Can be used with any gel dryer and is essentially a two pumps in one package, a patented room temperature vapour trap and vacuum system, combined
Achieving fast, optimum electrophoresis gel drying times, without the problems associated with mechanical pump and dry ice combinations, was the challenge behind the development of a new gel dryer vacuum system.
For example, eliminating the need for messy de-icing or recharging that occurs in refrigerated cold traps or the need for frequent draining and refilling with water jet systems.
The GelMaster, recently introduced by electrophoresis specialists Scie-Plas, can be used with any gel dryer and is essentially a two pumps in one package, a patented room temperature vapour trap and vacuum system, combined within a single, compact, low maintenance unit.
The room temperature vapour trap acts as a pump by condensing the hot vapours from the gel dryer and trapping them from the rest of the vacuum system, while the diaphragm pump acts as the primary vacuum source, deliverying a powerful, non- fluctuating vacuum for fast, smooth drying.
This dual pumping action means the GelMaster unit is as fast as a two-stage vacuum pump (commonly used with dry ice or refrigerated traps), and faster than conventional, stand-alone diaphragm pumps.
The fast operation of the unit, drawing a steady vacuum, helps to eliminate cracks or distortions in gels.
Also, because of its design, potentially harmful vapours are trapped and safely contained within the unit, unlike conventional diaphragm pumps which pass fumes through the pump and into the laboratory air.
This trap also condenses virtually all of the vapour, while in other systems, dry ice or refrigerated cold traps, some vapours bypass the cold surface and continue on to recondense in the pump where they can damage internal components. The trap has a 1.5 litre capacity allowing many gels to be dryed before it needs to be drained.
Draining the vapour trap is as easy as turning the stopcock when the fluid reaches the red zone in the fluid level sight guage.
Finally, the GelMaster trapping medium can be reused over and over again since it does not mix with the condensate, unlike the water jet systems which add considerable volumes of contaminated water to the waste stream over time.
