Question

Distilation questions

What is the function of the water in a steam distillation of the spice oil from the ground spices?

What determines the distillation temperature of the distillate in a steam distillation and why does it stay constant ?

Answer 1

Steam distillation is a technique used to distill immiscible liquids, for which steam provides one of the immiscible phases.1 The two substances mix in the gas phase and co-distill, but when cooled the desired component separates from water as it is immiscible. Steam distillation is commonly used to extract

any organic compounds tend to decompose at high sustained temperatures. Separation by distillation at the normal (1 atmosphere) boiling points is not an option, so water or steam is introduced into the distillation apparatus. The water vapor carries small amounts of the vaporized compounds to the condensation flask, where the condensed liquids phase separate, allowing for easy collection. This process effectively allows for distillation at lower temperatures, reducing the deterioration of the desired products. If the substances to be distilled are very sensitive to heat, steam distillation may be applied under reduced pressure, thereby reducing the operating temperature further