Difference between simple distillation and vacuum distillation?

Answer 1

In Chemical Engineering there is a thin line between EVAPORATION and DISTILLATION. The principle is the same, that is , taking advantage of difference in volatility

DISTILLATION

It is a Liquid-Liquid separation

The more volatile component is the product which is then cooed and collected as distillate. It usually involve more equipment than evaporation. It is a Multi-component separation

EVAPORATION

Solid-Liquid separation (thus its major industrial application) and the product is the less or non-volatile component

Liquid-Liquid separation (with very limited economic industrial application) and the product is the more volatile component

It is a two component separation

Answer 2

Vacuum evaporation is a thermal evaporation technique that consists in heating the materials until evaporation.

The difference among other thermal evaporation techniques is that low pressures are used due to avoid reaction between the vapor and atmosphere. At low pressures, the mean free path of vapor atoms is the same order as the vacuum chamber dimensions, that way particles travel in straight lines from the evaporation source towards the substrate.

Now a days vacuum evaporation is considered one of the most efficient technologies for industrial wastewater treatment.

Answer 3

Under normal atmospheric pressure, water boils at 100 degrees Celsius (or 212 degrees Fahrenheit). In a vacuum, water boils at any temperature above freezing; it has no liquid phase. So if you want to distill something without having to heat it, vacuum makes that possible.

Answer 4

Simple distillation is used to separate components with boiling point differences greater than 25°C, while vacuum distillation is used when the boiling points of components are close together. Vacuum distillation lowers the pressure in the system, allowing the separation to occur at lower temperatures, which can prevent thermal decomposition of heat-sensitive compounds.

Answer 5

The Difference of the atmospheric Distillation to Vacuum Distillation is can be determine in the use of the Boiling Points.