Surge Scientific · Model RV131 · Rotary Evaporator — Manual Lift
Rotary Evaporator
RV131 · 5 L Heating Bath · Manual Lift
20–320 RPM Brushless DC · 5L Water/Oil Bath to 180°C · 1500 cm² Condenser · PID + Dry-Burn Protection · 180 mm Lift Travel
A rotary evaporator is the instrument that decides how clean your solvent recovery is — and the RV131 is built around the details that matter: a 1500 cm² double-layer vertical condenser for high recovery rates, a brushless DC motor at 20–320 RPM for gentle evaporation, a 5L water/oil bath to 180°C for viscous solvents, and a graphite-filled PTFE seal that takes corrosive vapors and hot cycles without service for years. Manual lift for precise glassware positioning — chosen deliberately by labs that want mechanical simplicity over motorized convenience.
Why Every Rotovap Spec Matters
A rotary evaporator can look almost identical to another on a product photo and deliver completely different recovery rates in the lab. The differences hide in the details: a low-surface-area condenser loses vapor to the vacuum pump; a brushed motor drifts off setpoint over time; a cheap seal leaks under vacuum and turns a 4-hour distillation into a 12-hour one; a water-only bath caps you at solvents below 100°C and rules out anything with a higher boiling point.
The RV131 is spec'd against every one of those failure modes. The 1500 cm² double-layer vertical condenser maximizes vapor capture — more cooling surface, more recovery, less loss to the pump. The brushless DC motor holds a precise RPM setpoint for life. The high-elastic graphite-filled PTFE seal with compression spring keeps vacuum integrity through thermal cycling and corrosive vapors. The 5L water/oil heating bath to 180°C handles high-boiling-point solvents that a water-only bath can't touch.
1500 cm² Condenser
Double-layer vertical condenser with 1500 cm² cooling surface — maximum vapor capture, high recovery rates, minimum loss to the vacuum pump.
Brushless DC · 20–320 RPM
Brushless DC motor drives the flask from 20 to 320 RPM with precise setpoint hold. Gentle enough for delicate samples, fast enough for aggressive distillation.
5 L Bath · 180°C
5-liter water/oil heating bath reaches 180°C (oil) with PID control. Handles high-boiling-point solvents that water-only baths cap out on.
Multi-Layer Safety
Dry-burning protection, overheat cutoff, and automatic power-off keep the unit safe during long unattended distillations and protect the heating element if the bath goes empty.
"1500 cm² of cooling. 180°C of heating. Graphite-PTFE seal. Brushless drive. Built to recover." — The RV131 is designed around the specs that decide how much solvent you actually recover — not the specs that look good on a product page.
Key Features
- 5 L water/oil heating bath
- Heating range RT to 180°C (oil)
- PID temperature controller
- Double-layer vertical condenser
- 1500 cm² cooling surface area
- Brushless DC motor
- Rotation speed 20–320 RPM
- Clockwise / counterclockwise cycle modes
- Large LED display — speed, temp, time
- Touch keys + adjustable knob control
- Knob fast/slow adjustment mode
- Mistouch prevention lock
- Manual lift mechanism
- 180 mm lift travel range
- 0–360° tilt angle
- Left- or right-side flask positioning
- Flask ejection mechanism
- High-elastic graphite-filled PTFE seal
- Compression spring sealing
- Corrosion + abrasion resistant seal
- Dry-burning protection
- Overheat protection
- Automatic power-off function
- Programmable operation time
- Cycle times programmable
- Easy disassembly and cleaning
Ideal Applications
Solvent Recovery
Routine distillation, solvent stripping, concentration, and extract recovery — across organic chemistry, analytical prep, and research workflows.
Pharma & Biotech
API purification, formulation development, natural product extraction, and pharmaceutical concentration work that demands clean, gentle solvent removal.
R&D and QA
Wide applications in chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology industries, R&D labs, and quality assurance — from bench prep through method development.
What's in the Box
The RV131 ships as a complete evaporator assembly ready for bench setup. Pair with a diaphragm vacuum pump and chiller for a complete solvent recovery station.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model / SKU | RV131 |
| Lift Type | Manual |
| Lift Travel | Up to 180 mm |
| Tilt Angle | 0–360° (left or right side positioning) |
| Heating Bath Volume | 5 L |
| Bath Medium | Water or oil |
| Heating Range | RT to 180°C (oil) |
| Temperature Controller | PID |
| Condenser | Double-layer vertical — 1500 cm² cooling surface |
| Motor Type | Brushless DC |
| Rotation Speed Range | 20–320 RPM |
| Rotation Modes | Clockwise · Counterclockwise · Cycle |
| Display | Large LED — speed, temp, time, cycles |
| Control | Touch keys + adjustable knob (fast/slow) |
| Safety Lock | Mistouch prevention |
| Seal | High-elastic graphite-filled PTFE with compression spring |
| Flask Removal | Ejection mechanism |
| Safety Features | Dry-burn protection · Overheat cutoff · Auto power-off |
| Applications | Chemical, pharma, biotech, R&D, QA |
Surge Scientific Warranty & Support
This instrument is sold through Surge Scientific, your trusted laboratory equipment partner. Our product specialists are available Monday–Friday for assistance. The RV131 is backed by a 2-year all-inclusive manufacturer's warranty. Contact us at info@surgescientific.com or reach out directly to our support team at 855.943.3344 for pre-sales questions, glassware selection, pump/chiller pairing, and technical assistance.