How a Cold Trap Works & How We Save You Time & Money

Despite the diversity in methods, the Excedr lease program is able to source all instrument types and can accommodate any brand preferences your end-user might have. Request an estimate today and see how leasing can discount your vapor trap’s price.
All equipment brands/models are available
The Advantages of Excedr’s Condenser Leasing Program:
- Eliminates the upfront cost of purchasing equipment by spreading its cost over time
- Minimizes equipment downtime with included complete repair coverage and preventive maintenance
- Takes advantage of potentially 100% tax deductible* payments, providing you significant cash-savings
- Expedites the administrative work needed for instrument procurement and logistics
- Conserves working capital, enabling you to reinvest in your core business and operations (staffing, inventory, marketing/sales, etc.)
- Accommodates all manufacturer and model preferences
*Please consult your tax advisor to determine the full tax implications of leasing equipment.

Cold traps, also known as condensers or condenser chillers, protect vacuum pumps from contamination and damage by sublimating or condensing vapors released during evaporation processes.
Simply put, these devices work to collect harmful vapors, or gas molecules, that are released during laboratory evaporation before they enter a vacuum pump. Cold traps are also designed to prevent pump back streaming, a process where oil vapors from the pump can enter back into the vacuum pumping system and affect its performance.
Because vapors naturally migrate to the coldest spot in an evaporation or concentration system, a cold trap—the coldest part of a system—essentially operate as a vapor trap, collecting any released vapors before they contaminate and damager your vacuum pump. Without a cold trap, your equipment and your team are at risk of being exposed to harmful vapors released during lab evaporation of various solvents.
Cold traps are typically lowered into a vacuum flask and placed before the mouth of a vacuum pump to force the stream of air through the mechanism. In order to capture vapors effectively, they typically use a coolant to chill a stainless steel or glass surface or baffle, where the vapors condense or sublimate on.
Cold traps are generally used in any high vacuum pumping system, and are especially useful in freeze dryers and cryopump systems.
Simply put, these devices work to collect harmful vapors, or gas molecules, that are released during laboratory evaporation before they enter a vacuum pump. Cold traps are also designed to prevent pump back streaming, a process where oil vapors from the pump can enter back into the vacuum pumping system and affect its performance.
Because vapors naturally migrate to the coldest spot in an evaporation or concentration system, a cold trap—the coldest part of a system—essentially operate as a vapor trap, collecting any released vapors before they contaminate and damager your vacuum pump. Without a cold trap, your equipment and your team are at risk of being exposed to harmful vapors released during lab evaporation of various solvents.
Cold traps are typically lowered into a vacuum flask and placed before the mouth of a vacuum pump to force the stream of air through the mechanism. In order to capture vapors effectively, they typically use a coolant to chill a stainless steel or glass surface or baffle, where the vapors condense or sublimate on.
Cold traps are generally used in any high vacuum pumping system, and are especially useful in freeze dryers and cryopump systems.
Cold Trap Types, Applications, & Price

