Universities Use Lab Ovens for Hands-on Learning

Laboratory ovens are commony used in research and development (R&D) institutions, including universities. Many universities and R&D institutions use laboratory ovens in their most basic function – to sterilize lab equipment and glassware – but the ovens are also used for a wide range of applications.

What are Lab Ovens Use For?

Environmental laboratories, for example, may use them to determine the moisture content of specimens by weighing the specimens before and after drying. Often referred to as drying ovens or moisture extraction ovens, these lab ovens are an important tool for learning at universities. They offer a hands-on approach to learning for students engaged in pharmaceutical research and other areas of study. Institutes of higher learning also use these lab ovens to perform drug research and drug delivery studies.

Biological and clinical labs also rely on laboratory ovens primarily for drying materials, such as herbs, granules and powders. Researchers in these settings use gravity convection, forced air and vacuum ovens to dry and remove moisture from samples. Gravity convection ovens are ideal for general drying and baking purposes. These ovens use the natural properties of convection to circulate heat throughout the chamber. Gravity convection ovens are ideal for drying powders or substances that should not be disturbed by airflow. These ovens are ideal for applications where temperature uniformity is not essential to the process.

Forced air convection ovens feature fans / blowers that circulate hot air throughout the oven to provide exceptional temperature uniformity and rapid heat recovery. Mechanical convection ovens with blowers / fan units are best for applications requiring increased temperature uniformity and fast recovery after opening of the oven. These hot air circulation ovens circulate uniform heat for uniform results. The most common applications for hot these lab ovens include:

• Sample testing

• Solvent (Class “A”) or water removal

• Baking

• Evaporation

• Sterilization

• Annealing and curing of manufacturing pharmaceutical equipment

Dry heat lab animal science sterilizers are used in university laboratories to decontaminate and sterilize animal habitat cages and equipment to eliminate harmful pathogens, protecting scientists, students and laboratory animals. The dry heat design keeps costs and energy consumption low. Pharmaceutical sterilizers and depyrogenation ovens are mostly used for sterilizing and drying pharmaceutical and non-steam compatible products.

Vacuum ovens feature heating without forced convection of air. These ovens are used in applications that require an inert atmosphere or a lack of atmosphere. Vacuum ovens are perfect for university researchers or students who wish to perform drying, desiccating, moisture determination, and outgassing of specimens.

Like other organizations, universities need laboratory and pharmaceutical ovens that are designed for maximum temperature uniformity, efficiency, and to be environmentally friendly. Thermal Product Solutions (TPS) offers a number of laboratory and pharmaceutical ovens suitable for use in the university setting. Gruenberg Custom Pharmaceutical Ovens provide precise and consistent results, while the Blue M Lab Oven features long-lasting, open coil heating elements with superior heat ramp-up and recovery times. Gruenberg Pharmaceutical Sterilizer and Depyrogenation Oven offers superior sterilization and drying of pharmaceutical products.