Useful distillations using common chemicals.

[chemdoc]

I am looking for a list of relatively easy distillations from common chemicals. By "realtively easy" I mean distillations that can be performed with a basic distillation setup + a vigreux column and by "common chemicals" I mean chemicals that I can buy from supermarkets, hardware stores, pool chemicals, etc... By "useful" I mean ideally I would like to be able to use the finished product in some way, for example distilling acetic acid from white vinegar and using it in aspirin synthesis.

 

I just got all the glassware but all I've distilled so far is salt water!

 

My chemistry experience consists of two semesters of inorganic chemistry and two semesters of organic chemistry, I have about 150 hours of lab experience.

[CaptainPanic]

Salt water

Excellent that you started off with something harmless. Too often have I read posts of people who want to jump straight into the deep. I'm glad to read that you have experience in a lab. You will hopefully understand the possible hazards of doing this at home.

 

Acetic acid / water

Acetic acid removal from vinegar is a rather difficult distillation. You will need a multiple equilibrium separation and a reflux condenser... the boiling points of water and acetic acid are quite close to each other.

 

Biodiesel / methanol

I think biodiesel production can be relatively easy, but it does involve a reaction first. I'm not sure you want that. The distillation is the removal of methanol (which is toxic and flammable!!) from the heavy boiling biodiesel. If you look up rapeseed methyl ester, you'll find the description easily. You will need a well-ventilated room - preferably a fumehood.

 

You can make biodiesel with ethanol too... but I believe that it is a little harder to achieve the full reaction conversion. Not entirely sure about that though.

 

Ethanol / water

That's booze. Start off with beer or wine, and distill it into something stronger. If it's just for fun, pretty much your only hazard is the fire hazard (ethanol can burn!). If you want to drink it, study other sources. Stuff can go wrong.

 

That's all the inspiration I have now. Be careful.

[JMAPScience]

You could distill hexanes from some cleaning sprays. Its on youtube.