Nauta® Laboratory Vacuum Dryer
The 5-litre Nauta® laboratory vacuum dryer is designed for drying trials and process development with powders, filter cakes, pastes and high-viscosity slurries. Operating under vacuum—typically at 10–20 mbar absolute—it allows moisture or solvents to be removed at reduced temperatures, making it suitable for heat-sensitive materials.
The compact conical unit combines gentle, continuous agitation with heat transfer through the vessel wall. Depending on the configuration, the jacket can be supplied with hot water, steam or thermal oil. This supports uniform processing while minimising product degradation and segregation.
Key Benefits
- Laboratory-scale vacuum drying with limited product quantities
- Suitable for powders, filter cakes, pastes and viscous slurries
- Low-temperature processing of heat-sensitive materials
- Gentle agitation for uniform heat transfer
- Multiple heating-media options
- Optional sterilise-in-place (SIP) configuration
- Hygienic designs supporting FDA, cGMP and EHEDG requirements
Principle of operation
A rotating screw moves the product upwards along the heated conical vessel wall, after which it flows back down through the centre. This continuous circulation exposes the material evenly to the heat-transfer surface and helps maintain consistent product conditions throughout the batch.
Applying vacuum lowers the boiling point of moisture or solvents, enabling drying at lower temperatures. Vapours are removed from the vessel while the product remains gently agitated. Pressure, jacket temperature, agitation and drying time can be adjusted during trials to determine suitable process conditions.
Materials and applications
The laboratory vacuum dryer can be used to evaluate a variety of materials and process conditions, including:
- Heat-sensitive powders and granules
- Moist or solvent-containing filter cakes
- Sticky pastes and cohesive materials
- High-viscosity slurries
- Products requiring gentle processing or controlled solvent removal
Testing and scale-up
The 5-litre unit supports feasibility studies, process development and initial parameter selection using relatively small product quantities. Trials can provide information about drying behaviour, processing time, product handling and achievable end-product properties.
Results can subsequently guide testing with larger pilot units or the configuration of an industrial Nauta vacuum dryer. At the Hosokawa Micron Test Centre, process specialists support trials and scale-up from laboratory development to production-scale systems.
Talk to our experts
Let our process specialists help you identify the most suitable solution for your materials, process requirements and production goals.
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Hosokawa Micron B.V. is committed to sustainable and responsible process technology. Our environmental management system is certified to ISO 14001, while our EcoVadis Silver Medal places us among the top 3% of rated companies in the special-purpose machinery industry.
