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A rotary evaporator, or rotovap, is a laboratory instrument used for efficient, gentle removal of solvents from samples through evaporation under reduced pressure. By rotating the sample flask in a heated water or oil bath while the system is under vacuum, a rotary evaporator dramatically lowers solvent boiling points, enables faster evaporation at temperatures that protect heat-sensitive compounds, and continuously exposes fresh sample surface to the evaporation interface as the flask rotates. The evaporated solvent is then condensed in a separate collection flask for disposal or recovery.
Rotary evaporators are standard equipment across organic chemistry, pharmaceutical research and development, natural products chemistry, food science and flavor development, cannabis extraction and concentration, and environmental analysis. LabRepCo is an authorized Heidolph distributor carrying the full Hei-VAP series of rotary evaporators – manufactured in Germany to the highest standards of precision and durability, and recognized globally as the premium choice for laboratory evaporation applications.
The Heidolph Hei-VAP series covers four models at different feature and automation levels. All four share the same core mechanical quality, evaporation performance, and German manufacturing standards – the differences are in the control interface, automation capabilities, and digital connectivity. Use the comparison below to identify the right model for your application and workflow.
| Feature | Hei-VAP Core | Hei-VAP Expert | Hei-VAP Ultimate | Hei-VAP Ultimate Control |
| Controls | Analog-style dual knobs for rotation and heating | Digital touch display plus quick-access knobs | Touch display with solvent library and timer | Touch display plus direct vacuum control knob |
| Motor Lift Option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Solvent Library | No | No | Yes – facilitates vacuum controller adjustment | Yes – expandable, transferable via USB |
| Automated Distillation | No | No | No | Yes – Dynamic AUTOaccurate (DAA) program |
| Digital Interfaces | No | No | USB, Micro SD, LAN/RS232 (Lab 4.0) | USB, Micro SD, LAN/RS232 (Lab 4.0) |
| Timer Function | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Routine evaporation with straightforward control needs | Labs wanting digital display clarity with hands-on control | Diverse solvent workflows; data recording; regulated environments | High-throughput labs needing full automation and process documentation |
All Hei-VAP models are available in vertical condenser and diagonal condenser configurations. Motor lift models automatically remove the evaporating flask from the heating bath at the end of the process to protect heat-sensitive samples – strongly recommended for unattended operation.
Rotary evaporators are standard equipment in organic chemistry laboratories for removing reaction solvents after synthesis, workup, and column chromatography. The ability to evaporate solvents at reduced temperature under vacuum is essential for concentrating compounds that would degrade at atmospheric boiling points. Common applications include solvent removal after flash chromatography, concentration of reaction mixtures, and solvent exchange.
In pharmaceutical R&D, rotary evaporators are used for concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) solutions, solvent removal during formulation development, and preparation of drug substance for analytical testing. The Hei-VAP Ultimate and Ultimate Control’s digital interfaces and data logging capability support the documentation requirements of regulated pharmaceutical development environments.
Natural products chemists use rotary evaporators to concentrate plant and fungal extracts after liquid-liquid extraction or solid-liquid extraction workflows. The gentle, low-temperature evaporation preserves volatile and thermolabile secondary metabolites that would be destroyed by conventional distillation.
Rotary evaporators are widely used in cannabis processing for ethanol recovery after winterization and extraction. After crude cannabis extract is dissolved in ethanol and winterized (chilled to precipitate waxes and fats), the filtered extract solution is processed through a rotary evaporator to recover the ethanol solvent for reuse and concentrate the crude extract for downstream processing. The Heidolph Hei-VAP series is well-suited to cannabis lab workflows requiring reliable, consistent solvent recovery across multiple daily runs.
Food scientists and flavor chemists use rotary evaporators to prepare concentrated extracts of fruits, herbs, spices, and botanicals – capturing volatile aromatic compounds that would be lost during conventional concentration. Rotary evaporation at reduced pressure and temperature preserves the delicate flavor compounds that define the character of a natural ingredient. Craft distillers and culinary research chefs also use rotovaps for distillate preparation and flavor extraction.
Environmental laboratories use rotary evaporators to concentrate organic contaminants from large-volume water or soil extract samples prior to chromatographic analysis, allowing trace-level quantification of pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, and other environmental contaminants.
A complete rotary evaporator system includes several components beyond the rotovap itself. LabRepCo can advise on complete system configuration for your specific application:
Watch the Heidolph Hei-VAP Expert and Ultimate rotary evaporator overview video on LabRepCo’s videos page for a detailed demonstration of smart features and system configuration options.
A rotary evaporator is used to efficiently remove solvents from samples through gentle evaporation under reduced pressure. Common applications include solvent removal in organic chemistry synthesis, concentration of pharmaceutical compounds, purification of natural product extracts, concentration of food and flavor compounds, cannabis extraction and ethanol recovery, and environmental sample concentration. The combination of rotation, reduced pressure, and controlled heating allows faster evaporation at lower temperatures than atmospheric distillation, protecting heat-sensitive compounds.
Rotary evaporator and rotovap are different names for the same instrument. Rotovap is the colloquial shorthand used in laboratory settings worldwide. Both terms refer to the same device: a rotating flask heated in a water or oil bath under reduced vacuum pressure to evaporate solvents gently and efficiently.
The Hei-VAP Core provides essential rotation and heating control with an analog-style interface – the right choice for straightforward solvent removal without the need for advanced features. The Hei-VAP Expert adds a digital touch display for clearer parameter monitoring. The Hei-VAP Ultimate adds a solvent library, timer, multilingual menu, and Lab 4.0 digital interfaces for data logging. The Hei-VAP Ultimate Control is the most advanced model, adding the Dynamic AUTOaccurate (DAA) fully automated distillation program, direct vacuum control knob, and expanded smart features for process automation and remote monitoring. All four models are available with a manual or motorized flask lift.
Most rotary evaporator applications require a vacuum pump to reduce system pressure, lowering solvent boiling points for gentle evaporation. A diaphragm pump is appropriate for most common laboratory solvents. Applications requiring deeper vacuum below 1 mbar may need a rotary vane pump. A cold trap between the rotovap and vacuum pump is essential to protect the pump from solvent vapor damage. Contact LabRepCo at 800-521-0754 to discuss complete system configuration including vacuum pump and cold trap requirements for your specific solvents and application.
LabRepCo carries Heidolph Hei-VAP rotary evaporators – the full series including Hei-VAP Core, Hei-VAP Expert, Hei-VAP Ultimate, and Hei-VAP Ultimate Control. All Heidolph instruments are manufactured in Germany and available with full manufacturer warranty through LabRepCo as an authorized Heidolph distributor.
For vacuum pump protection and solvent recovery, browse our cold traps. For complete freeze drying and evaporation equipment including rotary evaporators, cold traps, centrifugal vacuum concentrators, and freeze dryers, view our freeze drying and evaporation equipment selection. Contact LabRepCo at 800-521-0754 for complete rotary evaporation system configuration guidance.
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