Title:

Batch Distillation

Equipment and Materials:

1. Batch distillation column
2. 20 liter 40 v/v % ethanol-water mixture
3. 250mL 0 v/v % ethanol-water stock solution
4. 250 mL 20 v/v % ethanol-water stock solution
5. 250 mL 40 v/v % ethanol-water stock solution
6. 250 mL 60 v/v % ethanol-water stock solution
7. 250 mL 80 v/v % ethanol-water stock solution
8. 250 mL 100 v/v % ethanol-water stock solution
9. Refractometer
10. Dripper
11. Beaker (100 mL)

Introduction:

Distillation is used to separate mixtures of liquids by exploiting differences in the boiling

points of the different components. This technique is widely used in industry, for example in the
manufacture and purification of nitrogen, oxygen and the rare gases. Distillation is one of the most
common liquid-liquid separation processes, and can be carried out in a continuous or batch system.
Distillation can be used to separate binary or multi-component mixtures. Many variables, such as
column pressure, temperature, size, and diameter are determined by the properties of the feed and
the desired products. To be precise, it is a process where a liquid or vapour mixture of two or more
substances is separated into its components fractions of desired purity through the application and
removal of heat.
Moreover, it is important to identify the volatility of the components in distillation process.
The more volatile, “light” or “low boiling”, components will concentrate in the vapour. On the other
hand, the less volatile, “heavy” or “high boiling”, components will concentrate in the liquid phase.
The figure below shows a distillation column.
 Figure 1: Distillation Column
Generally, liquid is first introduced to the bottom of the distillation column. Steam is then
introduced into the reboiler which heats up the mixture at the bottom of the column. The mixture is
converted partially into vapour. The vapour so formed at the bottom of the column is richer in low
boiling component of the binary mixture (in this case, ethanol) than the un-vaporized liquid. The
vapour is returned to the column and rises up the column. To increase the concentration of ethanol
in the vapour, the distillation column is equipped with trays or packings where the rising vapour
will pass through. The vapour passes up the column and is completely condensed by a condenser
located at the top of the column.
The condensed liquid is then collected in the overhead accumulator, in which a definite
liquid level is maintained. Some of the liquid in the accumulator is allowed to flow back to the top
of the column which is called as reflux. The reflux liquid is usually at its boiling point and is rich in
the low-boiling component (ethanol). It provides the down-flowing liquid that comes into contact
with the up-flowing vapour. The remaining portion of the condensed liquid is withdrawn as
overhead product.