FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION

*David, Maria Ariane Agatha Victoria B. , *Santos, Nanette D. , Rojales, Franchesca Nicole,
Violago, Mary Abelene
SCHOOL OF CHE-CHM-BE-MSE
Mapua University
Muralla St. Manila City, Philippines

ARTICLE INFO Liquids that do not mix like oil and water or
dishwashing soap and honey, can easily be
VOLUME NO: 2 separated into their components either by simple
distillation or just by simply separating them using
ISSUE NO.: 2 physical means. the fractionating column was
packed with the combination of glass wool and
DATE SUBMITTED: NOV. 21 2017
glass beads, once properly packed, the distillation
DATE ACCEPTED: NOV. 21 2017 was started. The sample boiled at 32℃, the first
drop was at 66℃, then at around 70℃-71℃ the
temperature started to vary, until such time that the
sample has evaporated yet no fraction was
collected. It would be difficult to say that this
experiment was a success but it can be said that
the experiment taught the students how to
assemble a fractional distillation set-up and
understand and apply the principle of fractional
distillation.

KEYWORDS: Fractional Distillation, Miscible,

Extraction, Liquid-Liquid, Separation

ABSTRACT

*DAVID, Maria Ariane Agatha Victoria B. , CHM145L/T , School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry ,
Mapua University, ma.arianedavid@gmail.com
*Professor Santos, Nanette D., School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapua University
 I. INTRODUCTION on the heat regulator of the hot plate, five test
tubes were properly labeled and the fractions
Liquids that do not mix like oil and water or were collected at different temperatures. Then
dishwashing soap and honey, can easily be the fraction collected was collected an a
separated into their components either by second distillation was performed, this
simple distillation or just by simply separating procedure was repeated for the other samples
them using physical means. Some liquids, and then the total volume was recorded.[2]
however are miscible, or they mix. These would
require more effort to be separated and a good
example would be the separation of the
components of crude oil. Heating the mixture
should cause the substance with the lowest
boiling point to be vaporized first. Then, after
collecting the vapor, it can be condensed to
form the pure liquid, then we can increase the
temperature so that the one with the now lowest
boiling point will be the one to vaporize. The
liquids that are going to be collected are the
fractions, hence, the experiment is called
fractional distillation.[1] The fractions are
increasing in viscocity with bolling temperatures
and will become more colorued as we increase
the temperature. Fractional distillation is very
popular among petroleum refineries, petroleum
plants and etc. Distillation in companies like
these happens continuously. Fractional
distillation can also be used in air seperetion,
which can produce liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen
and a very concentrated Argon.

II. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

Chemical Reagents Used

Toluene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Glass wool,

Glass beads.

Equipment and Apparatuses

Quick Fit, Hot plate, Test tubes, Test tube rack, FIGURE 1. Fractional Distillation Set-Up
10 mL Graduated Cylinder
III. RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Methodology
TEMPERATURE VOLUME, VOLUME,
After assembling the setup as shown in Figure RANGE (℃) 1st 2nd
1 and ensuring that the glasswares are dry. Distillation distillation
Then, a prepared 20 ML mixture of 10 ML 66 ℃-70℃ 1.5ml -
Carbon tetrachloride and 10 ml of toluene was 70℃-71℃ 5.8ml -
obtained from the laboratory assistant and Table 1. Summary of Results
placed in the 50-ml pear shaped flask. Next,
The sample boiled at 32℃, the first drop was at
the fractionating column was packed with the
66℃, then at around 70℃-71℃ the temperature
combination of glass wool and glass beads,
started to vary, until such time that the sample
once properly packed, the distillation was
has evaporated yet no distillate was collected.
stared by turning the heat high up to number 4
It would be difficult to say that this experiment
*DAVID, Maria Ariane Agatha Victoria B. , CHM145L/T , School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry ,
Mapua University, ma.arianedavid@gmail.com
*Professor Santos, Nanette D., School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapua University
 was a success but it can be said that the
experiment taught the students how to
assemble a fractional distillation set-up and
understand and apply the principle of fractional
distillation, the students were able to collect a
fraction but were not able to do a second
distillation due to an error, the students are
suspecting that the error could be on the
arrangement of the glass wool and glass beads
that hindered them from being able to collect a
second fraction. However, the student were
able to collect one fraction, this indicates that
there is an error either in the packaging of the
glass wool and beads or the heat was too high
that the sample evaporated before a fraction
could be collected.

IV. CONCLUSION
It would be difficult to say that this experiment
was a success but it can be said that the
experiment taught the students how to
assemble a fractional distillation set-up and
understand and apply the principle of fractional
distillation, the students were able to collect a
fraction but were not able to do a second
distillation due to an error. In conclusion, this
experiment

REFERENCES
[1]“http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/SEOF/Chem
istry_Experiments/3-08.pdf

[2] “Organic Chemistry Laboratory Manual for

Chemistry Students; Part 1” by Baluyut, J.G
and De Castro, K. A, Retrieved 19 Oct. 2017,
pp.

*DAVID, Maria Ariane Agatha Victoria B. , CHM145L/T , School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry ,
Mapua University, ma.arianedavid@gmail.com
*Professor Santos, Nanette D., School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapua University