Evaporation- Inorganic Chemistry for Industries

Evaporation, in a technical sense, denotes the conversion of a liquid into a vapor for the purpose of
separating it from another liquid of higher boiling point, or from a solid which is dissolved I it. In the
great majority of cases, the liquid evaporated is water.

If the liquid evaporated is to be recovered, the vapors are condensed, and the process then becomes
one of Distillation.

There are four general methods of evaporation:

1. Spontaneous evaporation in the open ail.

2. Evaporation by application of heat directly from a fire to

the vessel containing the liquid.

3. Evaporation by indirect application of heat from the fire, as

by means of steam, with or without pressure.

4. Evaporation under reduced pressure.

The first method, by spontaneous evaporation in the open air, is comparatively slow, and requires
exposure of very large surfaces of liquid. The time necessary depends upon the temperature and
humidity of the air, and the completeness with which the vapors are removed from the surface of the
liquid; hot, dry weather, especially if a brisk wind is blowing, evaporates water quite rapidly.

This process is only used for the manufacture of salt from sea water, or from natural brines. In certain
warm countries considerable quantities of salt are thus prepared, and in this country some is made from
a brine found near Syracuse, N.Y. Sometimes weak brines are allowed to trickle in fine streams over tall
piles or "ricks" of brushwood in the open air. The liquid being so exposed in thin layers, to the air and
wind, is concentrated to such a degree that it will pay to complete the evaporation by artificial heat.

The second method,* by direct application of heat from a fire, is very largely used in the arts. This may
be done in two general ways:-

(a) The flames, or hot gases from the fire, are generally allowed to play directly on the bottom of the
vessel containing the liquid; or they may pass through flues or pipes, set into the vessel, so that the
liquid surrounds them on all sides. Such pans are often several yards in length, and may contain one
large flue, or several small ones, according to the work desired; but this form of apparatus is expensive
to build, and difficult to keep in repair.

(b) The flames and hot gases may be conducted over the surface of the liquid to be evaporated. This
mode is only used for coarse and common products, or in the concentration or recovery of waste
materials. But it has the advantage that the bottom of the pan is less liable to be injured by the crusting
of a precipitate upon it.
Another point often in favor of surface heating, is that the liquid is evaporated in a reducing
atmosphere. But as flue dust and ashes are liable to fall into the pans, the product is usually impure.
Large shallow pans are used, which are generally arched over with brick, in order that the heat may be
better utilized, through radiation from the brick walls.

There are various ways of setting the pans for this process. A modification of this method is the use of a
long cylinder, set at a slight incline, and revolving about its longitudinal axis (Fig. 3). The lower end is
open for the entrance of the flames and gases from the grate (A), which pass through the cylinder (B),
on their way to the chimney (D). The hot gases are often passed through the flues of a boiler (C), to
utilize the waste heat. The solution to be evaporated is fed into the cylinder at the upper end in a small
stream, and comes in direct contact with the flame. The water is evaporated, and the solid matter is
delivered into the pit or wagon (E) at the lower end of the furnace, in a dry and calcined state. Such
furnaces are frequently used for evaporating waste liquors to recover the salts which they contain; and
for the treatment of sewage and other liquid refuse.

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