Distillation Under Reduced Pressure (Vacuum Distillation)

Principle of Vacuum Distillation:

• Distillation under reduced pressure (vacuum distillation) lowers the boiling points of the components in the mixture by reducing the ambient pressure, allowing distillation to occur at lower temperatures.

Methodology of Vacuum Distillation:

1. Setup: Similar to simple or fractional distillation but includes a vacuum pump to reduce the pressure in the apparatus.
2. Pressure Reduction: The pressure inside the distillation setup is reduced using the vacuum pump.
3. Heating: The mixture is heated to the required lower boiling point.
4. Vaporization and Condensation: Components vaporize at lower temperatures, pass through the condenser, and are collected.

Uses:

• Distillation of heat-sensitive compounds that would decompose at higher temperatures.
• Purification of high-boiling-point substances.
• Used in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries.

Merits:

• Prevents thermal decomposition of sensitive compounds.
• Reduces energy consumption by lowering the required distillation temperature.
• Can be used to distil high-boiling-point materials.

Demerits:

• Requires a vacuum system, increasing complexity and cost.
• Not suitable for materials that cannot be vaporized under vacuum conditions.
• Maintenance of vacuum equipment can be challenging.

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