Scientific Equipment Donated to University

The Urbana University chemistry laboratory has a much-needed Rotary Evaporator, thanks to University alumnus Alan Carter and his employer, ISP Fine Chemicals Inc. of Columbus, OH. Mr. Carter and Dr. Elizabeth Paul, Professor of Science at Urbana University, are pictured with the donated equipment.

A donation to Urbana University from a Columbus company, arranged by a new alumnus of the University, will give future Urbana science students practical experience in the operation of equipment that is currently used in the workplace to distill chemical compounds.

The donation of a Rotary Evaporator will provide students in Urbana University chemistry classes the opportunity to distill chemical compounds much quicker than waiting for the distilling process to occur naturally.

ISP Fine Chemicals Inc. of Columbus donated the Rotary Evaporator, valued at approximately $2,000, to the University at the urging of the company’s Environmental Group Leader, Alan Carter.

A resident of Plain City, OH, Mr. Carter graduated in May with the Class of 2007, completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Management through the Urbana University School of Adult and Graduate Education.

“This is an example of a piece of equipment that is used regularly throughout the industry,” Mr. Carter commented. “The experience with this equipment at the University will be beneficial to Urbana graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in the chemical industry.”

Dr. Elizabeth Paul, Professor of Science at Urbana University, expressed appreciation to ISP Fine Chemicals and Mr. Carter, and agreed that it will provide her students with valuable real-world experience.

“This equipment is a welcome addition,” she said. “The Rotary Evaporator is a unit commonly used in the industry to separate or distill compounds of a mixture from synthetic preparations to the final product.”

By combining heat, vacuum and agitation, the Rotary Evaporator can complete the separation and purification of organic compounds in roughly one hour. Without such equipment, Dr. Paul said, the process can take days and, as a result, increases the risk of decomposition.

ISP Fine Chemicals makes products that are used by some of the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies.