Latest revision as of 14:12, 21 February 2025

Distillation[edit]

Distillation is a process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation. Distillation may result in essentially complete separation (nearly pure components), or it may be a partial separation that increases the concentration of selected components in the mixture.

History[edit]

The history of distillation dates back to ancient times. The earliest evidence of distillation comes from a distillation apparatus found in the Indus Valley Civilization, dating back to around 3000 BC. The process was further developed by the Greeks and Romans, and later by Arab chemists such as Jabir ibn Hayyan.

In the Middle Ages, distillation was used extensively in alchemy.

Principles of Distillation[edit]

Distillation works on the principle of differences in boiling points of substances. When a liquid mixture is heated, the component with the lower boiling point vaporizes first. The vapor is then cooled and condensed into a liquid, which is collected separately.

Types of Distillation[edit]

Simple Distillation[edit]

Simple distillation is used to separate liquids with significantly different boiling points. It involves a single cycle of vaporization and condensation.

Fractional Distillation[edit]

Fractional distillation is used to separate mixtures of liquids with closer boiling points. It involves multiple cycles of vaporization and condensation, using a fractionating column.

Steam Distillation[edit]

Steam distillation is used for temperature-sensitive materials, such as aromatic compounds. It involves passing steam through the mixture to vaporize the components.

Vacuum Distillation[edit]

Vacuum distillation is used for substances with very high boiling points. By reducing the pressure, the boiling point of the substance is lowered, allowing distillation at a lower temperature.

Apparatus[edit]

The basic apparatus for distillation includes a heat source, a distillation flask, a condenser, and a receiving flask. In more complex setups, additional components such as fractionating columns and vacuum pumps may be used.

Applications[edit]

Distillation is widely used in the chemical industry, for the purification of liquids, and in the production of alcoholic beverages. It is also used in the petroleum industry for refining crude oil into its components.

Modern Distillation Techniques[edit]

Modern distillation techniques have evolved to include more efficient methods such as batch distillation and continuous distillation.

Related Pages[edit]

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-{{Short description|A process of separating components of a mixture based on differences in boiling points}}
+= Distillation =
-'''Distillation''' is a widely used method for separating mixtures based on differences in the conditions required to change the phase of components of the mixture. It is a physical separation process, and it is used in various fields such as chemistry, pharmacology, and environmental science.
+[[File:Simple_distillation_apparatus.svg|thumb|right|Simple distillation apparatus]]
-==Principles of Distillation==
+'''Distillation''' is a process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation. Distillation may result in essentially complete separation (nearly pure components), or it may be a partial separation that increases the concentration of selected components in the mixture.
-Distillation works on the principle of [[boiling point]] differences between the components of a mixture. When a liquid mixture is heated, the component with the lower boiling point vaporizes first. The vapor is then condensed back into a liquid and collected separately. This process can be repeated to increase the purity of the separated components.
-===Simple Distillation===
+== History ==
-[[File:Simple_distillation_apparatus.png|thumb|right|Simple distillation apparatus]]
-Simple distillation is used when the boiling points of the components in a mixture are significantly different. It involves a single cycle of vaporization and condensation. The apparatus typically consists of a [[distillation flask]], a [[condenser]], and a [[receiving flask]].
-===Fractional Distillation===
+[[File:Zosimos_distillation_equipment.jpg|thumb|left|Ancient distillation equipment as depicted by Zosimos of Panopolis]]
-[[File:Fractional_distillation_apparatus.png|thumb|left|Fractional distillation apparatus]]
-Fractional distillation is used when the boiling points of the components are closer together. It involves the use of a [[fractionating column]], which provides a larger surface area for multiple vaporization-condensation cycles. This allows for a more efficient separation of components.
-===Steam Distillation===
+The history of distillation dates back to ancient times. The earliest evidence of distillation comes from a distillation apparatus found in the Indus Valley Civilization, dating back to around 3000 BC. The process was further developed by the Greeks and Romans, and later by Arab chemists such as [[Jabir ibn Hayyan]].
-Steam distillation is used for temperature-sensitive materials that may decompose at their boiling points. In this method, steam is introduced into the mixture, lowering the boiling points of the components and allowing them to vaporize at lower temperatures.
-==Applications of Distillation==
+In the Middle Ages, distillation was used extensively in alchemy. [[File:Hieronymus_Brunschwig_Liber_de_arte_Distillandi_CHF_AQ13x3.jpg|thumb|right|Illustration from Hieronymus Brunschwig's "Liber de arte Distillandi"]]
-Distillation is used in various industries and scientific fields:
-* In the [[petroleum industry]], fractional distillation is used to separate crude oil into its components, such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.
+== Principles of Distillation ==
-* In the [[pharmaceutical industry]], distillation is used to purify chemicals and produce high-purity solvents.
-* In the production of [[alcoholic beverages]], distillation is used to concentrate alcohol from fermented mixtures.
-* In [[environmental science]], distillation is used to purify water and remove contaminants.
-==Advantages and Limitations==
+Distillation works on the principle of differences in boiling points of substances. When a liquid mixture is heated, the component with the lower boiling point vaporizes first. The vapor is then cooled and condensed into a liquid, which is collected separately.
-Distillation is a versatile and effective separation technique, but it has its limitations:
-* It is energy-intensive, requiring significant heat input to vaporize the components.
+== Types of Distillation ==
-* It may not be suitable for separating components with very similar boiling points without the use of advanced techniques like azeotropic distillation.
-* Some components may decompose at high temperatures, limiting the use of distillation for heat-sensitive materials.
-==Related pages==
+=== Simple Distillation ===
-* [[Boiling point]]
-* [[Fractionating column]]
+Simple distillation is used to separate liquids with significantly different boiling points. It involves a single cycle of vaporization and condensation.
-* [[Condenser (laboratory)]]
+=== Fractional Distillation ===
+Fractional distillation is used to separate mixtures of liquids with closer boiling points. It involves multiple cycles of vaporization and condensation, using a fractionating column.
+=== Steam Distillation ===
+Steam distillation is used for temperature-sensitive materials, such as aromatic compounds. It involves passing steam through the mixture to vaporize the components.
+=== Vacuum Distillation ===
+Vacuum distillation is used for substances with very high boiling points. By reducing the pressure, the boiling point of the substance is lowered, allowing distillation at a lower temperature.
+== Apparatus ==
+[[File:My_retort.jpg|thumb|left|A traditional retort used in distillation]]
+The basic apparatus for distillation includes a heat source, a distillation flask, a condenser, and a receiving flask. In more complex setups, additional components such as fractionating columns and vacuum pumps may be used.
+[[File:Distillation_by_Retort.png|thumb|right|Distillation by retort]]
+== Applications ==
+Distillation is widely used in the chemical industry, for the purification of liquids, and in the production of alcoholic beverages. It is also used in the petroleum industry for refining crude oil into its components.
+[[File:UkrainianVodkaStill.jpg|thumb|left|A traditional Ukrainian vodka still]]
+== Modern Distillation Techniques ==
+Modern distillation techniques have evolved to include more efficient methods such as batch distillation and continuous distillation.
+[[File:BatchDistill.svg|thumb|right|Diagram of a batch distillation process]]
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Fractional distillation]]
+* [[Steam distillation]]
+* [[Vacuum distillation]]
+* [[Alcoholic fermentation]]
 * [[Petroleum refining]]
-* [[Alcohol distillation]]
+[[Category:Chemical processes]]
 [[Category:Separation processes]]
-[[Category:Chemical engineering]]
+[[Category:Distillation]]
-[[Category:Laboratory techniques]]

Distillation: Difference between revisions