distillation

distillation, process used to separate the substances composing a mixture. It involves a change of state, as of liquid to gas, and subsequent condensation. The process was probably first used in the production of intoxicating beverages. Today, refined methods of distillation are used in many industries, including the alcohol and petroleum industries.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• The Destructive Distillation Process
• The Fractional Distillation Process
• The Basic Distillation Process

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