FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION OF VODKA (THE BAR)

Pauline C. Sagarbarria, Elijah L. Santos, Madeline C. Sibulo, Lianne S. Solacito and Frederiko T. Sollano
2BMT, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas

ABSTRACT
Distillation is a commonly used method for purifying liquids and separating mixtures of liquids into their individual
components based on their boiling point differences. In this experiment fractional distillation will be used to
calculate the percentage of ethanol in the beverage. Fractional distillation is essentially the same as simple
distillation except that a fractionating column is placed between the boiling flask and the condenser. The processes
involved are evaporation and condensation. Evaporation process changes the liquid into gas and when these vapors
formed pass through the condenser, it again changes its form from gas to liquid. A volume of 15.0 mL of a mixture
including ethanol was heated until the temperature reached 100C. 5.0 mL of distillate was collected between 80.084.0C. Percent composition of the 15.0 mL sample was determined to be 33% ethanol and 66% proof.

INTRODUCTION
Distillation is a process of converting a liquid to a vapor(vaporization),condensing the vapour(condensation), and collecting the
distillate in another container. Distilling is used in many practical ways such as purifying contaminates out of water to obtain
clean water for drinking, to produce a variety of alcoholic beverages like vodka or whiskey, refining oils such as the gasoline we
put in our cars, to make aromatic perfumes, and in natural food flavorings (Maxfield, 2013.)There are four types of distillation
methods such as simple distillation, fractional distillation, vacuum distillation and steam distillation.
There are many different ways of distilling, but this experiment uses fractional distillation as the method for extracting ethanol
from the vodka. The principle of fractional distillation is based on the establishment of a large number of theoretical
vaporization-condensation cycles (theoretical plates). (Dr. Pahlavan, 2013) The apparatus of a simple distillation is modified by
inserting a fractionating column between the distillation flask and the distillation head.
The fractionating column provides a large surface area in which the initial distillate is
redistilled and condensed again. This process continues as the vapors rise up the column until the vapors finally make it into the
condenser. These vapors and the final distillate will contain a greater percentage of the lower boiling liquid. Continuous repetition
of redistillation process in fractional distillation gives good separation of the volatile liquid components.
The objective of the experiment is to separate the components of sample and to calculate the percentage of ethanol, percentage
loss and percent proof of The Bar Vodka.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

The members utilized several test tubes, boiling stones, alcohol lamp (as the heat source), a matchbox, numerous small boiling
stones, the water from the water pipe, 15.0 ml of The Bar Vodka, 3 clamps, 2 iron stands and the fractional distillation kit. The
members assembled the setup. Within the fractional distillation kit, it has the distilling flask connected to the fractionating
column wherein the members both placed inside it with boiling stones. A simple distillation head equip with a thermometer on
top that is connected to the fractionating column (below) and to the condenser on the other free end, along with two rubber tubes
fitted to both the water inlet and the water outlet. They also had the adapter where they would attach to the other end of the
condenser.

Fractional Distillation Setup

Calibration of 10 pieces 13x100 test tubes to 0.5mL is required which will be used later for the collection of distillate. Boiling
stones are placed into the quick-fit distilling flask and added 15.0 mL of vodka. The members then heat the apparatus containing
the vodka by using an alcohol lamp until it boils. We recorded the temperature of the first drop of distillate as well as the
temperature of every 0.5mL distillate collected using the calibrated test tubes. They stopped collecting when the temperature
reached 100C.
Later, they did the flame test on the first test tube and the last test tube of the distillate collected. They added 5 drops of the
distillate of each tube on the watch glass. They used match to the if the distillate would ignite.
The percentage of ethanol on The Bar Vodka, the percent proof and the percent loss were calculated based on the data gathered.
The following formulas were used:
% Ethanol = (Volume of Ethanol Volume of
Sample) x 100%
% Proof = % Ethanol x 2
% Loss = ( Volume of Sample (Volume of Distillate + Volume of Residue) ) Volume of Sample

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The following data are collected during the experiment:
Sample: The Bar Vodka
Volume of Sample: 15.0 mL
First distillate: Flammable
Last distillate: Not Flammable
Table 1. Volume and Temperature
Volume (mL)

Temperature
(C)
0.0

31

0.5

79

1.0

80

1.5

80

2.0

80

2.5

81

3.0

81

3.5

82

4.0

82

4.5

82

5.0

84

5.5

84

6.0

90

6.5

98

7.0

99

7.5

100

Since the first distillate is flammable its component is Ethanol while the last distillate is water because it is not flammable

The results from the data show

the amount of distillate and the temperature during distillation. The table shows the consistency of the temperature that is below
90C from 0.5 mL to 5.5. mL. Therefore, the volume of Ethanol is 5.0 mL.

The total volume of the distillate is 7.5 mL and the volume of the residue is7.0 mL.
Calculation for % Ethanol:
__5.0 mL__ x100%

33%

% Ethanol =

15 mL

Calculation for % Proof:

66%

% Proof =

33% x 2

Calculation for % Loss:

% Loss = __15mL (7.5 + 7.0)mL_ x100%

3.3 %

15mL

CONCLUSION
Ethanol is usually present in many alcoholic beverages, and in the sample which is The Bar Vodka, quite large amount of ethanol
is present.
During the distillation process, the data showed that volume and temperature are directly proportional. Meaning, as the volume
increases, the temperature also increases. Because of this rate, vapour pressure also plays a significant role. The higher the vapour
pressure of the liquid, the lower the boiling point. And this difference in boiling point is the main principle involved in
distillation.
The flammability of an ethanol is caused by chemical bonds of hydrogen-carbon. When it is exposed to a source of
energy, which is fire, the bonds rearrange causing it to release heat energy or exothermal energy.
Therefore, the process of fractional distillation is effective and more efficient in separating components of a mixture
that have different boiling points.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pahlavan, D. (n.d.). Distillation
http://swc2.hccs.edu/pahlavan/2423L7.pdf

Website/Journals:
Separation of a Mixture.

Retrieved

Tham,
M.
(1997-2009).
Introduction
to
Distillation.
Retrieved
http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/distil/distil0.htm
(2010,
03).
Distillation
of
Alcoholic
Beverages.
StudyMode.com.
http://www.studymode.com/essays/Distillation-Of-Alcoholic-Beverages-291742.html

September

3,

2014,

from

September

3,

2014,

from

Retrieved

03,

2010,

from

Book:
Bathan, G., Bayquen, A., & Cruz, C. (2014). Physical Methods of Analysis. In Laboratory Manual in Organic Chemistry
(Revised ed., pp. 13-15). Manila: C and E Publishing.