Environmental Measurements Facility

User Info

  1. Staff Contact: Doug Turner (650-678-6454) or Guangchao Li (724-3220)

  2. General: The freeze dryer is a user run instrument that is only available to users who need to prepare samples for analysis on instrumentation within the EM1 or EM2 facilities. Before signing up, users must participate in a training session on the instrument and be certified by a facility technician.  Once certified, users planning to run samples must sign up on the Scheduler. You need to sign up for each day of use.  In addition, all users must fill out the user log book each time the machine is operated.  The Labconco Freeze Dry Start-up documentation and user log book can be found in a tray beneath the instrument.  Users wishing to freeze dry hazardous materials must contact us in advance for permission.  Users must wear safety glasses while operating this instrument. 

  3. Operation: The is available for use by certified users Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.  Once certified, arrangements can be made to use this machine during off hours.

  4. Cost:  The instrument has a set fee of $12/day regardless of how many ports are utilized.  Users must have a valid Stanford PTA to sign up for this instrument.

  5. Samples: All samples must be pre-frozen prior to being put on the instrument.  The greater the surface area of sample to volume, the faster the drying occurs.   EMF doesn't provide freezer space for preparing samples, although a small freezer is available in room 354 to store your frozen samples while waiting for the instrument to get in the ready state.  Samples should be stored in separate containers (such as centrifuge tubes) within the provided flasks.  Users wishing to freeze dry material directly in the glass flasks must contact us in advance for permission. 

  6. Additional Notes:  Please remove your samples promptly from the instrument upon completion.  Users are responsible for notifying an EMF technician in the case of a broken or chipped flask and will be asked to provide compensation.  All modifications to this instrument (including topping off the pump oil) need to be made by EM1 technicians.  If you have a concern, please notify an EM1 technician.

You can get more detailed information by checking out our FAQ.