Used SGA 29/42 5-Plate Silver Vacuum Jacketed Oldershaw Distillation Column

Compact 1-Inch ID Borosilicate Glass Fractional Distillation Column with 5 Theoretical Stages

• Manufacturer: SGA Scientific

• Condition: Used (Fully Inspected)

• Plate Count: 5 Theoretical Stages

• Joint Configuration: 29/42 Top and 29/42 Bottom Ground Glass Joints

• Thermal Protection: Silvered Vacuum Jacket with Corrugated Expansion Bellows

Overview

Achieve high-efficiency fractional separation in a compact footprint. The Used SGA 5-Plate Oldershaw Distillation Column is a premium, laboratory-scale fractional distillation apparatus designed for precise boiling point separations. This specific configuration features 5 theoretical stages, offering a balanced solution for laboratories that require greater efficiency than simple distillation or packed columns, but do not need the height or holdup of a standard 10-plate column.

Constructed from heavy-wall borosilicate glass, this column relies on the proven Oldershaw design. It features a series of meticulously engineered internal perforated plates (trays) and downcomers. Each plate acts as a discrete theoretical stage, maximizing vapor-liquid contact as rising vapor bubbles through the descending liquid reflux. This architecture enables the sharp separation of complex chemical mixtures based on exact boiling point differences, essential for solvent recovery, high-purity synthesis, and petrochemical analysis.

Condition & Sourcing Value

Sourcing pre-owned specialty glassware provides immediate access to high-end capability without OEM lead times or full new equipment costs.

• Condition: Used — This column has been fully inspected by HiTechTrader to ensure the integrity of the borosilicate glass, the joints, and the vacuum jacket bellows.

• Availability: Ready for immediate Shipping from our Coatesville, Pennsylvania facility.

Master Technical Specifications

Core Engineering Advantages

Compact 5-Stage Efficiency

The Oldershaw architecture provides discrete theoretical stages that packed columns cannot replicate per unit length. The 5-plate configuration is ideal for easier separations where high purity is still required. It offers lower pressure drop and reduced liquid holdup compared to longer columns, making it suitable for smaller batch sizes or faster processing times.

Silvered Vacuum Jacket for Thermal Stability

A stable thermal gradient is critical for accurate fractional distillation. This column features a deep vacuum jacket treated with a specialized silver coating. The primary function of this silvering is to drastically reduce heat transfer by thermal radiation. By acting as a thermal mirror, the silvering prevents ambient room temperature fluctuations from disrupting the delicate internal vapor-liquid equilibrium, ensuring consistent fractionation performance.

Corrugated Expansion Bellows (Stress Relief)

Subjecting vacuum-jacketed glassware to high thermal gradients can cause catastrophic stress fracturing. SGA Scientific integrates corrugated expansion bellows into the outer jacket. This critical safety feature absorbs the differential thermal expansion between the heated inner column and the cooler outer jacket during heating and cooling cycles, ensuring long-term durability and reliable operation in repeated high-temperature workflows.

Standard 29/42 Ground Glass Joints

Equipped with Standard Taper 29/42 top and bottom ground glass joints, this column provides wide compatibility for larger laboratory setups. It integrates seamlessly with high-capacity boiling flasks, distillation heads, standard reflux splitters, and receiving adapters.

Typical Laboratory Applications

This compact high-efficiency column is an excellent fit for laboratories focused on:

• Solvent Purification & Recovery: Reclaiming high-purity solvents from reaction mixtures.

• Organic Chemistry Research: Isolating specific synthesis products.

• Petrochemical & Hydrocarbon Fractionation: Boiling point analysis and fuel cut separations.

• Essential Oil Refinement: Isolating volatile terpene and natural extract profiles.

• Academic Chemistry Teaching: Demonstrating multi-stage distillation equilibrium.

Complete Your Distillation Workflow

Integrating this 5-plate column into your process is seamless. To build a highly efficient, comprehensive chemical separation workflow, HiTechTrader provides a wide array of compatible laboratory infrastructure.

Browse our selection of used laboratory equipment for matching 29/42 boiling flasks and condenser heads. Secure precise fluid transfer with our precision laboratory pumps, and ensure maximum safety with our containment and safety equipment.

For larger-scale synthesis and automated setups, pair this column with our extensive inventory of chemical processing equipment, including high-pressure laboratory reactors and pilot-scale Parr reactors. Finally, validate the absolute purity of your distillate fractions using our robust analytical instruments, featuring top-tier used GC-MS systems.

Buy the Used SGA 5-Plate Oldershaw Column

HiTechTrader offers this used SGA 29/42 5-Plate Silver Vacuum Jacketed Oldershaw Distillation Column for laboratories requiring uncompromising separation efficiency in a compact format.

Contact HiTechTrader today to:

• Confirm current inventory and request official pricing.

• Discuss compatible 29/42 distillation heads, flasks, or adapters.

• Arrange for secure, heavily padded domestic or international freight shipping.

HiTechTrader | Coatesville, Pennsylvania | Est. 1982

Your trusted partner for new and pre-owned laboratory glassware, scientific instrumentation, and process equipment.

FAQs

What is an Oldershaw distillation column?

An Oldershaw distillation column is a specialized, highly efficient laboratory-scale fractional distillation apparatus constructed from borosilicate glass. It uses a series of internal perforated plates (trays) and downcomers to achieve sharp separations of liquid mixtures based on precise boiling point differences. Each tray functions as an individual theoretical stage where rising vapor bubbles through descending liquid reflux. A silver vacuum jacketed Oldershaw column combines deep vacuum insulation with a radiant heat-reflecting silver coating to maintain near-adiabatic conditions, critical for reproducible fractional separations and solvent purification.