• There are many mixtures that can be separated by simple distillation, but these three types are the easiest and most common.Distillery still image by zimous from Fotolia.com
  
  Simple distillation is the means of separating a mixture of liquids through heating. The liquids involved should have boiling points that differ no less than 50 degrees from each other. The method of simple distillation is only applied to volatile liquids to separate them from nonvolatile substances. The gas created by the distillation is collected through condensation to form a liquid again.
  
  

Water Distillation

• Because of the many dangers of harmful bacteria and viruses, new technologies have arisen to offer solutions to this problem. Water distillers produce highly treated drinking water. The process for water distillation became effective with the use of activated carbon filtration to minimize the levels of minerals, sediment and other biological contaminants when these substances are not able to go through a simple boiling chamber with the steam. Commercial water treatment systems produce nearly pure water, also known as distilled water. Completion of water distillation allows the non-volatile components to settle down. In this case, minerals are the most common to separate from distilled water after all volatile components have evaporated. Water distillation is the easiest method of simple distillation. Bring water to its boiling point then collect the evaporated components through condensing, and you can have your own distilled water.
  
  

Purification of Organic Compounds

• Sugar made from coconut has gone through a process of simple distillation. The first thing to do before purification is to gather fresh coco sap drink. When coco sap is available, heat it to the boiling point of 115 degrees F until it thickens. Stir the mixture often and then set it aside. Evaporation starts when the mixture heats up and ends when it cools down. Frequent stirring will aid the purification of organic compounds, until they become granular.
  
  

Alcohol Distillation

• The process by which more volatile liquid is separated away from less and nonvolatile liquid is called alcoholic distillation. Alcoholic drinks are produced through heating the mixture to the point of condensation and collecting the alcoholic spirits released. From commercial to homemade alcohol drinks, there are many options.