Different Types of Distillation Process,

Definition.
Last Updated on: November 1, 2024 by Ronak
Prajapati
Types of Distillation
Distillation is a unit process widely used operation in
chemical industries all over the world to separate
components of a mixture. Distillation is a process of
liquid evaporation converted into vapor and
recondense and collected in a vessel.
In the manufacturing process, distillation is a
commonly used unit operation as a part of the solvent
recovery process (SR Plant), impurity removal
process or purification process, and many more.
Today we are going to learn Types of
Distillation and the definition of the distillation
process.
types of distillation
Table of Contents
• What is Distillation | Definition of Distillation |
What does distillation mean?
• Types of Distillation | Different types of
Distillation
o 1. Simple Distillation
o 2. Steam Distillation
o 3. Vacuum Distillation
o 4. Fractional Distillation
o 5. Azeotropic distillation
o 6. Extractive Distillation
 • FAQ (Different types of distillation process)
o 1. How many types of distillation are there?
o 2. What are the three steps of distillation?
o 3. How many types of distillation are there in
the pharmaceutical industry?
o 2. What is the use of distillation?
• Wrapping Up
• Welcome to your typesofdistillation Quiz..!!
What is Distillation | Definition of Distillation |
What does distillation mean?
Distillation can be defined as the process of
separating components or substances from the
mixture using different boiling points or relative
volatility. In other words, the distillation Process
involving the conversion of a liquid into a vapor that
is subsequently condensed back to liquid form and
herby separates one liquid from another. Learn What
are unit operation and unit process.
Types of Distillation | Different types of
Distillation
 1. Simple distillation
2. Steam Distillation
3. Vacuum Distillation
4. Fractional Distillation
5. Azeotropic Distillation
6. Extractive Distillation
Let us have a simple introduction to all the different
types of Distillation and the working principle of the
distillation process.
1. Simple Distillation
Simple distillation is the basic type of distillation
process in which a liquid mixture of two components
is heated until the substance with a lower boiling
point starts vaporizing. The vapor is then condensed
with the help of a condenser with suitable utility and
then collected in another vessel. Simple distillation is
used to separate the mixture to have a wide boiling
point difference of more than 25 degrees or more.
2. Steam Distillation
Image
source – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_distill
ation
Simple distillation is the basic type of distillation
process in which steam is introduced to the mixture
which is to heat the liquid mixture which will increase
the vapor pressure of the components. When the
vapor pressure of the immiscible components
outplace the atmospheric pressure, the high boiling
component will start evaporating at low temperatures
and form a mixture with water.
Steam distillation is used to separate out the heat-
sensitive components which can decompose at high
temperatures. A common example of Steam
distillation is it is used to extract oil from plant matter.
3. Vacuum Distillation
The distillation process can be classified as
atmospheric distillation and vacuum distillation. The
distillation process which is conducted under vacuum
or negative pressure is known as vacuum distillation.
It is similar to atmospheric distillation but the only
difference is vacuum distillation is conducted under
vacuum. The boiling point is directly proportional to
pressure. If the boiling point of any substance present
in the mixture is high, in that case we need to use
utility which can help to achieve the boiling point of
that high boiling component which will be costly. So
to avoid using that utility, vacuum distillation is used
in which vacuum is created in the column which will
decrease the boiling point of component and hence
separation can be achieved at low temperature.
4. Fractional Distillation
Fractional Distillation the principle behind fractional
distillation is different components in the mixtures
boils at different temperatures. In fractional
distillation, so the mixture is heated and the low
boiling substance starts evaporating first, condenses
the liquid first, and separate out. Now increase the
temperature and similarly separate out the
components from lower boiling point to higher
boiling point.
Fractional distillation is carried out commonly in
refineries where the distillation of crude oil is carried
out. Different components like petrol, diesel,
kerosene, naptha are separated from the crude oil
using fractional distillation as the boiling points of
these substances present in the crude oil are different.
5. Azeotropic distillation
Azeotropic distillation is carried out when we have a
mixture of immiscible liquid which cannot be
separated using simple distillation as the difference in
boiling point is very low and such mixtures are called
an azeotropic mixture. If we carried out the simple
distillation of the azeotropic mixture, vapor generated
by heating the mixture will contain both the
component, hence separation though the simple
distillation method can’t be done. In this case, the
Azeotropic distillation process is carried out.
In the Azeotropic distillation method, in the mixture
of supposing A and B, an additional substance i.e. C
is added which has the ability to alter the activity
coefficient of the components and herby change the
relative volatility of the mixture. The third component
added to the mixture is known as entrainer which will
create either minimum-boiling with one of the
components.
This was the introduction, We covered this topic
individually and in detail, if you want to learn in detail
along with examples then you can read
the Azeotropic Distillation process in detail along
with examples.
6. Extractive Distillation
Extractive Distillation can be defined as distillation
performed in the presence of a miscible, high-boiling,
relatively non-volatile component, the solvent, that
forms no azeotrope with the other components in the
mixture. This method is used for mixtures having a
low value of relative volatility, nearing unity. In this
method, an additional component called entrainer is
added to the mixture but it will not form any
azeotrope but act differently with the component of
the mixture and cause a change in relative volatility
to allow the new three-part mixture to be separated by
normal distillation.
FAQ (Different types of distillation process)
1. How many types of distillation are there?
Ans – There are total 6 types of distillation and they
are Simple distillation, Steam Distillation, Vacuum
Distillation, Fractional Distillation, Azeotropic
Distillation, and Extractive Distillation
2. What are the three steps of distillation?
Distillation is a three step process, heating of liquid to
change the phase in vapor form, condense the liquid
and last one is collecting the condensed liquid.
3. How many types of distillation are there in the
pharmaceutical industry?
In the pharmaceutical industry, types of the
distillation process is used are simple distillation,
extractive distillation, azeotropic distillation, and
vacuum distillation. Fractional distillation is not used
in the pharmaceutical industry as it is only used in
petroleum or refinery.
2. What is the use of distillation?
The process of distillation can be used to purify
liquids or to separate them into their individual
components.
Distillation is used in a variety of industries, including
refineries and in the production of alcohol, essential
oils, and purified water.
Wrapping Up
This was a simple introduction article on what is
Distillation and the different types of distillation.
we will be covering different types of distillation in
detail so stay tuned with us. If you are a chemical
engineering student or working professional, or in
case you want to have chemical engineering
knowledge, check out our blog, we had covered
various articles related to chemical engineering and
Industrial safety.

