SP VirTis BenchTop 2K, Operator'S Manual

Page: 31 / 56

Chapter
5
Revision 004, 12/09
21
© SP Industries, Inc. 2009
1.
2.
Basic Operation
Getting Started
Prior to operating your freeze dryer, ensure that your condenser is clean and dry. If
your unit is equipped with a shelf rack with stoppering, check that the stoppering
mechanism is fully retracted before proceeding.
Product Preparation: Flask / Manifold Drying
BenchTop series units include Quickseal valves for processing samples using flasks
or other glassware. To prepare samples for freeze-drying in glassware:
1. Fill flasks with your product.
3
Do not fill more than half of the flask’s total
capacity. When using Wide Mouth Flasks, ensure that the filter paper and O-
ring are positioned correctly within the flask cover. Snap the cover securely
onto the flask.
4
2. Pre-freeze product samples in a laboratory freezer, dry ice bath or shell bath
freezer. Freezing to -40 °C is adequate for most products.
5
Product Preparation: Drum Manifold Shelf Drying
As an alternative to using flasks, you may use an optional drum manifold and shelves
to dry vials of product. To prepare samples for shelf drying:
Fill vials or other suitable containers with product.
3
Do not fill containers to
more than half of their total capacity.
Pre-freeze product samples. This can be accomplished directly on the
shelves, or in a laboratory freezer, dry ice bath or shell bath freezer. Freezing
to -40 °C is adequate for most products.
5
3. If your unit is equipped with the stoppering option and you are processing
product in vials, partially insert a split rubber stopper into each vial.
4. Load samples onto the shelf (or shelves). If you are using product probes,
connect the probes to the thermocouple jacks provided.
3
Refer to Appendix B for a list of standard serum vial capacities.
4
Wide Mouth Flasks are the most popular glassware type, but other types of flasks, vials and ampoules are available. If you are
not certain how to use glassware accessories, contact SP Industries.
5
Dry ice methods can freeze a product to approximately -78 °C, while liquid nitrogen (N
2(liq)
) methods can freeze a product to
approximately -190 °C.