Utilization of Simple and Fractional Distillation in Purifying Organic Liquids

2A-PH, Group 8, Timbang, F.P.D., Tolentino, J.C., Umali J.P., Zacarias, G.A., Zamora, M.J.,
and Zaraspe, P.M.E.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas,
Espaa Boulevard, 1015 Manila, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Alcoholic beverage has been a vital part of every mans drink. Alcohol is also widely used for
industrial and manufacturing purposes. This research focuses mainly on the efficacy of both
simple and fractional distillation in terms of separating liquid-liquid components and as well as
to identify the temperature at which volatile liquids, such as alcohol, starts to boil. It is recorded
that simple distillation separates liquid more at the same temperature with fractional distillation.
However, fractional distillation is more preferable because it can separate liquid with small
boiling point differences.

The objectives of the experiment are to identify

the boiling points of the liquids present
In the industry wherein alcohol and other in the sample mixture, to identify the
solvents are important, utilization of alcohol percentage of ethanol present and to separate
becomes a pertinent part of the manufacturing the different types of liquids present.
process. Alcohols can be used generally as a
solvent and a fuel additive. The most familiar
alcohol is the beverage alcohol and is referred METHODOLOGY
to generally as Alcohol, Common Alcohol or
According to the process mentioned in the
Grain Alcohol (Aguilar, 2008)[1].
Laboratory Manual in Organic Chemistry
Distillation is one of the early methods used (Bathan et al, 2014)[4], in the process of
by ancient chemists and alchemists in distillation, several procedures were done to
separating liquids (Lewis, 1909)[2]. The process facilitate the separation.
of distillation undergoes two major processes,
namely vaporization and condensation. The Assembly of the apparatus to be used
differences of liquid boiling points are also
Preparation of the several catch basin test
major factors in this process. The study further
focuses on the two types of distillation tubes calibrated to 0.5 mL mark was also added
simple and fractional. In simple distillation, it to the preparation. Boiling stones must also be
particularly works mainly on separating two placed into the distilling flask. Rubber tubing
liquids with huge boiling point difference. was also secured and connected to a water
Fractional distillation differs in a way that it source. For fractional distillation, a condenser
enables separation of liquid portions into was needed for the set-up to ensure the division
or fractions to be present in the resulting
multiple fractions (Uyazan, 2008)[3].
distillate.
INTRODUCTION

.Positioning of the thermometer

The whole mercury bulb must be placed
under the orifice leading to the condenser. This
is to ensure the accuracy of the temperature
reading

Utilization of the alcohol lamp

With the use of alcohol lamp, the flask was
heated until the sample starts to boil. The
researchers recorded the temperature at which
the first drop started to fall.
Recording of the temperature
The succeeding temperatures at which the
drops fell were also recorded. The heating and
recording stopped when the thermometer
reading reached 100oC.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The diagram below shows the summary of the
method done in the process:
Assembly of the Set-Up

Figure 1 shows the simple distillation set-up

prepared by the researchers using gin as the
liquid mixture sample.

Thermometer Positioning

Figure 1. A Simple Distillation Set-Up.

Table 1 show the temperature recorded in the

simple distillation process. The temperature
reading started from 0oC. After heating the
flask using the alcohol lamp for several
minutes, the temperature rose gradually to
76oC. The succeeding increase became slow
and constant. The recording stopped when the

Recording of Temperature and

Collection of Drops

temperature had reached the 100oC. The

volume recorded is the volume of drops (in
mL) of the distillate being collected

For the computation for the percentage of

ethanol present, the volume of ethanol is
divided by the volume of the sample given (1.0
mL/15 mL) x 100% = 6.67%
Table 1. Temperature record for the distillate
recorded
Temperature (oC)
Volume (mL)
0
0
76
0.5
84
1.5
88
2.5
90
3
95
5.5
100
6.5
Figure 2 below shows the fractional
distillation set-up. When the temperature
reading reached 76oC, the first 0.5 mL distillate
was collected and the succeeding temperature
readings were listed on Table 2.

Figure 2. An Actual Fractional Distillation Set-Up.

Temperature (oC)

Volume (mL)

To compute for the percentage loss for the

experiment, the total sum of the volumes of the
residue and the distillate is subtracted to the
total volume of the sample and further divided
by the volume of the sample multiplied by
100%. The computed percentage loss is 0.67%.
Test for the presence of flame was also
conducted in this experiment. For both simple
and fractional distillation, no flame was
generated at the 6.5 mL and 6.0 mL (final) test
tubes. The flame test is conducted to determine
the presence of alcohol in the given distillate.
The results showed that for the given set-up,
there were no much significant difference as
with the results obtained both from fractional
and simple distillation. However, it is observed
that at 100oC, more distillate was collected at
the simple distillation process.
The choice which type of distillation is
better depends on which type of liquid is to be
separated. For most liquids, it is preferable to
use fractional distillation because of its
complexity but it takes longer than simple
distillation (Muzart, 1982)[5].

76
79
82
86
90
94
100

0.50
2.25
4.00
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00

Education , 164.
Muzart, J. (1982). A Simple Semimicro
Distillation Apparatus. Journal of Chemical
Education , 164.
Uyazan. (2008). EXTRACTIVE
DISTILLATION WITH SALT. Brazilian
Journal , 50.

REFERENCES
Bathan, G. (2014). Simple and Fractional
Distillation. In A. B. al, Laboratory Manual in
Organic Chemistry (pp. 13-14). Manila: C & E
Publishing.
Lewis, W. (1909). The Theory of Fractional
Distillation. ACS Publications , 522.
Muzart, J. (1982). A Simple Semimicro
Distillation Apparatus. Journal of Chemical

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Title

All tables and figures must be mentioned in

text.

Figure 1. Title

REFERENCES
[1]

numbered in order of citation in the text