CONSTRUCTION OF PACKED DISTILLATION COLUMN

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>1.0 INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p><strong>1.1 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT</strong></p><p>Distillation seems to have been mentioned firstly by a man called Aristotle (384 – 322BC), he coined it when he described seawater being evaporated to make drinking water. The Romans and Alexandrians (from Alexandria, Egypt) distilled pure wood resin to condense the oil of turpentine (tarps), which boiled off. These processes make use of air – coded condensing arms (outlet from the boiling vessel), which also allowed the most volatile component to escape. It was probably the Arabians who first used a water-cooked arm, and using this method discovered various oils (natural plant oils, used mostly as flavouring or perfume) by distilling plant juice. Later the chemists, using a distillation apparatus known as an Alembic, were able to prepare a relatively pure nitric acid and other mineral acids.<br>The preparation of alcoholic beverages by distillation has taken place since antiquity. Distillation has taken place since antiquity. Distilled alcohol, probably discovered in Italy in the early twelfth century, was at first used as a medicine.</p><p>Distillation is a method used in separation of mixture and the separation of mixture is one of the major processes of the chemical industries and distillation is the most widely used method of achieving this end.</p><p>Thus the basic requirement for a separation of components by distillation is that the composition of the vapour be different from the composition of the liquid with which it is in equilibrium. If the vapour composition is the same as the liquid composition distillation processes will not effect a separation. But in a case where the vapour composition is greater than the liquid, composition, and distillation process will effect a good separation and a difficult one is affected if the vapour composition is less than that of the liquid.</p><p>In practice, distillation may be carried out either by two principal methods. The first method is based on the production of a vapour by boiling the liquid mixtures to be separated and condensing the vapour without allowing any liquid to return to the still. There is then no reflux. The second method is based on the return of part of the condensate to the still, under such conditions that this liquid returning is brought into intimate contact with the vapour on their way to the condenser. It is known as rectification with reflux.</p><p><strong>1.2 DEFINITION</strong></p><p>Distillation is defined as the process involved in the conversion of a substance into a vapour that is subsequently condensed to liquid form. The operation may be employed to separate</p> <br><p></p>