Rotary evaporator for catalyst preparation

A method for evaporating a solvent from a sample, comprising:

• placing the sample in a reservoir of a sample flask, wherein the sample flask comprises a neck that extends along an axis and is in communication with the reservoir;
• heating the reservoir of the sample flask in a bath;
• rotating the sample flask around the axis by a first actuator during the heating;
• supplying a purge gas from a purge gas source to a purge tube, wherein:
• the purge tube extends within the neck of the sample flask along the axis, such that a vapor channel is defined between an inner surface of the neck and an outer surface of the purge tube, the purge tube comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a wall provided at the distal end such that the distal end is closed, an inner lumen extending along the axis between the proximal end and the distal end, and an opening formed in the outer surface of the purge tube at the distal end of the purge tube and in communication with the inner lumen, and
• the purge gas source is in communication with the inner lumen of the purge tube;
• injecting the purge gas into the sample flask via the at least one opening formed in the outer surface of the purge tube;
• adjusting a position of the purge tube along the axis via a second actuator, wherein the second actuator is operable to translate the purge tube along the axis between a retracted position, where the at least one opening of the purge tube is situated in the neck of the sample flask, and an extended position, where the at least one opening of the purge tube is situated in the reservoir of the sample flask;
• guiding vapor formed by the heating through the vapor channel into a condenser where the vapor is condensed into the solvent;
• and
• receiving the solvent in a collection flask that is in fluid communication with the condenser.