Distillation
Distillation remains the backbone of chemical and energy processing, separating complex mixtures into valuable products.
Distillation: A Primer explains the principles, design, and operation of both batch and continuous systems — from moonshine stills to refinery towers. The Primer covers column internals, reboilers, reflux control, and advanced methods such as azeotropic and extractive distillation. The Primer also addresses economics, safety, and environmental management, referencing key industry standards.
Written for engineers, operators, and technical professionals, it combines practical insight with clear explanation.
The Primer concludes with a 10-question quiz, making this an ideal resource for training and professional development in process operations.
Distillation is widely used in the energy and process industries to create purified products from mixed feed streams. It works by exploiting the differences in volatility between components. Applications range from crude-oil refining and natural-gas liquids recovery to the purification of solvents, monomers, and specialty chemicals. Although many other separation techniques are used, distillation remains the workhorse of industrial separation; it is reliable, flexible, and well understood.