Distillation is a separation method used in homogeneous mixtures that have at least one component in the liquid state. See the main types of distillation:
→ simple distillation
a) Equipment used in simple distillation
b) Principles of simple distillation
It is a separation method used to separate a liquid that has a dissolved solid. Separation occurs because only the liquid goes through the vaporization process during heating. After assembling the distillation system (shown in item a), the following occurs:
The mixture is added to the distillation flask;
Soon after, the mixture is heated in the balloon and, with that, the liquid starts to turn into vapor;
The steam reaches the condenser and is condensed (goes from a vapor state to a liquid);
Finally, the liquid is collected in the collecting bottle.
c) Examples of mixtures that can be subjected to the simple distillation method:
Water and salt
water and sugar
→ fractional distillation
a) Equipment used in fractional distillation
b) Principles of fractional distillation
It is a separation method used to separate a liquid that is dissolved in another (homogeneous mixture formed by miscible liquids). Separation is possible because liquids have different boiling points. After assembling the distillation system (shown in item a), the following occurs:
We add the mixture to the round-bottomed balloon (on the left of the drawing);
Right after that, we heat the mixture in the balloon and, with that, the liquids start to turn into vapor;
The vapors reach the fractionation column, which is an obstacle;
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In the fractionation column, there is little space between the balls inside, so only the lower density vapor will cross it;
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The vapor that passes through the fractionation column enters the condenser and is condensed (goes from a vapor state to a liquid);
Finally, the liquid is collected in the collecting bottle.
c) Examples of mixtures that can be subjected to the fractional distillation method:
Petroleum
Gasoline components (octane and hexane)
water and acetone
→ Steam distillation
a) Equipment used in steam distillation
b) Principles of steam distillation
It is a separation method that uses water vapor to remove volatile substances from a solid material. After assembling the distillation system (shown in item a), the following occurs:
We just added water to balloon number 1;
To balloon number 2 we add the mixture that has the volatile components;
Right after that, we heat the water in balloon 1 so that it turns into steam;
The water vapor formed in balloon 1 is directed, through a tube, directly to the mixture in balloon 2;
When the steam reaches mixture 2, its components are immediately vaporized by the heat of water vapor;
Thus, the water vapor and the vapors from the volatile components of the mixture in balloon 2 enter the condenser and are condensed (changes from the vapor state to a liquid);
Finally, the mixture of water and volatile components is collected in the collecting bottle.
c) Examples of mixtures that can be subjected to the steam drag distillation method:
Extraction of flower essences;
Extraction of wood essences;
Extraction of plant essences.
By Me. Diogo Lopes Dias
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
DAYS, Diogo Lopes. "What is distillation?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/quimica/o-que-e-destilacao.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
