Distillation is a process used to separate the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation. The process involves heating a liquid mixture to form vapor and then cooling that vapor to get the liquid. The basis of separation is the difference in the vapor pressures (volatilities) of the respective components. Distillation can result in essentially complete separation, resulting in nearly pure components, or it may be a partial separation that increases the concentration of selected components.
Distillation has many important applications, including the separation of alcoholic liquors from fermented materials, the separation of two or more liquids having different boiling points, and the purification of liquid products obtained from chemical synthesis. Distillation is also used to reduce the vapor pressure of crude oil, enabling safe storage and transportation. Cryogenic distillation is used to separate air into nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.
There are different types of distillation, including simple distillation, fractional distillation, and zone distillation. Simple distillation is used to purify a liquid by separating the components of a liquid mixture. Fractional distillation is used to improve the separation in a distillation by allowing for multiple cycles of evaporation and condensation. Zone distillation involves the partial melting of a substance and the condensation of the resulting vapors to obtain a pure distillate.
