Unit operation #2 Flashcards
Distillation def
A process of separating the component substances from a
liquid mixture by selective evaporation and condensation.
Based on what concept
differences in volatility
composition on vapor
Vapors produced contain the components of the original
mixture, but in different proportions (determined by the
relative volatilities).
Applications of Distillation
in Food Processing
- Manufacture of alcoholic beverages
- Recovery of solvents after oil extraction
- Concentration of aroma compounds from juices
and extracts - Extraction of essential oils from seeds and leaves
Azeotropes
- Constant boiling mixture
- Mixture of two or more liquids whose proportions
cannot be altered by simple distillation - The vapor and liquid composition lines in the
boiling point diagram come together - It is not possible to separate the components by
fractional distillation
Azeotropes ex
The ethanol-water mixture
* Has a minimum boiling-point azeotrope
Distillation Methods
- Simple Distillation
(Batch Distillation) - Equilibrium (Flash)
Distillation - Distillation with Reflux
- Vacuum Distillation
- Molecular Distillation
(Short Path)
Batch Distillation
Equilibrium Distillation
or Flash Distillation
All components are present in
both phases (liquid, vapor)
The composition of the vapor is
different from the liquid
Production of vapor by
boiling liquid mixture in a single
stage
Recovering and condensing vapors
No liquid allowed to return to the still to contact the vapor
Equilibrium (Flash) Distillation
Mass Balances
F = V + L
F xF = L x + V y
Distillation Equipment of batch
Pot Stills
Distillation Equipment properties
Contaminants from materials
used to build the system
Lead
Antifreeze (use of car radiators
as condensers)
Methanol (adulteration)
“Foreshot” may contain
methanol, acetone
Risk of distillation
High alcohol concentrations:
Flammable
Alcohol vapors may
accumulate in the air
Poor ventilation
Federal law strictly prohibits
individuals from producing
distilled spirits at home
Fractional Distillation
Distillation with Reflux or
Rectification
A series of flash distillation
stages
A portion of the condensate
is returned to the still
Vapors rise through a series of
trays or stages
Part of the condensate flows
downwards
Fractional equipments
internal plates
Ex whiskey
Steam Distillation
At atmospheric pressure high boiling liquids cannot be purified by distillation
The components of the mixture may decompose at the high temperature required
Often those high-boiling substances are insoluble in water
Steam distillation may sometimes be used to effect the separation at safe temperatures.
Steam Distillation boiling
Boiling temperatures can be reduced by reducing the pressure on the system
Boiling under a vacuum or by adding an inert vapor
Inert vapor contributes to the vapor pressure and allows the liquid to boil at a lower temperature.
Easily removed from the distillate
Must not react with any of the products
Ex gin production
steam disillation + reflux
Vacuum Distillation
Reduction of the total
pressure = distilling at
lower temperatures
Vacuum distillation is
tending to supplant steam distillation
In some instances, the two
methods are combined in
vacuum steam distillation.