Distillation
(Redirected from Distills)
Distillation is a process of separating the component substances from a liquid mixture by selective evaporation 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 of the mixture.
History[edit | edit source]
The concept of distillation has been around since ancient times and is thought to have been first used by the ancient Egyptians. The process was later refined by the Greeks and Romans and has been used throughout history for a variety of purposes, from making perfumes to producing alcohol.
Process[edit | edit source]
The process of distillation involves heating a liquid until it vaporizes, then cooling the vapor until it condenses back into a liquid. The condensed liquid is collected in a separate container. This process can be repeated multiple times to increase the purity of the desired component.
Types of Distillation[edit | edit source]
There are several types of distillation, including:
- Simple distillation: This is 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: This is used when the boiling points of the components are close to each other. It involves the use of a fractionating column.
- Steam distillation: This is used for substances that are heat sensitive. The substance is mixed with water and heated, the steam carries the volatile substances to a condenser where they are separated.
- Vacuum distillation: This is used for substances that have high boiling points. Lowering the pressure lowers the boiling points of the substances, allowing them to be distilled at lower temperatures.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Distillation has many applications, including:
- In the petroleum industry, where it is used in the refining of crude oil into its components, including gasoline, lubricating oils, and waxes.
- In the chemical industry, where it is used in the production of solvents, chemicals, and other products.
- In the food and beverage industry, where it is used in the production of alcoholic beverages, vinegar, and purified water.
- In the pharmaceutical industry, where it is used in the production of medicines and other products.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Distillation Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD