Lyovapor™ L-250 / L-250 Pro

Technical specifications

• Lowest condenser temperature: −85 °C
• Condensing capacity: up to 4 kg/24 h, with a total condenser capacity of up to 5 kg
• Solvent compatibility: collection of water- and organic-solvent-based samples
• Drying configurations: manifold racks with 12 or 24 connections, non-heatable or heatable shelves, stoppering options and Frontloader configurations
• Process control: pressure-based endpoint determination on Basic configurations; pressure- and temperature-based endpoint determination, method programming and shelf heating up to 60 ±1 °C on Pro configurations

Model comparison overview

Lyovapor™ L-250 Basic

• Manifold racks or non-heatable shelves
• No vacuum control or advanced vacuum control
• Pressure-based endpoint determination
• Optional stoppering

Lyovapor™ L-250 Basic Defrosting

• Same drying and vacuum-control options as the Basic configuration
• Hot-gas defrosting for manifold drying chambers

Lyovapor™ L-250 Pro

• Advanced vacuum control
• Heatable shelves with a maximum set temperature of 60 °C
• Pressure- and temperature-based endpoint determination
• Method programming and optional sample temperature sensor
• Optional stoppering

Lyovapor™ L-250 Pro Defrosting

• Same process-control and shelf-heating functions as the Pro configuration
• Hot-gas defrosting

The Lyovapor™ L-250 is a modular laboratory freeze dryer designed to remove frozen water or organic solvents from temperature-sensitive samples under vacuum. Its EcoStream™ refrigeration system reaches a condenser temperature of −85 °C and uses natural refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) of 4. The condenser can collect up to 5 kg of ice and provides a condensing capacity of up to 4 kg within 24 hours.

The instrument can be configured for flask, vial, tray, bulk-sample and multiwell-plate workflows. Drying attachments range from manifold racks and top-mounted chambers to the front-opening Frontloader. Basic and Pro configurations provide different levels of temperature control, process automation and endpoint determination, allowing the system to be adapted to routine drying or processes that require controlled shelf heating and programmable methods.

Condenser and vacuum performance

The condenser operates at temperatures down to −85 °C with a specified temperature divergence of ±1.0 °C. Its low operating temperature enables the collection of water and organic solvents. The total condenser capacity is up to 5 kg, with a maximum condensing capacity of 4 kg/24 h.

The instrument has a minimum system vacuum of 0.03 mbar and a controlled vacuum range from 0.1 to 1 mbar. It typically reaches 0.1 mbar within 10 minutes when used with a suitable vacuum configuration. The Basic version can be configured without vacuum control or with advanced vacuum control, while Pro configurations use advanced vacuum control.

EcoStream™ technology uses the natural refrigerants R290, R600 and R1150. Their combined GWP value of 4 reduces the climate impact associated with the refrigeration circuit. The compressor is designed to reduce electrical energy consumption, heat output and noise emissions in the laboratory. The sustainability of the L-250 Basic and L-250 Pro configurations is documented by ACT labels for the EU, UK and USA.

Basic and Pro process control

Basic configurations are intended for drying in flasks, on non-heatable shelves and in trays. Pressure-based endpoint determination helps identify completion of the drying process without relying solely on a fixed run time. The configuration can be selected with ultimate vacuum without control or with advanced vacuum control.

Pro configurations add programmable methods, advanced vacuum control and heatable shelves with a setting of up to 60 °C and a tolerance of ±1.0 °C. Optional sample temperature sensors and pressure- and temperature-difference tests provide additional process information for determining the endpoints of primary and secondary drying. A sample protective state can activate when the measured sample temperature exceeds the defined collapse temperature.

Infinite-Control™ displays key process parameters graphically in real time, including drying-chamber pressure, sample temperature and shelf temperature where the relevant sensors and heatable shelves are installed. For Pro configurations, the optional Lyovapor™ software supports method creation, remote process monitoring, data analysis and customised reports.

Drying chambers and sample formats

Manifold racks with 12 or 24 connections allow individual flasks, Falcon tubes, ampoules and compatible vessels to be connected directly. Top-mounted acrylic chambers can be equipped with four or six shelves, with heatable and non-heatable versions available. Depending on the selected chamber, configurations can also include a manifold top cover or a stoppering cover for closing vials under vacuum.

This modular arrangement supports different container formats without changing the base instrument. It also allows a Lyovapor™ L-250 Basic to be upgraded to a Pro configuration if later workflows require shelf heating, method programming or extended endpoint determination. The instrument can be installed on a laboratory bench, the optional trolley or in a suitable fume hood.

Frontloader for large sample batches

The Frontloader is a steel drying chamber with a front-opening PMMA door and large square shelves. Front access facilitates loading and unloading of high sample volumes, Petri dishes, trays, 96-well plates, Deepwell plates and blister packs. With an instrument height of 1.45 m in a trolley-based setup, samples are easy to reach, making loading and unloading comfortable and ergonomic.

Two Frontloader configurations are available:

• Heatable Frontloader: 4 to 6 heatable shelves for use with Lyovapor™ L-250 Pro configurations
• Non-heatable Frontloader: 4 to 12 non-heatable shelves for Basic or Pro configurations

The Frontloader extends the L-250 from top-loaded flask and shelf arrangements to batch workflows that require a larger shelf area or easier handling of wide sample carriers.

Defrosting and safe handling

Hot-gas defrosting is available in the Defrosting configurations and accelerates melting of the ice accumulated on the condenser after a run.

Model selection guide

Choose Lyovapor™ L-250 Basic for routine freeze-drying in flasks, trays or on non-heatable shelves when shelf-temperature control and programmable drying methods are not required. The version without vacuum control is intended for operation at the system’s ultimate vacuum; advanced vacuum control is available when the workflow requires regulated chamber pressure.

Choose Lyovapor™ L-250 Pro when the process requires heat input through controlled shelves, programmable methods, sample-temperature monitoring or combined pressure- and temperature-based endpoint determination. Pro is also the required configuration for a Frontloader with heatable shelves.

Choose a Defrosting configuration when hot-gas defrosting is needed to shorten post-process melting of ice on the condenser. For high sample volumes, broad carriers or Deepwell plates, select the Frontloader with the shelf type and number appropriate to the required temperature control and batch capacity.

The −85 °C condenser makes the L-250 the appropriate Lyovapor™ option in the supplied product range when the process involves organic solvents or solvent mixtures that require a lower condenser temperature than the L-210 provides.

Applications

• Drying and stabilisation of biologically active materials, including peptides, proteins, bacteria, viruses, hormones, enzymes, antibodies and serum
• Pharmaceutical research, formulation and quality-control workflows, including drying in final containers
• Gentle drying of organic and inorganic substances for chemical research and quality control
• Preparation and stabilisation of environmental and pathological samples for analysis or storage
• Drying of foods, beverages, dairy products and natural extracts while preserving temperature-sensitive constituents
• Drying of small quantities in microtitre plates and small flasks, bulk samples in trays and larger batches in 96-well or Deepwell plates

Optional technical data

• Dimensions without drying attachment (W × D × H): 503 × 645 × 510 mm
• Weight: 65.6 kg for Basic; 67.4 kg for Pro
• Minimum clearance: 300 mm on all sides
• Power supply: 200 to 240 VAC ±10%, 50/60 Hz
• Rated power consumption: 1 300 VA for Basic; 1 800 VA for Pro
• Protection rating: IP20
• Noise emission without vacuum pump: < 60 dB(A)
• Operating conditions: indoor use at 5 to 30 °C, up to 2 000 m above sea level and a maximum relative humidity of 80% at temperatures up to 30 °C