement items for lyophilizing samples of varying sizes; includes both compact and large-scale chambers, lids, manifolds, shelves, flask adapters, and other accessories.

Freeze drying or lyophilization differs from evaporation, which typically uses heat to eliminate moisture from a material. Freeze drying typically produces a high-quality product that maintains its original shape and can be successfully rehydrated. Commonly freeze-dried materials include:

• Bacteria, yeast, and probiotic products
• Clotting factors and other biomedical products
• Food processing and preservation

Pharmaceutical companies may use freeze dryers to increase the shelf life of vaccines, biologics, and other injectable medication. Products that are freeze dried are easier to store, ship, and reconstitute. Some tablets and wafers are produced by freeze drying to make them easier to absorb. Some therapeutic proteins and antibodies must be lyophilized for stability. It is also used for raw materials used in drug manufacturing.

Chemical products may also be freeze dried for stability and to make rehydration easier. Freeze drying can also be used to purify a substance by effectively removing solvent or to concentrate substances with low molecular weights.

Freeze drying is fairly expensive due to equipment costs and to long processing times and related energy costs. Lyophilizers are sold by temperature range and capacity. Some freeze dryers also have more than one condenser to allow for almost continuous use.

For aqueous samples, a freeze dryer that reaches -50°C is adequate. Samples in acetonitrile, methanol or other chemicals may require lower temperatures of -84°C or -102°C. Collector capacities can range from 2.5 to 18 liters, and the units have a variety of shelving, glass flasks, and other sample holders.