Distillation
Distillation
Distillation
Theory
Distillation is the process of separating the component or substances from a liquid mixture
by selective evaporation and condensation. Distillation is the most basic method used for
the purification of liquids and for the separation of liquid mixtures. Distillation involves the
heating of a liquid to boiling and then collecting their vapors to condense them in liquid
state. By this method, separation of the liquids of the mixture, having a few degrees
different boiling points, separation of a liquid from non-volatile components, and
purification of the liquid is conducted.
The boiling point is defined as the temperature at which the saturated vapor pressure of
a liquid is equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure. If the liquids are heated at
constant pressure, for example at atmospheric pressure, the vapor pressure increases in
proportion to the heat supplied. Once the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the
pressure of the outside atmosphere, the liquid begins to boil. The temperature at which
the vapor pressure equals the atmospheric pressure of the outside is called the boiling
point of the liquid. If more heat is given to a liquid at the boiling point, the temperature of
the liquid does not increase, but the heat supplied ensures that the liquid becomes vapor,
and the temperature remains constant until the liquid evaporates completely. The boiling
point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from liquid to gas
throughout the bulk of the liquid. At the boiling point, molecules anywhere in the liquid
may be vaporized. At any temperature, a liquid partly vaporizes into the space above it
until the pressure exerted by the vapor reaches a characteristic value called the vapor
pressure of the liquid at that temperature. As the temperature is increased, the vapor
pressure increases; at the boiling point, bubbles of vapor form within the liquid and rise
to the surface. The boiling point of a liquid varies according to the applied pressure; the
normal boiling point is the temperature at which the vapor pressure is equal to the
standard sea-level atmospheric pressure (760 mm of mercury).
In general, the boiling point of a compound is dependent on the molecular mass of the
compound and the strength of the attractive force holding the molecules together. Factors
affecting boiling point include the relative strength of the four intermolecular forces: Ionic
> Hydrogen bonding > dipole-dipole > Van der Waals dispersion forces. The influence of
each of these attractive forces will depend on the functional groups present, but stronger
forces mean a higher boiling point. Boiling points increase as the number of carbons is
increased, but branching decreases boiling point. The boiling point of associative polar
liquids is higher than the boiling point of non-associative polar liquids. For example, the
boiling point of ethanol is higher than the boiling point of diethyl ether, both of which have
higher boiling points than the nonpolar and no associative propane.
When two compounds with close boiling points are heated, the vapor above the liquid will
be composed of both components at the boiling point. Consider the simple distillation of
a mixture of 50:50 A and B, where A has a lower boiling point than B. When the mixture
begins to boil, the vapor will be richer in A, but still have a sizable proportion of B; let us
say the vapor above the boiling liquid is 66:33 A:B. This vapor would get cooled in the
condenser and drip into the receiving flask. At the end of the simple distillation, the
receiving flask has been enriched in A and the liquid remaining in the still pot is enriched
in B. To purify A, you would take the liquid from the receiving flask composed of 66:33
A:B, set up another simple distillation, enriching to perhaps 80:20 A:B. After a series of
these vaporization/condensation cycles, you would finally get pure A.
Distillation is applied in six different forms according to the nature of the substance to be
purified or removed:
1. Simple Distillation
2. Fractional Distillation
3. Steam Distillation
4. Vacuum Distillation
5. Molecular Distillation
6. Fractional Distillation Under Reduced Pressure.
If the boiling point of the liquids in the mixture are remarkably close to each other, then
such mixtures can be purified by fractional distillation. The difference in boiling points of
the mixture is usually less than 80°C (e.g., acetone (b.p. 56ºC) and methyl alcohol (b.p.
65ºC)). For fractional distillation, a suitable fractionating column is placed between the
flask and the condenser. Since the procedures of simple distillation are so like those
involved in fractional distillation, the apparatus that are used in the procedures are also
very similar. The only difference between the equipment used in fractional distillation and
that used in simple distillation is that with fractional distillation, a packed fractionating
column is.
Questions
Q1 Which liquids are distilled using the fractional distillation method?
Those liquids with identical boiling points, indicate that their boiling point is not
extremely high. In this method, such liquids are used.
4. What are the key selling points for fractional distillation equipment?
• Precision: High-purity separation of components.
• Scalability: Suitable for both small-scale and industrial applications.
• Customization: Ability to design systems tailored to specific needs.
• Durability: Robust equipment for long-term operation.
5. How can innovation improve marketing potential?
• Smart technology: Incorporating IoT for monitoring and controlling distillation.
• Compact designs: Portable systems for small-scale operations.
• Energy efficiency: Reduce operational costs for industries.
6. What makes fractional distillation stand out in the market compared to other
separation techniques?
• Precision and efficiency in separating components with close boiling points.
• Versatility across industries (oil refining, alcohol distillation, pharmaceutical
production, etc.).
• Ability to scale from laboratory setups to large industrial plants.
1. Filtration
Disadvantage:
• Only separates solid-liquid mixtures, not liquid-liquid or gas mixtures.
• Ineffective for separating dissolved substances or components with similar
physical properties.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation can separate liquid-liquid mixtures and even purify gases based on
boiling points, making it versatile for more complex mixtures.
2. Centrifugation
Disadvantage:
• Works best for separating components with significant differences in density.
• Requires expensive, high-speed equipment.
• Cannot achieve chemical purity as it separates based on density, not molecular
properties.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation does not rely on density but instead on boiling points, achieving a
higher level of chemical purity and precision for mixtures with similar densities.
3. Crystallization
Disadvantage:
• Time-consuming, often requiring hours or days for complete separation.
• Only works for components that form crystals and are soluble in each solvent.
• Cannot manage mixtures of liquids or gases.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation is faster and more versatile, working efficiently for liquid and gas
mixtures without relying on solubility or crystal formation.
4. Adsorption
Disadvantage:
• Limited to removing specific impurities or separating components that strongly
adhere to the adsorbent.
• Adsorbents need frequent regeneration or replacement, increasing costs.
• Inefficient for large-scale separations or mixtures with multiple components.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation can separate multi-component mixtures in a single process,
without the need for consumable materials like adsorbents.
5. Membrane Separation (e.g., Reverse Osmosis, Ultrafiltration)
Disadvantage:
• Membranes can be expensive and prone to fouling or damage.
• Not effective for separating liquids with similar molecular sizes or for high-
viscosity mixtures.
• Limited scalability for large industrial applications.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation is robust for industrial scales and can separate mixtures based on
boiling points, unaffected by molecular size or viscosity.
7. Evaporation
Disadvantage:
• Cannot effectively separate mixtures of liquids with close boiling points.
• May lead to loss of volatile components.
• Limited to simple liquid-solid separations.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation can separate liquids with slight differences in boiling points while
retaining volatile components through controlled conditions.
8. Liquid-Liquid Extraction
Disadvantage:
• Relies on immiscibility and density differences between liquids.
• Requires large amounts of solvents, which can be expensive and
environmentally harmful.
• Inefficient for mixtures where components have similar solubility profiles.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation avoids the use of harmful solvents and separates liquids with close
boiling points, making it cleaner and more efficient.
9. Magnetic or Electrostatic Separation
Disadvantage:
• Limited to materials that are magnetic or conductive.
• Not applicable for most liquid-liquid or gas separations.
How Distillation is Better:
Fractional distillation works for a much broader range of mixtures, including liquids and
gases, without the need for specific material properties.