Molecular Distillation

Liquid-liquid separation
technology

Salient points
Considered as the safest mode of separation
Separation principle based on the difference of molecular
mean free path
Used to purify the thermally unstable molecules and
related compounds with low volatility and elevated boiling
point
Utilized worldwide for food processing, pharmaceutical
applications, petroleum industries, and chemical
industries.

Distillation

Distillationis a process ofseparatingthe

components from a liquidmixtureby
selectiveevaporationandcondensation.

Distillation may result in essentially complete

separation or it may be a partial separation
that increases the concentration of selected
components of the mixture.

The process exploits differences in

thevolatilityof the mixture's components.

Distillation is aunit operationof practically

universal importance, but it is a physical
separation process and not achemical
reaction.

Types of distillation

Simple distillation

Fractional distillation

Steam distillation

Vacuum distillation

Air-sensitive vacuum distillation

Molecular distillation

Short path distillation

Zone distillation

Flash evaporation

Catalytic distillation

Many others

USES OF DISTILLATION
Laboratory scale: This includes simple distillation, vacuum distillation,
steam distillation, etc. It is mostly carried out on a small scale in a
laboratory grade setup.
Industrial distillation: Large scaleindustrial distillationapplications
include both batch and continuous distillation. The most widely used
industrial applications of continuous, steady-state fractional distillation are
inpetroleum refineries,petrochemicalandchemical plantsandnatural gas
processingplants.
Distillation of herbs for perfumery and medicinals
Food processing: Carbohydrate-containing plant materials are allowed to
ferment, producing a dilute solution of ethanol in the process. Spirits such
aswhiskeyandrumare prepared by distilling these dilute solutions of
ethanol. Components other than ethanol, including water, esters, and
other alcohols, are collected in the condensate, which account for the
flavour of the beverage.

Molecular Distillation Process

Applied to thermally sensitive high molecular weight materials (range

of 250 1200)

Carried out at a very low pressure so that the distance between hot and
condensing surface is less than the mean free path of the molecules

Distillation process inherently hazardous with flammables and the

presence of huge volume of flammables pose huge explosion hazards in
these distillation units.

Principle
Different kinds of molecules, because of the difference of the effective diameter of
the molecule, have different mean free paths.
Light molecular mean free path is smaller than the mean free path of molecular
light rather than heavy molecular mean free path, thus setting up a condensing
surface
Molecular light falling on the condensing surface cause condensation, and heavy
molecules reach the condensing surface and return to the original level, so as to
realize the mixture separation.

Governing equation
Langmuir and Knudsen derived an equation which

described the yield of distillate for molecular distillation.

Q

= kPF (M/T)1/2

Where
Q is the evaporated quantity kg/h,
P = pressure (mbar),
F = evaporator surface (m2),
k = 1577,
M = molecular weight g/mole,
T is absolute temperature (K).

MOLECULAR DISTILLATION
APPARATUS
Simple molecular distillation has unit
placed on a hot surface and the distillate
moving a very short distance before
getting condensed.

Sophisticated apparatus with different

design will have liquid distilled down on
heated surface close to the condenser.
The movement of a film prevents buildup of non-volatile materials on surface of
material to be distilled as this might
cause the distillation to stop.

The process
Typical molecular distillation unit consists of two kinds of

centrifugal units- rotary film blowing and the rotating film-type

Molecular distillation device includes a variable - layer jacket, a
condenser and a rotating scraper system.
When the material is distilled, the material enters the rotating
distributor continuously
The centrifugal force causes it to swing onto the heating wall
The film is evenly distributed on the inner wall
The distillate finally condenses on the outer extremes of the shell
and then slowly flow into the collecting vessel due to gravity.
The residual matter is collected in the gutter around the spinning
disc and finally into the collecting vessel below.

Advantages of molecular
distillation
Evaporating temperature is low: Separation of mixtures is due to the
different kinds of escaping from the molecular level. Boiling not needed,
so molecular distillation is operated at a very low boiling point
temperature.
Low pressure distillation: Condensation and evaporation very close to
the surface, so operating pressure can reach 0.01 mbar.
Heating time is short: The mixed liquid is like a thin film thickness
(much less than 1 mm), makes the material along the heated surface
leave and evaporate quickly, so very short residence time
Low energy consumption

Applications

Separation and purification of fatty acids

Distillation separation of natural and synthetic paraffin products

Separation purification Jiao Shawan cod liver oil (ene)

Production of high concentration of monoglyceride

Extraction of natural products VE

Free fatty acid separation of oil products in special silicone oil

Separation of a small amount of solvent in natural extracts

Application in polymer manufacturing

Separation of hydrocarbons in petrochemical industry

Purification of organic intermediates

CONCLUSION
The application of molecular distillation can improve product quality
The maintenance time is short
Energy consumption is low
Can be used in the traditional process of technology improvement and new process
development.
High efficiency and reduction of the workers can reduce the cost of distillation
Even though equipment cost is higher, the extent of the cost reduction is far more
With the development of engineering technology and application development, the
application of molecular distillation will become more and more popular.

THANK YOU
Group-6

Shivani Tirkey- BE/10552/14

Suprakash Ghosh- BE/10556/14
Vamshi Krishna- BE/10563/14
Kartheek Reddy- BE/10569/14
Nilesh Singh- BE/10581/14
Ankeeta Shriya- BE/10583/14