1. In differential distillation, the c o l u m n c o n t a i n s p a c k i n g l i k e t h a t u s e d f o r g a s a b s o r p t i o n . I n s m a l l l a b o r a t o r y c o l u m n s , this packing is usually random, of Raschig rings or even glass beads.

Such distillationaims to provide small amounts of very pure chemicals. In larger differential distillationcolumns, the column internals are usually structured packing. These distillations aim toproduce large amounts of commodity chemicals at the lowest possible cost. In this case of a dierential distillation, the vapour at any time is in equilibrium with the liquid from which it rises but changes continuously in the composition. Thus, the mathematical approach used must be dierential. Assume that L mol of liquid in the still of composition x mol fraction A and that an amount dD mol of distillate is vaporized, of mol fraction y in equilibrium with the liquid. 2. Relative volatility is a measure comparing the vapor pressures of the components in a liquid mixture of chemicals. This quantity is widely used in designing large industrial distillation processes. In effect, it indicates the ease or difficulty of using distillation to separate the more volatile components from the less volatile components in a mixture. By convention, relative volatility is usually denoted as . Relative volatilities are used in the design of all types of distillation processes as well as other separation or absorption processes that involve the contacting of vapor and liquid phases in a series of equilibrium stages. Relative volatilities are not used in separation or absorption processes that involve components reacting with each other (for example, the absorption of gaseous carbon dioxide in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide). 3. Murphree Efficiency The Murphree Tray Efficiency EM , is based on a semi-theoretical models that assumes that the vapour between trays is well-mixed (uniform composition), that the liquid in the downcomers is well-mixed (uniform composition), and that the liquid on the tray is well mixed and is of the same composition as the liquid in the downcomer leaving the tray. It is defined for each tray according to the separation achieved on each tray. This can be based on either the liquid phase or the vapor phase. For a given component, it is equal to the change in actual concentration in the phase, divided by the change predicted by equilibrium condition.