DISTILLATION

INTRODUCTION

Distillation is defined as:

a process in which a liquid or vapour mixture of two or more substances is separated into its component fractions of desired purity, by the application and removal of heat. Distillation is based on the fact that the vapour of a boiling mixture will be richer in the components that have lower boiling points. Therefore, when this vapour is cooled and condensed, the condensate will contain more volatile components. At the same time, the original mixture will contain more of the less volatile material. Distillation columns are designed to achieve this separation efficiently.

Although many people have a fair idea what "distillation means, the important aspects that seem to be missed from the manufacturing point of view are that: distillation is the most common separation technique it consumes enormous amounts of energy, both in terms of cooling and heating requirements it can contribute to more than 50% of plant operating costs

The best way to reduce operating costs of existing units, is to improve their efficiency and operation via process optimization and control. To achieve this improvement, a thorough understanding of distillation principles and how distillation systems are designed is essential.

HISTORY

History and Taxonomy of Distilled Spirits

For nearly 3,000 years people have been making potent spirits for medicinal and recreational purposes. In recent history, worldwide distribution has made it possible for us to taste beverages from around the world. What follows is a surface-level overview of the evolution and classification these products.

PROCESESS

How to make distilled water

Distilled water is very easy to make, and there are several methods used to make it at home. When you remove the minerals and chemicals from the water, you make distilled water. People make distilled water for a variety of uses, including drinking, watering plants and filling humidifiers, steam irons and even fish tanks and aquariums.

1 Fill a 5-gallon (18.927 L) stainless steel pot about halfway full with tap water.

Fill a 5gallon

Place a glass bowl in the water. Be sure it floats. The bowl should not touch the bottom of the pot.
If the bowl doesn't float, remove it from the water and set a round baking rack on the bottom of the pot. Then place the bowl back in the water

Place a glass bowl in the water

Watch the water collecting in the bowl. This water should be hot but should not boil. If the water begins to boil, turn down the heat on the stove.
Watch the water collecting in the bowl.

Create a condensation effect with a hot/cold barrier. You can do this by inverting the pot's lid and filling it with ice. When hot steam hits the cold lid, it will create condensation.
Create a condensation effect with a hot/cold barrier.

Boil the water in your pot. As the water continues to boil, it will cause steam to rise and condense on the pot's lid. The condensation will drip into the bowl. Allow the distillation process to continue until you have enough distilled water in the bowl for your needs.
Boil the water in your pot.

Remove your pot from the heat and take off the lid.

Remove your pot from the heat and take off the lid.

Take the bowl of distilled water out of the pot of boiling water. Use caution when doing this so you do not burn yourself. You can allow the water to cool before removing the bowl, if you prefer.

Take the bowl of distilled water out of the pot of boiling water.

Allow the distilled water to cool before storing it.

Allow the distilled water to cool before storing it.

The Distillation Process

The basic distillation procedure is the same regardless of the spirit. Alcohol is not "created" by distillation, just concentrated. A weak alcoholic beverage such as wine or beer is heated to boiling in a still (see illustrations below). Since the various constituents of the resulting vapor (like water, ethyl, methyl, and isopropyl alcohols) will vaporize and condense at different temperatures, they may be selectively extracted to create a new mixture which may then be further aged and/or flavored by the distiller.

The column still.

The plates in each column are hottest at the bottom and coolest at the top. Liquids with low boiling points are concentrated in the vapor that leaves the first column and rises in the second. As is the case with the pot still, the impurities are recycled to extract their fraction of desirable ingredients.

Pot distillation. The container at center receives both the distillate from the first pot, which must be further purified, and the undesirable portions--the foreshots and feints--of the second distillation, more of whose alcohol can thereby be extracted.

Pictures