Freeze drying, in its most basic description is the process in which an object or solution is frozen so the water turns to ice. A vacuum is then created that lowers the boiling point of the frozen water, so when heat is applied the frozen ice crystals come away as vapour rather than melting.
Freeze drying, in its most basic description is the process in which an object or solution is frozen so the water turns to ice. A vacuum is then created that lowers the boiling point of the frozen water, so when heat is applied the frozen ice crystals come away as vapour rather than melting. This leaves the remaining material intact and dry. So what, I hear you all cry? Well freeze drying is used in a variety of industries and manufacturing processes, from astronaut food, to vaccines and even used in archaeological preservation. The freeze drying equipment and machinery is mounted on castors and wheels, which are not only robust and durable, but allow the equipment to be moved and relocated as required.
Freeze drying machinery on castors comes in all shapes and sizes. For example the amazing discovery of Henry the eighths flag ship the ‘Mary Rose’ utilised freeze drying to preserve the ships timbers. After twenty years of spraying a specially designed freeze dryer that was six meters long and two meters wide, mounted on extra heavy duty castors, removed water crystals and preserved the dry timbers. Freeze drying equipment on castors was also used for a vast array of all the smaller artefacts made from leather and wood found on the Mary Rose ship. But freeze drying is not limited to the world of archaeological preservation. Perhaps the world’s largest users of freeze drying machinery on castors are the food manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries.
Who can forget the NASA images of freeze dried ice cream for the astronauts? Nasa equipped all space flights with freeze dried food that can easily be reconstituted with recycled water. Not only did this make the food light but it also reduced its volume. Another example of freeze drying equipment on castors being used in the food industry is freeze drying of coffee. Food preservation by freeze drying can be applicable to so many foodstuffs from coffee to mushrooms. Nescafe developed food preservation by freeze drying back in 1938. It was such a beneficial form of food preservation as the process retained ninety eight percent of the food nutrition, minerals and vitamins, but dramatically reduced the weight and volume. The freeze drying machines on castors revolutionised the food preservation process.
Pharmaceutical companies soon became aware of the benefits of freeze drying particularly with preservation of vaccines. The increase in shelf life that is attributed to freeze drying saves these pharmaceutical companies millions of pounds per year. Vaccines can be easily reconstituted to its original form making freeze dried vaccines lighter and easier to distribute. Some of the largest freeze drying machines on castors is in the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing industries. Other uses for freeze drying equipment on castors can be as varied from a recovery method for water damaged books and documents to drying and preservation of floral bouquets. So the chemical process, also known as lyophilization, or dehydration has far reaching benefits across a multitude of industries.