Our lab has 6 fume hoods dedicated to organic synthesis. Each graduate student has their own hood for their reactions and some purifications (like column chromatography & recrystallization). The IKA temperature-controlled heater/stirrer in the picture is being used for a peropyrene-forming reaction (see Research) that uses low-valent titanium formed from TiCl4 + LiAlH4.

Our rotovaps are cooled by isopropanol/dry ice baths and are evacuated with teflon-lined pumps. We often use foil to shield samples from light while concentrating them.

The chromatotrons are especially useful in chromatographic separation of small quantities of samples. This thin-layer chromatographic technique uses fluorescent silica gel, so the progress of colorless (but UV-active) compounds in the purification can be followed just as easily as for colored compounds. Plates are reusable, so little time is spent on cleanup compared to column chromatography.