The acquisition of the appropriate laboratory equipment is crucial for scientific research, experimentation, and academic pursuits.
However, new laboratory equipment can be out of reach for individuals on a restricted budget. In contrast to the prohibitive cost of brand-new lab equipment, there is a plethora of affordable used options available for purchase today.
This article provides an overview of some of the most popular pieces of used laboratory equipment, such as analyzers, meters, centrifuges, and distillation units. We’ll discuss how they work and their most widespread applications. So let’s get started!
Analyzers and Meters
Analyzers and meters are frequently utilized in laboratories to measure and analyze various properties of substances, such as pH, temperature, and conductivity. Here are some of the most commonly available types of analyzers and meters on the market:
pH Meters
pH meters are employed to determine the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, ranging from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. pH meters are commonly employed in research labs, clinical labs, and environmental monitoring.
Conductivity Meters
A substance’s conductivity to electricity is measured with a conductivity meter. They are commonly used in chemical laboratories for their primary purpose of counting the number of ions in a solution. Conductivity meters are also utilized in the water treatment industry to monitor the quality of water.
Spectrophotometers
In order to measure how much light a substance takes in, scientists use spectrophotometers.
When a substance’s concentration in a solution needs to be calculated, they are a go-to tool in analytical chemistry laboratories. In the medical industry, spectrophotometers are also used to quantify the concentration of a specific substance in biological fluids like blood.
Baths and Circulators
Baths and circulators are utilized in laboratories to control the temperature of substances during experiments. Some of the most popular baths and circulators on the market now are as follows:
Water Baths
Water baths are used to heat substances to a specific temperature. They are commonly used in molecular biology labs to incubate samples or in microbiology labs to heat up media for growing bacteria. Water baths are also used in the food industry to melt and maintain the temperature of the chocolate.
Circulators
Fluids like water or oil can be circulated at a constant temperature with the help of circulators. They are commonly used in chemistry labs to maintain a constant temperature during experiments. A second common application of circulators in the medical industry is to keep surgical sites at an appropriate temperature.
Centrifuges
Centrifuges are used in laboratories to separate substances based on their density:
Ultracentrifuges
Ultracentrifuges are used to separate substances with high-density differences, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and viruses. Biomolecules can be separated by size, shape, and density with these devices, making them a staple in molecular biology and biochemistry labs.
Microcentrifuges
Proteins and DNA are two examples of small amounts of liquid that can be separated from other materials using microcentrifuges. For tasks like protein purification and DNA extraction, they are frequently employed in molecular biology and biochemistry labs.
Distillation and Evaporators
Distillation and evaporators are used in laboratories to separate and purify substances based on their boiling points. Here are some of the most common types of distillation and evaporators available on the market:
Rotary Evaporators
Rotary evaporators are used to evaporate solvents from solutions by applying heat and reducing pressure. They are commonly used in chemistry labs for the separation and purification of compounds.
Short Path Distillation Systems
Short-path distillation systems are used to purify substances by separating them based on their boiling points. They are commonly utilized in the cannabis industry to produce concentrates like distillates and isolates.
To save money without sacrificing quality, consider purchasing used laboratory equipment. Researchers and students can make well-informed purchases of laboratory equipment by familiarizing themselves with the various options and their typical uses.
Upgrading your lab is simple and inexpensive if you shop online for used laboratory equipment. HiTechTrader.com has a wide selection of reliable, quality equipment at great prices. Shop now and save!
