Device for evaporation and condensation in confined environment

#The present invention relates to the field of laboratory apparatus, especially that for preparing samples for chemical analysis and in particular to evaporator-condenser apparatus. Its object is a device for evaporation and condensation in a closed environment.

#During qualitative and/or quantitative chemical characterisation, particularly of solid bodies, it is almost always necessary to prepare samples before carrying out the analysis proper which enables their composition to be determined.

#A conventional preparation process in chemistry is known by the name “wet process” and involves dissolving the organic or mineral substances to be examined using suitable solvents or reagents in order to “released” the compounds which can be collected and measured in the physicochemical or isotopic measuring apparatus normally used (HPLC, NMR, IR spectrophotometry, atomic absorption, etc.).

#The invention will be better understood through the description below which relates to preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates, diagrammatically, a cross section of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates, diagrammatically, a cross section of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

#In accordance with the invention, and as shown in FIG. 1, the device for evaporation and condensation in a closed environment essentially consists of an evaporation receptacle 2, a heating means 7 for said evaporation receptacle 2 and a condensation receptacle 3 connected in a substantially sealed manner to said evaporation receptacle 2.

#According to a first embodiment illustrated in cross section in FIG. 1, the device 1 according to the present invention is characterised in that said evaporation 2 and condensation 3 receptacles are connected to each other, at their openings 2′, 3′, extending on either side of a common separation plane 4 in such a way that the arrangement of said receptacles 2, 3 forms substantially an inverted “V” with a sharp point and in that substantially the entire surface of the wall 6 forming the evaporation receptacle 2 is brought, by said heating means 7, to the same temperature T1 higher than the highest temperature T2 of the wall 5 forming the condensation receptacle 3.

#The materials forming the evaporation receptacle 2 and the condensation receptacle 3 and/or the production of the connection between said receptacles 2, 3 are chosen so as to resist the reagents and solvents used to treat the sample to be analysed.