BATCH STILL

 AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE HIGH BOILING LIQUIDS CANNOT BE PURIFIED BY

DISTILLATION SINCE THE COMPONENTS OF THE LIQUID MAY DECOMPOSE AT
THE HIGH TEMPERATURES REQUIRED. OFTEN THE HIGH – BOILING SUBSTANCES
ARE ESSENTIALLY INSOLUBLE IN WATER, SO A SEPARATION AT LOWER
TEMPERATURES CAN BE OBTAINED BY THIS METHOD.
 THIS METHOD IS OFTEN USED TO SEPARATE A HIGH – BOILING COMPONENT
FROM SMALL AMOUNTS OF NON – VOLATILE IMPURITIES.
 STEAM DISTILLATION IS SOMETIMES USED IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY FOR THE
REMOVAL OF VOLATILE TAINTS AND FLAVORS FROM EDIBLE FATS AND OILS.
 GLYCERIN IS STEAM DISTILLED AT 182 DEGREE CELCIUS UNDER A 26 INCH
VACUUM. A TEST SHOWS A STEAM CONSUMPTION OF 1 LB/LB GLYCERIN. WHAT
PERCENTAGE EXCESS STEAM REFERRED TO THAT THEORETICALLY NEEDED IS
ACTUALLY USED?
 DATA:VAPOR PRESSURE OF GLYCERIN AT 182 DEGREE CELCIUS IS 21 mmHg.
 Answer: 36.6%
 Geraniol is an essential oil of commercial value. It is conventionally purified by
steam distillation. A pilot scale unit is charged with 2 kg of crude geraniol
containing a small amount of non – volatile impurities. Live saturated steam at 105 ᵒ
C is passed through the still at a fixed rate. Geraniol is practically immiscible with
water. Vapor pressure of water at 105 ᵒ C is passed through the still at a fixed rate.
Geraniol is practically immiscible with water. Vapor pressure of water at 105 ᵒ C is
1.211 bars and that of geraniol is given by: ln (Pv) = 21.1 – 7217/T where Pv is in
mmHg and T is in K. Neglecting the condensation of steam, what is the amount of
steam needed?
 Answer: 29 kg