Description
Equipment to separate liquids by distillation
Technical
A fractionating column or fractional column is equipment used in the distillation of liquid mixtures to separate the mixture into its component parts, or fractions, based on their differences in volatility. Fractionating columns are used in small-scale laboratory distillations as well as large-scale industrial distillations.
Science
Primary Reaction
Distillation
Sensory Profile
Aroma ()
sharpalcoholicsolvent-likepungentchemicalvolatile
Wine Analogy
Similar to the separation of alcohol and water in brandy distillation
Coffee Analogy
Like separating volatile oils from coffee beans during roasting
Perfume Analogy
Comparable to the separation of essential oils in perfumery
Culinary Applications
Essential oil extractionMiddle EasternSeparates volatile aromatic compounds
Alcohol purificationEuropeanConcentrates ethanol for spirits
Vanilla extract productionMexicanIsolates vanillin compounds
Dietary
VeganVegetarianGluten-FreeHalalKosher
Molecular Pairing
Key Compounds Produced
Ethanol (C2H5OH)Water (H2O)Methanol (CH3OH)Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO)Acetic acid (CH3COOH)