There are a variety of vacuum cold traps available. You will need a specific trap or condenser depending on which type of pump or pumps you use, whether it’s a rotary vane, diaphragm, or diffusion pump.
It is also important to choose a cold trap that will reach lower freezing temperatures than the freezing point of your sample being used. Cold traps are generally offered in three different temperature levels: -50°C, -85°C, -105°C.
Mechanical
In essence, a mechanical cold trap is a small refrigeration unit, and varies in size depending on the amount of air that needs to be processed. Mechanical cold traps can achieve a range of temperatures, from -40°C to upwards of -80°C. They offer a variety of cooling methods, which include auto defrost cycles and multi-stage cascade styles.
Liquid Nitrogen
This device is designed to operate with pumps such as a rotary vane mechanical pump. It is a demountable, reservoir-type trap that utilizes liquid nitrogen temperatures to capture water and oil vapors. Because the trapping is so intense, an extremely high rate of vacuum can be achieved and maintained. The reservoir can be easily removed for cleaning.
Dry Ice
This trap uses a mixture of dry ice and alcohol that is placed at the bottom of the trap well, which allows the device to reach temperatures of -75°C, which is low enough to condense most volatile materials. The trapping well can be lifted out of the trap, enabling easy removal, cleaning and defrosting once venting is complete. These traps are typically more affordable than their cold trap counterparts.
Cryotrapping
A cryopump, also known as a cryogenic pump, is a type of vacuum pump that traps gases and vapors. This is achieved using a cold surface, in tandem with a pumping system that condenses the gas or vapor onto the cold surface. These devices are often used for cryotrapping, a technique that involves cooling gases without actually freezing them.
By increasing the residence time on a cooled surface, the gases are “trapped”, and thus removed from the vacuum environment. These devices are usually cooled using compressed helium, and are utilized in high or ultrahigh vacuum systems.
Short Path Distillation
Cold traps are commonly used during short-path distillation, a form of fractional distillation that is used to separate an oleoresin into its active compounds, including essential oils, resin, and more. The process creates a distillate, or a liquid product that has been stripped of many of its active components.
A short path distillation system includes several components, such as a chiller, vacuum pump, cold trap, and a short path, or a combination of multiple glassware.
The chiller acts as a condenser and condenses any vapors that travel towards it during the distilling process. A chiller’s suggest temperature range is between 40°C and 60°C, or 104°F to 140°C, because vapor can generally be condensed at any temperature that’s at least 20 degrees below the temperature the sample was boiled off at.
The vacuum pump is, as you can guess, used to create a vacuum in the system. Many professionals use an oil-based rotary vane pump, which provides excellent vacuum depth. The cold trap prevents any vapors from passing through the condenser, protecting your vacuum system and prolonging its lifespan.
Lastly, the glass components include a boiling flask, a distillation head, a receiving flask (or cow), and one more receiving flask specifically used for the “tail” of the distillate.
Cold Trap Leases to Fit Every Laboratory’s Needs

Whatever your cold trap needs, Excedr is here to help. Bypass the costly upfront prices of expensive scientific equipment with our affordable leasing program that comes with preventive maintenance and repair coverage. Contact us today to learn more!
Operating Lease
This off-balance sheet financing structure provides three options at the end of the term. The lessee has the option to return the equipment to the lessor, renew at a discounted rate, or purchase the instrument for the fair market value. Monthly payments are also 100% tax deductible which yields additional monetary savings.
Sale-Leaseback
If you recently bought equipment, Excedr can offer you cash for your device and convert your purchase into a long-term rental. This is called a sale leaseback. If you’ve paid for equipment within the last ninety days, we can help you recoup your investment and allow you to make low monthly payments. This also frees up money in your budget rather than tying it down to a fixed asset.
Cold Trap Manufacturers u0026 Models on the Market
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Thermo Fisher Scientific:
SpeedVac Vacuum Concentrator, SPD120, SPD210, SPD130DLX, Savant Refrigerated Vapor Trap, RVT450, RVT5105, Savant Universal Vacuum System, UV S450, UV S450A, UV S850DDA
Milliporesigma:
Aldrich Large Capacity, Aldrich Cold Trap with Ball Joint, Aldrich Double Surface, Aldrich Cold Finger, Aldrich Dewar, Aldrich Dry Ice Condenser-Trap, Aldrich KOH Trap
Labconco:
CentriVap Cold Trap, CentriVap -50°C, CentriVap -84°C, CentriVap -105°C, RapidVap Vacuum Evaporation System, CentriVap Complete Vacuum Concentrator, Acid-Resistant CentriVap, CentriVap Benchtop, CentriVap DNA, CentriVap Micro IR
Vacuubrand:
Cold Trap SKF H 25, Cold Trap SKF H 40, Cold Trap GKF 1000i
Welch: Dry Ice/Isopropanol 1420H-14
SP Scientific:
Vapor Trap, Titan Trap
BVV:
BVV CT40, CT80, Cold Trap 2” Stainless Steel, Cold Trap 4” Stainless Steel, BVV Glass Cold Trap, BVV Dewar, UL Listed CT40 Electronic, UL Listed CT80 Electronic, OPEN BOX BVV CT80
Cascade Sciences:
MAXTRAP 50, COLDWELL Vacuum, MAXTRAP 105, Cascade Dry Ice Trap
Lab Society:
Dual Inline, Stainless Mechanical, Dewar Style
EYELA:
Cold Trap UT-500A, UT-500B, UT-1000, UT-2000, UT3000A, UT4000A, UT4000L
SH Scientific:
Terpene Trap, -40°C Cold Trap Bath, -80°C Cold Trap Bath
Across International
Ace Glass Incorporated
and more!