Post-lab Report; Organic Chemistry 2019

DISTILLATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE

Abejuela, Ashly Jade; Bangkikeo, Aikky; Enad, Jewel Grace Jazz;
Papa, Shella Marie; Varca, John Timothy
Performed: September 4, 2019; Submitted: September 9, 2019

ABSTRACT
Ethanol is the most common type of alcohol that is vital in making alcoholic beverages. In the
experiment, the alcohol component, specifically ethanol, of Primera Brandy (alcoholic
beverage) was determined through simple distillation. The gathered volume of ethanol from 22
ml of alcoholic beverage was 5.2 ml. The ethanol distillate more likely contains less to no
amount of impurities. This was due to the monitored temperature in boiling the alcoholic
beverage. It is suggested that other tests such as the usage of hydrometer, flame test and
chromatography should be done in order to confirm the pureness of the distillate.

I. Introduction

Ethanol is commonly known as ethyl alcohol, but it also goes by the names pure alcohol, grain
alcohol, and drinking alcohol. It can be described as a colorless liquid which can be soluble in
water. It also has a slight odor and somewhat sweet when diluted. However, when undiluted or
concentrated, it has a very strong taste and leaves a burning aftertaste.

Ethyl Alcohol is the alcohol found in alcoholic drinks such as beer, brandy, or whiskey. It is made
from the fermentation or chemical breakdown of sugars by yeasts. It is made from plants and
grains such as corn, wheat, barley. Ethanol can be produced by milling the grains and then
fermenting them with yeast. During the fermentation process, the starches of the grains are
turned into alcohol. Then, there is also a distillation process.

It is considered as an alcoholic containing drink if it is produced by the process of fermentation

and distillation of grains, fruits, and other sources of sugar, and if it contains 0.55 alcohol by
volume to 76% alcohol by volume, and those with higher than 76% are already labelled as
medicines such as anaesthetics. Even though there are many members of the alcoholic family,
ethyl is mostly the principal alcohol to be found in all alcoholic beverages.
 Post-lab Report; Organic Chemistry 2019

In the modern organic chemistry laboratory, distillation is a powerful tool, both for the
identification and the purification of organic compounds. The boiling point of a compound is
one of the physical properties used to identify it. Distillation is used to purify a compound by
separating it from a non-volatile or less-volatile material. When different compounds in a
mixture have different boiling points, they separate into individual components when the
mixture is carefully distilled.

II. Methodology

A micro scale experiment of simple distillation was performed inside the laboratory. The sample
alcoholic beverage, Primera Brandy, 22mL in quantity was placed in a retort flask with boiling
chips. A thermometer was inserted through the rubber cork covered with foil that serves as the
lid of the retort flask. The set-up for distillation process includes the source of heat (electrical
stove), condenser, clamps, iron stands and tubes. The sample liquid was heated to 78°C (boiling
point of ethanol) and not exceeding to 100°C (boiling point of water). First drop of ethanol was
obtained when the temperature reached 80°C, when it increased to 81°C, 2.4mL was already
accumulated until the end of the experiment, 83°C, a total of 5.2mL was obtained all
throughout the process. The colorless liquid produced is the pure ethanol, given that the
temperature reached 78°C and not exceeding to 100°C.

III. Result/Discussion

This study presents the following tabular and graphical results in its aim to separate the ethanol
component from the alcoholic beverage, Primera Brandy, through distillation.
 Post-lab Report; Organic Chemistry 2019

The figure shows the effect of change in temperature to the volume of the distillate. As the
temperature increases, the volume of the distillate increases, showing that the temperature in
this process is proportional to the volume of distillate.
In simple distillation, the percentage of ethanol of Primera Light Brandy is 24%. The possible
reasons for error may be the following: (1) calibration of 0.5 mL in test tubes, (2) the room
temperature that may have affected the readings of the boiling temperature, and (3) accurate
measurement of the volume of the residue (Dejelo et. al., 2010)

Formula to calculate the percentage of ethanol:

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)
𝑋 100
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)

5.2𝑚𝐿
𝑋 100 = 24%
22𝑚𝐿

Table | Result of Simple Distillation of an Alcoholic Beverage

Primera Light Brandy

(22mL)
Time Temperature (°C) Volume of distillate (mL)

10:22 AM 80 First drop

80 0.50
80 1.00
10:26 AM 80 1.50
81 2.00
82 2.50
82 3.00
10:27 AM 82 3.50
83 4.00
83 4.50
10:29 AM 83 5.00
83 5.20
 Post-lab Report; Organic Chemistry 2019

Table 1 shows the boiling temperature and the volume of distillate of Primera Light Brandy
using simple distillation process. In the process of simple distillation, in the first drop of the first
test tube, with 0 mL, the temperature was 80℃. When it reached 0.5 mL, the temperature still
remained 80℃. The data above indicates that within a minute with the temperature of 80°C-
82°C, the process produced 2.5mL of distillate. At the temperature of 82°C, the distillate
produces an additional of 1mL resulting it to 3.5mL. Within two minutes with a temperature of
83°C, the total volume of the distillate risen up to 5.2mL.

IV. Recommendations/Conclusions

Ethanol is without a doubt the most widely known compound used in making alcoholic
beverages. In the experiment, Primera Brandy was used to determine the percent of ethanol
through simple distillation. Simple Distillation evoke that the temperature and the volume of
the distillate collected is directly proportional. This means that as the temperature increases
the volume of the distillate also increases. Also, a change of color helps to visualize the
continuous change of composition. There were errors which could be improved when
performing experiment next time. The error could have been made due to improper heating
and lack of temperature control. If the solution was continuously preheated, the percent of the
water in the solution would be reduced. Increasing the number of trials could also have been
made for more accurate results. All in all, the process of distillation is an effective way of
separating two solutions in a mixture.

V. References

https://www.extractohol.com/ethyl-alcohol
https://orgchemboulder.com/Technique/Procedures/Distillation/Distillation.shtml
https://vdocuments.mx/download/distillation-of-alcoholic-beverage-formal-report
https://www.slideshare.net/matthewabad/experiment-1-distillation-of-alcoholic-beverages
https://www.scribd.com/document/282807524/Fractional-Distillation
http://www.responsibledrinking.org/what-are-you-drinking/what-is-an-alcohol-beverage/