Erlenmeyer Culture Flask

What is an Erlenmeyer Flask?

The Erlenmeyer flask, also known as a conical flask, is a staple item in any laboratory performing microbiological, chemical, or pharmaceutical work. Its defining geometry, a wide flat base tapering into a narrow neck, makes it particularly suited for mixing, culturing and heating applications. The reduced neck diameter minimises the risk of spillage and exposure, while the sloped sides allow easy swirling without contents escaping.

Developed by Emil Erlenmeyer in 1860, this flask has evolved to support a wide range of scientific applications. In microbial culture work, its design enhances oxygen transfer when used with orbital shakers. It lets heating happen evenly and works with reflux setups in chemistry labs. The shape works especially well with baffles and caps, so it can be used as a sealed bioreactor when necessary.

Product Specifications

Borosil Scientific Erlenmeyer flasks are manufactured from low-expansion, borosilicate 3.3 glass, conforming to ISO 1773 standards. The material makes sure there’s chemical stability, thermal resistance and minimal leaching during prolonged incubation or agitation.

Applications in Microbiology and Culture Labs

The use of Erlenmeyer culture flasks in microbial and mammalian cell culture processes is well-documented. These flasks enable aerobic microbial growth due to their aeration capacity when shaken, which is critical for biomass yield and protein expression.

Typical use cases include, but is not limited to the following:

• Microbial fermentation: When paired with baffled bases and screw caps, they simulate mini-bioreactor conditions.
• Seed culture development: Used before large-scale transfer to fermenters.
• Media preparation: Autoclavable nature supports direct sterilisation of culture media.
• Cell line maintenance: Suitable for suspension cultures that require gentle agitation.

These flasks are often used in pharmaceutical QC labs to test antibiotics, check for growth promotion and look for contamination. Their shape makes sure that nothing is uneven during mixing and they work with standard shaker clamps.

Our Product Range

Borosil Scientific’s Erlenmeyer (Conical) flask line has a number of different types, each made for specific tasks:

1. 4980 – Narrow Mouth, With Rim: This version is ideal for heating and reagent mixing where open-mouth access is necessary. Rim supports easier gripping with clamps or holders.
2. 4981 – Long Neck Without Rim: This is designed to lower the evaporation rate during incubation and make it safer to use. This is often used in media preparation where it’s important to control splashing.
3. 5021 – With Screw Cap: These variations of flasks offer leak-proof sealing for shaking cultures or transporting liquids without contamination. The threaded neck allows closure with a PP cap or sealing membrane.
4. 5025 – Baffled Bottom With Screw Cap: Optimised for high-oxygen-transfer applications. Baffles increase turbulence, improving aeration and culture yield. Screw caps ensure aseptic sealing.

All models feature easy-to-read graduations and are batch-certified to ensure traceability in GLP/GMP settings.

Why Choose Borosil Erlenmeyer Flasks?

Borosil Scientific has made its Erlenmeyer flasks in standardised designs to keep up with the changing needs of laboratories. Each feature is designed with a purpose, from heat resistance to autoclavability:

• Material Assurance: Manufactured from borosilicate glass with low thermal expansion.
• Safety and Compliance: All our models are certified to ISO standards and are suitable for GLP/GMP environments.
• Versatility: These are compatible with orbital shakers, magnetic stirrers and incubators.
• Add-on Flexibility: Filter caps, tubing adaptors, or foil wraps may be used depending on lab SOPs.
• Traceability: QA trace codes are included with every batch for record-keeping.

At Borosil Scientific, we have products that work with both small and large lab operations while still maintaining precision, whether you are growing cultures or making media for quality control.