Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!bionet!lars.afrc.ac.uk!PHILLIPSA
From: PHILLIPSA@lars.afrc.ac.uk
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts
Subject: Vacuum pumps for gel drying
Message-ID: <9105291140.AA01516@genbank.bio.net>
Date: 29 May 91 12:36:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@genbank.bio.net
Lines: 21

I've never been in a laboratory which has a wholly satisfactory
system for drying polyacrylamide and agarose gels. The BioRad gel
dryers are fine, it's the vacuum pumps which present the problem.
Most labs I've been in use in-line vapour traps to remove the corrosive
solvents, but these don't seem to be very efficient and the vacuum pump
has a limited life even with frequent oil changes. Our present system
uses an Aquavac, which (as I understand it) is a water vacuum pump driven
by high-pressure water. This is OK, but doesn't give the greatest vacuum
and ours needs replacing anyway.
To get to the point, I've come across literature for a pump made by
Genevac, which uses a Cole pump system. This seems ideal (although not
cheap), as it has few moving parts and is highly corrosion-resistant.
Has anyone experience of this type of pump with corrosive vapours?
Can someone recommend a better system?

Thanks for your help

Andy Phillips
Long Ashton Research Station, Bristol, UK
JANET: PHILLIPS@UK.AC.AFRC.LARS
EARN/BITNET: PHILLIPSA@LARS.AFRC.AC.UK