The Xiros Mikro Freeze Dryer by Holland Green Science is a professional-grade benchtop lyophilizer engineered for unmatched performance in freeze-drying. Whether you're working with botanical plant material, food, pharmaceuticals, or biological samples, the Xiros Mikro delivers precision, programmability, and powerful results — all in a compact and customizable unit.
This comprehensive guide walks you through exactly how to use the Xiros Mikro to get the best performance and consistent results every time.
🔌 Getting Started: Setup & Installation
1. Unboxing & Prepping Your Unit
- Carefully remove all protective packaging.
- Inspect the chamber and tray stack to confirm everything is intact.
- If swapping tray configurations, refer to the manufacturer’s video guide for quick replacement.
2. Connecting the Vacuum Pump
- Place the vacuum pump on a stable surface.
- Connect the vacuum hose securely from the Xiros Mikro to the pump inlet.
- Make sure all connections are tight to ensure an airtight seal.
3. Power & Boot-Up
- Plug in both the unit and vacuum pump.
- Start the vacuum pump first, then power on the Xiros Mikro via the main touchscreen.
- The interface will guide you to either Manual Mode or Program Mode.
🗂️ Shelf Stack Options: Flexibility Built In
The Xiros Mikro supports 3, 5, 7, or 9 electrically heated shelf configurations:
- Shelf Size: 200mm x 450mm (standard)
- Tray Heights: 12mm, 15mm, or 20mm
- Heating Range: -35°C to +60°C
You can upgrade the shelf stack anytime, making the system suitable for a variety of products and scale needs — from research labs to small-batch production.
⚙️ Operation Modes: Manual & Programmed Drying
🛠 Manual Mode
Manual control is ideal for experimental runs or custom cycles. You can operate:
- Vacuum pump
- Condenser and tray heaters
- Vacuum valve
- System temperature and pressure levels
Access this through the home screen under “Manual” and toggle the “Manual Control” switch to ON.
📋 Program Mode (Recipe Builder)
This mode lets you build and store up to 4 fully customizable drying programs — each with up to 16 programmable steps:
- Pre-freeze
- Vacuum engagement
- Primary drying (sublimation)
- Secondary drying (desorption)
- Final holding phase
You can set target shelf temperatures, vacuum thresholds, and step durations to match your product’s drying profile — essential for reproducibility and scale-up.
🌿 Optimizing the Freeze-Drying Process for Botanical Plant Material
1. Pre-Freezing Your Samples
To ensure product integrity, botanical plant materials (such as herbs, roots, flowers, and other extracts) should be pre-frozen at -20°C or colder before starting the freeze-drying cycle.
Pre-freezing locks in structural and chemical integrity, crucial for active compound preservation.
2. Load Samples Evenly
Arrange samples across trays evenly to avoid cold or hot spots. Use shallow trays (12–15mm) for thin layers and consistent drying.
3. Programming Drying Steps
- Initial Freeze Stage: Set trays to -30°C to freeze in-chamber (if pre-freezing not done).
- Primary Drying: Raise tray temp slowly (e.g., -10°C to 0°C) under vacuum. Water sublimates directly from ice.
- Secondary Drying: Increase temp to 20–40°C to remove bound moisture.
- Final Hold: Maintain low temp and vacuum for product stabilization.
4. Monitoring & Logging
The integrated 5" touchscreen allows real-time monitoring of pressure, temperature, and drying status. Export data via USB for batch logging or quality control.
🧼 Post-Cycle Maintenance & Cleaning
🧊 Defrosting
After each run, defrost the condenser chamber:
- Attach the drain hose.
- Set defrost to ~50°C.
- Allow for 1–2 hours to melt and drain accumulated ice.
🧽 Cleaning
Wipe the chamber and trays with mild detergent and soft cloth. Avoid abrasives that may scratch stainless steel surfaces.
🔧 Vacuum Pump Maintenance
Check oil levels and filters periodically. Refer to the pump manufacturer’s guidelines for detailed service intervals.
🧠 Pro Tips for Optimal Use
✅ Label and weigh trays pre- and post-drying to calculate moisture loss and improve process consistency.
✅ Run blank tests when experimenting with new botanical materials to refine drying profiles.
✅ Avoid overloading trays to prevent inefficient drying and temperature gradients.
✅ Use program mode for repeatable batches and documentation.
