Distillation

Definition
Distillation can be defined as the process that had been occurred when the
separation of component takes place from a liquid mixture and it will depend
on the boiling points. Moreover, for its components, the distillation process will
depend on their vapor pressure. So, that is the definition of distillation.
Process principle

Basic distillation process

For a simple basic distillation apparatus, it consists of three parts;

a) A flask equipped with a thermometer and with an outlet tube from which
the vapor is emitted;
b) A condenser that consists of two tubes of different diameters placed one
within the other and so arranged that the smaller (in which the vapor is
condensed) is held in a stream of coolant in the larger;
c) And a vessel in which the condensed vapor is collected.
The mixture of substances is placed in the flask and then it will be heated.
Firstly, the substance with the lowest boiling point will vaporize, the
temperature remaining constant until that substance had been completely
distilled. Then, the vapor is led into the condenser where, on being cooled, it
reverts to the liquid (condenses) and runs off into a receiving vessel. The
product so obtained is known as the distillate. Those substances having a
higher boiling point remain in the flask and constitute the residue. Since a
perfect separation is never effected, the distillate is often redistilled to
increase its purity. Many alcoholic beverages are distilled. For examples,

whiskey, and various liqueurs. The apparatus used, called the still, is the
same in principle as other distillation apparatus.

Fractional distillation

In the fractional distillation, when the substance with the lowest boiling point
has been removed, the temperature can be raised and the distillation process
repeated with the substance having the next lowest boiling point. The process
of obtaining fractions in this way is one type of fractional distillation. A more
effective method of fractional distillation involves the placing of vertical tube
called a fractionating column between the flask and the condenser. The
column is then filled with many objects on which the vapor can repeatedly
condense and re-evaporate as it moves toward the top, effectively distilling
the vapor many times. The less volatile substances in the vapor tend to run
back down the column after they condense, concentrating themselves near
the bottom. The more volatile ones tend to re-evaporate and keep moving
upward, concentrating themselves near the top. Because of this the column
can be tapped at various levels to draw off different fractions. Fractional
distillation is commonly used in refining petroleum, some of the fractions thus
obtained being benzene, gasoline, kerosene, lubricating oils, fuel oils, and
paraffin.

Reflux Distillation
The large scale of distillation will need the reflux distillation, but the versions
will be follow the sized of distillers. The boiling point of components will
increase if the temperature of the condensers outlet product (known as a
reflux still) can be controlled. for producing the high-quality alcoholic
beverages, reflux distillation is the best method can be used.

Destructive distillation process

Other than that, the distillation involves heating out of free contact with air.
Destructive distillation process is a process in which a solid material (wood
and coal) is heated using the high temperature out of contact with air to
make coke, coal tar, or charcoal. The name of destructive comes from the
chemical composition of the end product is distinctly different from that of
the input material.

Types of equipment
Distillation Column
Distillation column is the most common used types of separation equipment in
industry. Distillation is the most common liquid-liquid separation process and it
can be run in a continuous or batch system. The distillation occurred by the
application and removal of heat to exploit differences in relative volatility. The
heat can cause components with lower boiling points and higher volatility to
be vaporized, leaving less volatile components as a liquid. The mixtures with
the high relative volatilities are easier to be separated. Distillation also can be
used to separate multi-component mixtures. In this distillation column, it
consists of plate, column type (raschig ring, packed bed and pall ring) and
usage example.

Applications
There are many types of application that used in the distillation process. The
distillation is widely used in this world and give many benefit for human in this
world.
Laboratory scale distillation and industrial distillation
First and foremost, the laboratory scale distillation. The laboratory scale
distillation means that the distillation that run as same as the batch distillation.
The main different between laboratory scale distillation and industrial
distillation is that laboratory scale distillation is often operates batch-wise,
meanwhile the industrial distillation often occurs continuously distillation. For
batch distillation, the composition of source materials consists of the vapors of
the distilling compounds and the distillate change during the distillation
occurred. In batch distillation, an apparatus which is used to distill liquid
mixture (still) is supplied with a batch of feed mixture, then it separated into its
component fractions which is collected from more volatile to the less volatile,

with the bottoms (remaining least or non-volatile fraction) removed at the end.
After that, the still can then be recharged and the process repeated.
Meanwhile, for the continuous distillation, the source materials which consist
of vapors and distillate are kept at a constant composition by carefully
replenishing the source material and removing fractions from both vapor and
liquid in the system.

Distillation of herbs for perfumery and medicines

Next, the distillation is used widely in the distillation of herbs for perfumery
and medicines. Unfortunately, the distillation is not used as a true purification
method but it more to transfer all the volatiles from the source materials to the
distillate. As example, the solar distillation for the oil extractions. Essential oils
extraction from herbs through distillation process is one of the medium
temperature agro-based industries. These oils are used in medicines, food,
fragrances, cosmetics and perfumery.

Food processing
Distillation enables the purification and separation of volatile food products
from the aqueous blends. Distillation can be used to separate essential oils
and flavours, but it is mainly used for the production of alcohol. The distillation
in food processing also used in the industrial production of alcohol from
agricultural raw materials, fruit and grain, which can then be used in alcoholic
beverages. This process is the production of ethyl alcohol, producing
homemade whiskey

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Other than that, the distillation process also can be used in the production of
milk and many mores.