Chapter 1: Introduction
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essential to maintain an efficient rate. In many applications, the maintenance of a
vacuum of 0.133 mbar or less is recommended.
The rate of freeze drying is directly proportional to the vapor pressure and the
vapor pressure is dependent upon both eutectic temperature and solute
concentration of the sample. For example, a solution of sodium chloride and
water would freeze dry at a slower rate than pure water. The eutectic temperature
of a sodium chloride solution is about –21°C and at this temperature the vapor
pressure is about 1/16 that of water at 0°C. Although the eutectic temperature is
not dependent upon the concentration of sodium chloride, the vapor pressure of
the water would decrease as the concentration of sodium chloride increased. This
is due to the fact that as the solute concentration increases, less of the surface area
of the frozen sample is occupied by water. In general, most solutions or
biological samples will have a eutectic temperature of –10 to –25°C. However, if
the sample contains a simple sugar such as glucose or if the sample is animal or
plant tissue, the eutectic temperature may be as low as –30° to –50°C.
Freeze Dry Capacity
The volume of a sample that can be freeze dried at one time is related to factors
discussed previously and the size and design of the freeze dry system. With any
given instrument, the capacity is based on the surface area of the sample; the
eutectic temperature and concentration of the sample; and the rate and amount of
heat transferred to the frozen sample. Of these factors, the eutectic temperature is
the most important factor in determining the amount of sample that can be freeze
dried at one time, particularly when flasks are used. This is because as the
eutectic temperature decreases, the vapor pressure decreases but the rate of heat
absorption by the sample does not change. This tends to promote melting of the
sample, which leads to a marked increase in vapor pressure and ultimately
overloads the collector and vacuum pump. Samples that have eutectic
temperatures of –20°C or lower should be placed on the freeze dry system one
flask at a time so that the vacuum in the system may recover before adding
another sample to the system. If the vacuum does not recover, the capacity of the
freeze dry system has been exceeded and the sample should be removed.
If there is a problem with a particular type of sample melting when placed on the
freeze dry system, dilution of the sample with more water or providing some
insulation around the flask to decrease the rate of heat absorption by the sample
may help. If the eutectic temperature of the sample is –40 to –60°C, the freeze
dry system selected for use must be equipped with cascade type refrigeration so
that the collector temperature can be cooled to below –75°C, or a dry ice/solvent
trap may be used between the collector and the vacuum pump.
