NAME: __________________________________ DATE: ______________________

Group Number: _____CO-WORKER’S NAMES: ________________________________________

Instructor’s Signature: __________ Laboratory Technician’s Signature: _________

ACTIVITY NO. ___: Binary Batch Distillation in a Bubble Cap Column

INTRODUCTION
Distillation is a method of separating the components of a solution. It depends upon the
distribution of the substances between a gas and a liquid phase, applied to cases where all components
are present in both phases. It is a common "unit operation" found, for example, in the petroleum and
chemical industries. Distillation is based on the principle that when sufficient energy is transmitted to a
mixture containing components of differing volatilities; the more volatile components (i.e. having a
higher vapor pressure) will vaporize preferentially with respect
to the less volatile components.

MATERIALS AND APPARATUSES

▪ 10 pcs 50 mL beakers
▪ Bubble cap distillation column
▪ Refractometer
▪ Thermometer
▪ Industrial grade and analytical grade ethanol
▪ Distilled Water
▪ Safety gloves
▪ Laboratory goggles
▪ Face Mask

Figure 1 Distillation Column Setup

PROCEDURE
1. Plot the calibration curve for the mole fraction of ethanol in solution against the refractive index
and use it to determine the composition of a mixture.
2. Prepare a 5-L solution containing 40% volume ethanol solution.
3. Introduce solution to still and proceed with batch distillation at total reflux.
4. Collect samples both the distillate and bottom product composition analyses at 5- minute interval
for 20 minutes and analyze using refractometer.
5. Open the reflux knob by making two turns of this knob and hold constant for 20 minutes, with
samples of the distillate withdrawn every 5 minutes.
DATA AND RESULTS
A. Total Reflux

B. Constant Reflux

GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Sketch a schematic diagram, including all valves for the distillation unit used in the experiment.
Label all valves and instruments.
2. Discuss the variation of top product against time at constant reflux ratio.
3. Discuss the effects of constant reflux ratio on product composition.