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A technique for the removal of water from a specimen by sublimation of ice under vacuum. It is used as a method of drying in cases where the action of heat would cause damage, e.g. the concentration of labile solutes such as enzymes and the drying of fragile specimens for electron microscopy and storage (e.g. herbarium specimens). It is also used when the presence of liquid water would cause distortion of tissue by surface tension. Rapid freezing prevents the formation of ice crystals that would otherwise cause disruption.
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