Azeotropic distillation is a specialized technique used to separate components of a liquid mixture that form an azeotrope, where the vapor and liquid have the same composition at a specific boiling point. By adding an entrainer, which alters the relative volatilities, this method enables the effective separation of components that are otherwise inseparable by simple distillation.

Azeotropic Distillation

Azeotropic distillation

specialized technique

liquid mixture

An azeotrope is a mixture of two or more liquids that maintains a constant boiling point and composition throughout the distillation process, making it impossible to separate the components by simple distillation. This phenomenon occurs due to the unique interactions between the molecules, leading to a vapor composition identical to the liquid composition at a specific ratio and pressure.

azeotrope

Vapor and liquid composition

specific boiling point

An entrainer is a substance added to a system to facilitate the separation of components by altering the relative volatility in processes like distillation. It is commonly used in azeotropic distillation to break azeotropes, allowing for the efficient separation of mixtures that would otherwise be difficult to separate due to similar boiling points.

entrainer

relative volatilities

effective separation

Simple distillation is a separation technique used to purify or separate liquids based on differences in their boiling points. It is most effective when the boiling points of the components differ significantly, allowing one component to vaporize and condense separately from the other.

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