Lyophilization is a method of preservation that serves many different types of herbs, fruits, and pharmaceuticals. Freeze-drying has been used to preserve perishable goods for a long time, and it often provides the most benefits compared to other drying procedures. It has replaced canning as the go-to technique for food preservation for many items. However, pharmaceutical goods like medicines and vaccines can also be preserved by lyophilization. A very high level of suction is essential for this procedure. Sublimation creates freeze-dried products instead of the more common vacuum-drying method. That means the drying process is very gentle on the product.
The process of freeze-drying is widely employed in the manufacturing of both food and medicine. It's no surprise that many products in this category are vulnerable to changes in humidity or temperature. Soluble coffee, also known as "instant coffee," is by far the most well-known type. Lyophilization is a process that turns coffee extract into a powder that can be easily reconstituted with boiling water. After being sealed in its package, the powder remains stable at room temperature for years.
Common Uses of Freeze-Drying Technology
When fruit is freeze-dried, its color and flavor are not lost. Long-lasting mushroom slices, for instance, are no slouch when it comes to topping pizzas. Another significant advantage is the long shelf life of spices and herbs. The essential oils that contribute to the flavor of the herbs are also stored so that they can be used later.
Lyophilization has benefits in pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology, particularly for vaccines, antibiotics, and microbes sensitive to temperature changes. After processing in vials or syringes, the preparations dissolve instantly.
The Crucial Role of a Vacuum Pump in the Freeze-Drying Process
Reduced pressure below the triple point of the solvent (water, for example) is necessary for the freeze-drying process to work. When the drying chamber is emptied, it also loses oxygen and other necessary air components. Working pressures of 3.75 x 10E-1 torr to 826 torr are typical for the primary drying process, with subsequent drying and chamber conditioning able to boost that to 827 torr. Strong vacuum pumps that reliably and securely produce the required ultimate pressure are needed to create such a vacuum. Suitable vacuum pumps must have a fast pumping speed and low ultimate pressure to meet pump downtime. Because the pumps will most likely be used in factories, they must be long-lasting and low-maintenance.
Pumping time to a specific pressure (for example, 7.5 x 10E-2 torr) is typically the deciding factor when designing a freeze drier. Everyone who uses this service eventually wants to know how long it will take. Since the maximum pumping speed is merely an indicator at one pressure setting, the nominal pumping speed of the vacuum pump is only a guide. A-VAC offers assistance to customers during the planning and sizing phases of vacuum system development. To provide a pump that works properly with the system, it is necessary to consider the vacuum pump's characteristic curve in addition to losses from piping and leaks. We offer a wide variety of products, including vacuum pumps used for evacuation, pressure gauges and calibration pumping stations, mass spectrometers used for gas analysis in process monitoring, and leak detectors used to locate the source of the problem.
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A-VAC knows the right vacuum pump for your application, whether it be an Alcatel- Adixen/ Pfeiffer, Across International, Anest Iwata, Busch, Edwards, Leybold, Welch, and more. Contact us today!