Distillation
Distillation is the process of purifying a liquid by applying or removing heat, usually in a still and condenser. It is used to purify water, isolate oils from plant matter, and remove impurities from alcohol, among other uses. Distillation takes advantage of substances having different vapor points, where a controlled heat source extracts desired substances at specific temperature ranges. The desired substance is turned into gas where it leaves the still and into a condenser where it is converted back into a liquid as the temperature is lowered.
A solar still is a type of still that uses the sun as a heat source.
An alternative to heating the liquid is by freezing it, such as used in the process of making applejack. Alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water, so the removal of frozen solids that appear during freezing helps to purify the liquid.
Precautions
- Do not use an open flame as a heat source when distilling volatile substances, like alcohol
- Immediately clean spills when distilling volatile substances, like alcohol
- Distill in a well ventilated area
- Some jurisdictions may prohibit or limit distillation of certain materials