DISTILLATION…..
Vacuum Distillation
Vacuum distillation is a method of distillation
whereby the pressure above the liquid mixture
to be distilled is reduced to less than its vapor
pressure (usually less than atmospheric
pressure) causing evaporation of the most
volatile liquid(s) (those with the lowest boiling
points).
Vacuum Distillation…
This distillation method works on the principle
that boiling occurs when the vapor pressure
of a liquid exceeds the ambient pressure.
Vacuum distillation is used with or without
heating the solution.
Vacuum Distillation…
Temperature sensitive materials (such as beta
carotene) require vacuum distillation to remove
solvents from the mixture without damaging the
product.
Vacuum distillation is sometimes referred to as
low temperature distillation. This type of
distillation is in use in the oil industry.
Advantages of Vacuum Distillation
Industrial-scale vacuum distillation has several advantages.
One tool to reduce the number of stages needed is to utilize
vacuum distillation.
Vacuum distillation columns typically used in oil refineries
have diameters ranging up to about 14 meters (46 feet),
heights ranging up to about 50 meters (164 feet), and feed
rates ranging up to about 25,400 cubic meters per day
(160,000 barrels per day).
• Vacuum distillation increases the relative volatility of the
key components in many applications. Lower pressures
increase relative volatilities in most systems.
Vacuum Distillation….
• A second advantage of vacuum distillation is the
reduced temperature requirement at lower pressures.
For many systems, the products degrade or polymerize
at elevated temperatures. Vacuum distillation can
improve a separation by:
• Prevention of product degradation or polymer
formation because of reduced pressure leading to
lower tower bottoms temperatures.
• Increasing capacity, yield, and purity.
• Another advantage of vacuum distillation is the
reduced capital cost, at the expense of slightly more
operating cost.
Utilizing vacuum distillation can reduce the height
and diameter, and thus the capital cost of a
distillation column
Molecular Distillation
A special application of the simple distillation
is molecular distillation, known also as
evaporative distillation or short path
distillation.
Theory of molecular distillation:-
The mean free path of a molecule is defined
as the average distance through which a
molecule can move without coming into
collision with another.
For material that are regarded as non volatile
under ordinary conditions of temperature and
pressure are generally removed by this by
increasing the mean free path.
Characteristics of the molecular distillation
process:-
Very high vacuum
Evaporating surface must be close to the
condensing
surface
The liquid area is large to avoid boiling and
evolution of the vapors is from surface only.
Molecular Distillation (cont.)
• Application of molecular distillation:-
Purification of oils
Separating of vitamins
Batch Distillation
Batch distillation refers to the use of distillation in
batches, meaning that a mixture is distilled to
separate it into its component fractions before
the distillation still is again charged with more
mixture and the process is repeated.
This is in contrast with continuous distillation
where the feedstock is added and the distillate
drawn off without interruption.
Batch Distillation …
Batch distillation has always been an important
part of the production of seasonal, or low
capacity and high-purity chemicals.
It is a very frequent separation process in the
pharmaceutical industry and in wastewater
treatment units.
Batch Distillation…
Because each of the distillate fractions are
taken out at different times, only one distillate
exit point (location) is needed for a batch
distillation and the distillate can just be
switched to a different receiver, a fraction-
collecting container.
Batch distillation is often used when smaller
quantities are distilled
Continuous Distillation
Is an ongoing separation in which a mixture is continuously
(without interruption) fed into the process and separated
fractions are removed continuously as output streams as
time passes during the operation.
Produces at least two output fractions.
The fractions include at least one volatile distillate fraction,
which has boiled and separately captured as a vapor
condensed to a liquid, and practically always a bottoms (or
residuum) fraction, which is the least volatile residue that
has not been separately captured as a condensed vapor.
In a continuous distillation, each of the fraction streams is
taken simultaneously throughout operation; therefore, a
separate exit point is needed for each fraction.
In practice when there are multiple distillate fractions,
each of the distillate exit points are located at different
heights on a fractionating column.
The bottoms fraction can be taken from the bottom of the
distillation column or unit, but is often taken from a reboiler
connected to the bottom of the column
Continuous Distillation (cont.)
In a continuous distillation, the system is kept in a
steady state or approximate steady state. Steady state
means that quantities related to the process do not change
as time passes during operation.
Such constant quantities include feed input rate, output
stream rates, heating and cooling rates, reflux ratio, and
temperatures, pressures, and compositions at every point
(location).
Unless the process is disturbed due to changes in feed,
heating, ambient temperature, or condensing, steady state
is normally maintained.
Continuous Distillation (cont.)
Since a continuous distillation unit is fed constantly with
a feed mixture and not filled all at once like a batch
distillation, a continuous distillation unit does not need a
sizable distillation pot, vessel, or reservoir for a batch fill.
Instead, the mixture can be fed directly into the column,
where the actual separation occurs.
The height of the feed point along the column can vary
on the situation and is designed so as to provide optimal
result.
Flash Distillation
Flash evaporation is the partial vaporization that occurs
when a saturated liquid stream undergoes a reduction in
pressure by passing through a valve or other device.
If the valve or device is located at the entry into a
pressure vessel so that the flash evaporation occurs
within the vessel, then the vessel is often referred to as
a flash drum.
If the saturated liquid is a single-component liquid (for
example, liquid propane or liquid ammonia), a part of the
liquid immediately "flashes" into vapor.
Both the vapor and the residual liquid are cooled to the
saturation temperature of the liquid at the reduced
pressure.
This is often referred to as "auto-refrigeration" and is the
basis of most conventional vapor compression
refrigeration systems.
Flash Distillation (cont.)
If the saturated liquid is a multi-component
liquid (for example, a mixture of propane,
isobutane and normal butane), the flashed
vapor is richer in the more volatile components
than is the remaining liquid.
Flash Distillation (cont.)
Flash distillation (sometimes called "equilibrium distillation")
is a single stage separation technique.
A liquid mixture feed is pumped through a heater to raise
the temperature and enthalpy of the mixture.
It then flows through a valve and the pressure is reduced,
causing the liquid to partially vaporize.
Once the mixture enters a big enough volume (the "flash
drum"), the liquid and vapor separate.
Flash Distillation (cont.)
Because the vapor and liquid are in such close contact up
until the "flash" occurs, the product liquid and vapor
phases approach equilibrium.
Simple flash separations are very common in industry,
particularly petroleum refining.
Even when some other method of separation is to be
used, it is not uncommon to use a "pre-flash" to reduce
the load on the separation itself.
Extractive Distillation
Extractive distillation is defined as distillation 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.
The method of extractive distillation uses a separation
solvent, which is generally nonvolatile, has a high boiling
point and is miscible with the mixture, but doesn't form an
azeotropic mixture.
The solvent interacts differently with the components of the
mixture thereby causing their relative volatilities to change.
Extractive Distillation…
The solvent must alter the relative volatility by a wide
enough margin for a successful result.
The quantity, cost and availability of the solvent should
be considered.
The solvent should be easily separable from the bottom
product, and should not react chemically with the
components or the mixture, or cause corrosion in the
equipment.
A classic example is of aniline as suitable solvent
