Name : KOSAL Rithy

ID : e20180456
Group : I3 GCA(B)

Question
Since there are many types of distillation column, could you tell which one is
better for the separation of acetone, hexane and water mixture? Why?
Answer
For acetone, we could use Vacuum Distillation method because Elevation of the boiling point
with an increase in external pressure, while important in cooking and sterilizing food or
utensils, is less important in distillation. If the boiling point of water is increased when the
external pressure is increased, then decreasing the external pressure should decrease the
boiling point.
For separation hexane, we could use Fractional Distillation because each time a distillation is
run, material is lost. Some evaporates into the air and some is left behind, stuck to the
apparatus. Material left behind is known as “hold-up”. We would find that after doing three
separate simple distillations, we have lost much material. Besides obtaining pure compounds
we also want to attain high yields, with little loss. A method exists for carrying out several
simple distillations in one apparatus, thereby resulting in smaller losses.
For separation of water mixture, we could use Continuous distillation because Continuous
distillation systems can run 24/7 without ever stopping to refill the boiler tank. Liquid called
the “feed” which is a mixture of two or more liquids to be separated (e.g. alcohol and water)
is pumped constantly into a distillation column. The more volatile alcohol will be collected
out the top of the column, and the higher boiling point water will make its way to the bottom
of the column. Continuous distillation is capable of incredibly high throughput, industrial
ethanol plants can make millions of liters of ethanol a day using this method without ever
stopping.