Still
A still is a device for facilitating the distillation process. Generally, a distillation flask, chamber, or tank is filled with a liquid and heat is applied. Compounds with lower boiling points will vaporize first and be condensed back into a liquid by the condenser and collected.
Materials used
- A heat source
- Glass
- Tubing, of glass or some flexible material like rubber or silicone
- A thermometer
Crafting instructions
Basic distillation consists of a boiling flask placed on a heat source, a condenser, and a collector. A still can consist of something as simple as a leaf placed above a pot of boiling water, where it condeses and collects in another pot.
The distillation flask (or "boiling flask")
This contains the material to be distilled, a mix of two liquids of different boiling points. It is place on a heat source and, with use of the thermometer, brought to just under the boiling temperature of the liquid with the higher boiling point. Ideally, the condenser should be airtight, such that gas can only escape through the condenser, but this can be ignored in cases of safe materials and acceptable low yields e.g. when purifying water. This can be a purpose-built glass boiling flask, a jar, a pot or anything that can hold liquid and withstand heat
The condenser
The condenser consists of any system on which condensing vapor, called the distillate, can collect at the distillation flask, condense, and collect at the collector. ideally, this consists of a tube surrounded by coolant, usually ice-water. If possible this coolant should be pumped in the opposite direction of the vapor in the condenser. Any airtight tubing that can withstand heat can be used, and for this reason special-made glass condensers are ideal. Any wide surface on which vapor can collect and condense can be used. The vaporm or input side of the condenser should be placed higher than the condensation side.
The collector
The collector can be any container which can hold the desired liquid
Simple pot still
- place a large pot on the stove and add liquid to be distilled
- place a small strainer or stand of some kind into the pot so that it peaks just above the liquids surface
- place a small bowl on strainer within the pot, then a larger bowl atop the pot in place of a lid
- the larger bowl on top can be filled with ice and/or cool water and the stove can be turned on
The liquid will vaporize as it heats and the vapor will condense on the cold bowl lid and run down the bowl, drip, and be collected into the small bowl within the pot held up by the strainer.
This method is very far from ideal but will work for a crude alcohol or steam distillation in a pinch.
Uses
Stills are used for purifying or concentrating certain chemicals from out of solution. They are also used in making potable water. Distillation is particularly popular in making stronger alcoholic beverages, for example whisky, a more potent, distilled alcohol than beer, both made from barley.