Definition:: Distillation

Distillation
Definition:
o Distillation is a widely used technique in chemical analysis for characterizing materials by establishing an
index of purity and for separating selected components from a complete matrix.
o Distillation operations differ enormously in size and complexity from the semimicro scale to the ‘thousands
of tons per annum’ production operations. For analytical purposes the scale employed is usually bench-
level.
o Distillation is a process where a mixture made of two or more liquids (called "components") with different
boiling points can be separated from each other. The mixture is heated until one of the components boils
(turns to a vapor). Distillation is a commonly used operation in many industries.
o Distillation is a method of purification of liquids contaminated with either dissolved solids or miscible
liquids. In the case of water, dissolved solids are usually the focus. The dissolved solids are metal
carbonates, sulfates, chlorides, etc.
o The volatilization or evaporation and subsequent condensation of a liquid, as when water is boiled in a
retort and the steam is condensed in a cool receiver.
o The purification or concentration of a substance, the obtaining of the essence or volatile properties
contained in it, or the separation of one substance from another, by such a process.
Types of Distillation:
Simple Distillation
- Simple distillation may be used when the boiling points of two liquids are significantly different from each
other or to separate liquids from solids or nonvolatile components
Fractional Distillation
- A simple distillation is incapable of significant purification if the boiling points of the components are too
close. When the difference in boiling points is less than 100 ˚C, a modification is necessary, namely
insertion of a fractionating column between the distilling flask and three-way adapter.
- Fractional distillation is used when the boiling points of the components of a mixture are close to each
other, as determined using Raoult's law. A fractionating column is used to separate the components used a
series of distillations called rectification.
Steam Distillation
- Steam distillation is used to separate heat-sensitive components. Steam is added to the mixture, causing
some of it to vaporize. This vapor is cooled and condensed into two liquid fractions. Sometimes the
fractions are collected separately, or they may have different density values, so they separate on their own.
Vacuum Distillation
- Vacuum distillation is used to separate components that have high boiling points. Lowering the pressure of
the apparatus also lowers boiling points. Otherwise, the process is similar to other forms of distillation.
- Vacuum distillation is particularly useful when the normal boiling point exceeds the decomposition
temperature of a compound.
- Vacuum distillation is the distillation of a liquid under reduced pressure. The atmospheric pressure in the
distillation tank is reduced making it possible to boil the liquid at a lower temperature. Vacuum distillation
should not be used on solvents with boiling points below 200º Fahrenheit.
Rotary Evaporation
- The preferred method for solvent removal in the laboratory is by use of a rotary evaporator (also known as
a "rotovap"), A rotary evaporator is essentially a reduced pressure distillation.
Principle:
o A more volatile compound will evaporate at a lower temperature than a less volatile compound which
leaves the inorganic and organic chemicals, and microorganisms in the boiling chamber.
o The steam enters condensing coil and condenses back to a liquid that turns into a distillate with a specific
capacity depending on the distillation apparatus called a "still".
o Water is heated to boiling in an enclosed container. As the water evaporates, inorganic chemicals, large
non-volatile organic chemicals, and microorganisms are left behind or killed off in the boiling chamber.
o Simply stated, in simple distillation, what you put in is what you get back, but it is free of non-volatile
materials (it is clean!).
o Fractional distillation is much more complicated (and expensive). It is the base process where crude oil is
turned into the many items that come from oil. Fractional distillation is not required for virtually all solvent
recycling applications.
o Another principle of fractional distillation is that different liquids boil at different temperature. These
miscible liquids boil at different temperature and evaporate at different temperature. When heated, the
liquid with lower boiling point boils and turns into vapor.
Definition of Terms:
o Distillate – a purified form of the original liquid.
References:
What Is Distillation? - Definition, Process & Apparatus - Video & Lesson Transcript. (n.d.). Study.com.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-distillation-definition-process-apparatus.html
Distillation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (2017). Sciencedirect.com.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/distillation
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Is Distillation? Chemistry Definition." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020,
thoughtco.com/what-is-distillation-601964.
Nichols, Lisa. Distillation. Butte College, 23 June 2019, https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/93159.
https://www.deltat.com/pdf/Principles%20of%20Distillation.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3s6D1iAR1a61ldTP5HaCxO12p7W-
WTxpwOhMkh-meuTGsQKUZTFIFMZVk

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Distillation

o Distillate – a purified form of the original liquid.

Distillation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (2017). Sciencedirect.com.

Nichols, Lisa. Distillation. Butte College, 23 June 2019, https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/93159.

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