How long does it take for the laboratory jacket reactors to completely dry after cleaning?

Most laboratory jacketed reactors can be dried within 30 to 90 minutes after the final rinse and can be reused immediately, provided that a systematic procedure is followed. First, empty the reactor and briefly purge it with nitrogen or compressed air; this can remove more than 90% of residual moisture in approximately 10 minutes. Next, wipe the inner glass walls with a lint-free cloth or paper, and visible moisture can be reduced to near zero within 5 minutes. The critical step is to circulate 50–60 °C dry air or nitrogen through the reactor and jacket for 15–30 minutes. Due to the thin walls and high surface-to-volume ratio of laboratory jacket reactors, this moderate thermal assistance can remove the last traces of moisture without overheating the seals.

If vacuum capability is available, applying a pressure of 20–50 mbar and maintaining it for 20 minutes can further accelerate evaporation; at this pressure, the boiling point of water is below 30°C, so the laboratory jacket reactor requires approximately one hour total to fully dry. For water-sensitive chemicals, purging with dry nitrogen through the side port overnight ensures moisture content below 100 ppm.

Factors extending the drying cycle include viscous residues that adsorb moisture and poor environmental humidity control; in such cases, the laboratory jacket reactor may require 2–3 hours of intermittent heating time. Conversely, if only aqueous buffers are used and the indoor relative humidity is below 30%, 45 minutes is typically sufficient. Recording the actual time for each protocol helps optimize planning for future batches.