Solvent Evaporation Methods for End-Use Industries

 Evaporation, in the simplest terms, is a process which changes a liquid into a gas. Generally, liquid solutions, when they evaporate, leave behind some solutes. To obtain such solutes, solvent evaporation as a chemical process is commonly used in laboratories and research institutions. Not just in laboratories, solvent evaporation is a fundamental process used in pharmaceutical, biochemical, and material science industries.

Different techniques of solvent evaporation prevalent today

Depending on the type of liquid, the type of solute, and the quantity of solvent, the methodology of solvent evaporation differs. Out of all other techniques, three types have stood out and, over time, have become the most preferred methods of solvent evaporation. First is rotary evaporation; rotary evaporation includes lowering the boiling point of the solvent by increasing its surface area. For that, a rotor is used which rotates the solvent under vacuum. The solvent is then heated, and since the boiling point is brought down, it readily evaporates. Another common method is tube evaporation which involves evaporating liquids using parallel tubes. One major advantage of tube evaporation is that it reduces the chances of solvent bumping drastically. In order to avoid solvent bumping, tube evaporators ensure that the solvent is heated at a lower temperature. Centrifugal evaporation is another method of solvent evaporation which is primarily used when multiple solvents need to be evaporated at low temperatures. Centrifugal evaporation, too, reduces the chance of solvent bumping and cross-contamination.

Growth drivers of the solvent evaporation industry

The growth in the solvent evaporation market can be attributed to technological advancements and an overall expansion in research activities. Growing adoption of solvent evaporation methodologies in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and material science industries might create numerous investment opportunities in the market. Moreover, shifting trend toward high-throughput screening in drug discovery is projected to play a major role in the expansion of the industry. Increasing integration of automation and programmable protocols in solvent evaporation technologies is anticipated to create favorable conditions for the growth of the market.

Apart from this, innovative product launches by leading companies are estimated to increase the footprint of the industry significantly. For instance, in February 2022, Biotage announced the launch of TurboVap® 96 Dual, an advanced well plate evaporator designed specifically for research laboratories. In a similar product launch in April 2021, Porvair Science released its Ultravap Levante nitrogen blowdown evaporator on the market. As per the company’s statement, the evaporator will help Porvair Science to expand its operations globally.

The global solvent evaporation market is segmented on the lines of type and end user. Analysis of the market based on type shows that the rotary evaporators segment is expected to register an absolute revenue growth of $245.91 million in the 2023-2032 period. At the same time, centrifugal evaporators segment might gather $133.03 million during the forecast period. Regional analysis shows that the China solvent evaporation market is set to rise at a healthy CAGR of 7.2% in the analysis timeframe.

Thus, key players in the industry launching their products and technologies will further help the market to reach hitherto unexplored areas.

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