Can a utility vacuum pump be used as the vacuum for solvent distillation as well?
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Adding that process requires a vacuum pump, and we already don’t have one; there’s no space to add another
This might be highly inappropriate. For solvent distillation, a genuine pump is preferred, ideally an oil-free vacuum pump or a vacuum pump with good isolation measures. Because the distilled solvent enters the cylinder of the vacuum pump oil through the vacuum line, it has an irreversible effect.
In theory, a utility vacuum pump can be used to provide the vacuum for solvent distillation, but practical issues may arise in actual operation. Firstly, in practical applications, strictly speaking, a vacuum pump cannot ensure that the vacuum requirements of two different processes are met simultaneously. Secondly, if the chemical reaction properties of the two processes differ significantly, it may pose safety risks to the equipment. It is recommended to consider adding vacuum pump equipment or redesigning and optimizing the process flow, so that different processes can use the same vacuum pump at different times. .
Sharing is not recommended. I have encountered opposite examples where the evaporator and flash vessel are separated; this results in a more stable vacuum level and easier adjustment, especially since it is possible to set separate upper limits for the vacuum levels. If there is truly no space available, and the vacuum level requirements are not high along with the presence of a circulating water system, then considering the use of a bench-top atomizing injector for vacuum creation could be an option. (The failure rate is much lower than that of vacuum pumps)
By pumping out the solvent while also pumping out air, isn’t there a risk of them mixing together and causing an explosion?