Question 1

What is the difference between single, double, and triple layer glass reactors?

Accepted Answer

The layer count refers to the jacketing around the vessel. A single-layer reactor has one jacket for circulating heating or cooling fluid. A double-layer adds an outer vacuum or insulating jacket, so it holds temperature better, loses less to ambient, and reaches lower setpoints more efficiently. A triple-layer adds further insulation for demanding low-temperature processes. More layers improve thermal stability and low-temperature performance at added cost and size.

Question 2

What size jacketed glass reactor do I need?

Accepted Answer

Reactors range from 1L bench units to 100L production vessels, and the rated capacity is the vessel volume, not your usable batch. Leave headspace for agitation, foaming, and reflux, so plan to charge below the nominal size. Match capacity to your typical batch volume and available floor and ceiling space, since larger units need a support frame and taller clearance plus a correspondingly larger chiller or heater to drive the jacket.

Question 3

What temperature range can a GG17 borosilicate glass reactor handle?

Accepted Answer

GG17 high-borosilicate glass tolerates a wide span, commonly cited from roughly -80C up to around 250C, which covers low-temperature crystallization and winterization through warm synthesis and distillation. The practical limit, though, is set by your circulating fluid and the chiller or heater driving the jacket, not the glass alone. Confirm the working range printed for your specific reactor and choose a heat-transfer fluid rated across your full setpoint range.

Question 4

What equipment do I need to run a jacketed glass reactor?

Accepted Answer

The reactor is the center of a system. You need a recirculating chiller or heater sized to drive the jacket to your target temperature, a chemical-resistant vacuum pump for vacuum operations and distillation, and a condenser with a collection flask or cold trap to capture vapors. Many processes also use a controlled-feed addition funnel. Undersizing the circulator is the common mistake; it must overcome the vessel's thermal mass to hold your setpoint.

Question 5

Can a glass reactor be used for cannabis extraction and winterization?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Jacketed glass reactors are widely used for post-processing steps such as winterization, where extract dissolved in solvent is chilled to precipitate waxes and lipids for filtration, as well as for reaction, crystallization, and solvent distillation. The cooling jacket lets you hold the low temperatures winterization needs, and the transparent borosilicate vessel makes the precipitation visible. Match reactor size and chiller capacity to your batch and target temperature.

Question 6

Why choose a double-jacketed reactor over a single-layer one?

Accepted Answer

A double-jacketed (double-layer) reactor has an outer insulating or vacuum jacket around the fluid jacket, which reduces heat exchange with the room. That means it holds a stable internal temperature more easily, reaches and maintains lower setpoints, and lets the chiller work less hard to stay there. For low-temperature processes like winterization or cold crystallization, the double layer is worth it; for ambient-range work, a single layer can be sufficient.

Extraction

Temperature Control

Processing

Separation

Drying

Support Equipment

Reactors (Glass & Jacketed)

150L Jacketed Double-Layer Glass Reactor — S-150L

1L Bench-Top Bioreactor / Fermenter — 316L & Borosilicate

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

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MTST 5L Benchtop Glass Fermenter / Bioreactor — 5L

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MTST F-100L Single-Layer Glass Reactor — 100L

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MTST F-2L Single Layer Glass Reactor — 2L

MTST F-3L Single Layer Glass Reactor — 3L

MTST F-5L Single-Layer Glass Reactor — 5L

MTST GF Series Jacketed Glass Crystallization Reactor 10L–100L

MTST GF-100L/50L Jacketed Glass Crystallization Reactor — 100L

MTST GF-20L/10L Jacketed Glass Crystallization Reactor — 20L

MTST S-100L Jacketed Glass Reactor — 100L

MTST S-100L Jacketed Glass Reactor — 100L

MTST S-100L Jacketed Glass Reactor — 100L

MTST S-100L Jacketed Glass Reactor — 10L–100L

MTST S-20L Jacketed Glass Reactor — 20L

MTST S-50L Jacketed Glass Reactor — 50L

MTST S-50L Jacketed Glass Reactor — 50L

MTST SF-100L Double-Layer Glass Reactor — 10L–100L