Why Freeze-Dry? - How Freeze-Drying Works HowStuffWorks
Aug 22, 2002 Chemists can greatly extend pharmaceutical shelf life by freeze-drying the material and storing it in a container free of oxygen and water. Similarly, research scientists may use freeze-drying to preserve biological samples for long periods of time. Freeze-dried biological samples are also big in the florist world, oddly enough.
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