Shaker (laboratory)
A shaker or mixer is a device used in chemistry and biology laboratories to stir or mix substances, mainly liquids.
In general, there are two groups of instruments:
- Mixing devices called mixers for small volume samples (up to 100 mL)
- Shaking devices called shakers for bigger volume samples
Besides the volume, both classes of shakers are available as non-temperature-controlled and as temperature-controlled instruments.
Mixer
Mixers have small footprints as being used as benchtop instruments and limited to small volume samples. Most instruments have a compact base plate on top of the device where an exchangeable sample tray can be fixed. For mixers with temperature-control (thermomixer or thermal mixer), these sample trays are called thermoblock. The thermoblocks have several positions for specific sample vessels, e.g. 1.5 mL, 50 mL, or microtiter plates. The temperature range is mainly between 15 °C below room temperature and 100 °C. Some instruments can actively cool down the temperature within the sample tray. The mixing frequency is between 300 and 3,000 rpm. The mixing orbit for the sample is between 1 and 5 mm.
Applications
The device is e.g. used for incubation of molecular biology samples like DNA, RNA, or proteins at a specific temperature or some mixing process at a specific speed. Many enzymatic reactions require a specific temperature and mixing frequency for optimal performance.
Instruments
Suppliers are e.g. IKA, Esco, Hettich, Heidolph, Eppendorf, VWR
Shaker
A typical shaker has a table board that oscillates horizontally, powered by an electric motor. The liquids to be stirred are held in beakers, jars, or Erlenmeyer flasks that are placed over the table; or, sometimes, in test tubes or vials that are nested into holes in the plate. Orbital shakers also exist, that shake the vessel in a circular fashion.
Shakers have largely been replaced by magnetic stirrers for many purposes, but are still favoured for some situations, such as those involving large volumes.
Applications
Shaker are mainly used for mixing substances or incubating cell cultures in higher volumes.
See also
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