Welcome to your types of distillation Quiz..!!

1.
In steam distillation, why is steam introduced into
the mixture?
1. To remove impurities
2. To increase the vapor pressure of components
3. To decrease the temperature
4. To increase the cooling effect
2.
Which type of distillation is commonly used for
temperature-sensitive materials?
1. Simple
2. Which type of distillation is commonly used for
temperature-sensitive materials?
3. Extractive
4. Steam
3.
Which type of distillation is most commonly
applied in crude oil refining?
1. Fractional
2. Azeotropic
3. Steam
4. Simple
4.
Which distillation type uses a non-volatile solvent
to improve separation?
1. Simple
2. Extractive
3. Vacuum
4. Steam
5.
What is the main purpose of simple distillation?
1. Separate components in solid mixtures
2. Separate components with close boiling points
3. Separate components with wide boiling point
differences
4. Separate azeotropic mixtures
6.
In azeotropic distillation, what is added to aid
separation?
1. A third component (entrainer)
2. Salt
3. Water
4. Air
7.
Which distillation method is specifically designed
for immiscible liquids?
1. Fractional
2. Steam
3. Extractive
4. Vacuum
8.
In extractive distillation, the added component
should have which characteristic?
1. High boiling point
2. Low volatility
3. Immiscibility
4. High volatility
9.
What distinguishes vacuum distillation from other
types?
1. Use of a special solvent
2. C. Constant temperature requirement
3. Use of steam
4. Reduced pressure environment
10.
What is a key feature of fractional distillation?
1. Only one phase change occurs
2. It separates solids from liquids
3. No column is required
4. Different substances are separated at successive
boiling points

Website:
https://chemicalengineeringworld.com/types-of-
distillation/