Still
430398
197748690
2008-03-12T16:43:31Z
PKT
1382933
/* Application */
{{otheruses}}
A '''still''' is an apparatus used to [[distillation|distill]] [[miscible]] or immiscible (eg. [[steam distillation]]) [[liquid]] mixtures by heating to selectively [[Boiling|boil]] and then cooling to [[Condensation|condense]] the [[vapor]]. Stills have been used to produce [[perfume]] and [[medicine]], Water for Injection (WFI) for pharmaceutical use, generally to separate and purify different chemicals, and most famously, to produce [[distilled beverage]]s containing [[ethyl alcohol]].
==Application==
''Main article: [[distilled beverage]]''
[[Image:Glenfiddich Distillery stills.jpg|thumb|250px|Swan necked copper stills in the [[Glenfiddich]] distillery.]]
Since ethyl alcohol [[boiling point|boil]]s at a lower [[temperature]] than [[water]], a common application of the process of distillation is to produce strong alcoholic drinks. Usually a still used for this purpose is made of [[copper]], since it removes [[sulfur]]-based compounds from the alcohol that would make it unpleasant to drink. Modern stills are made of stainless steel with copper innards (piping, for example, will be lagged with copper along with copper plate inlays along still walls). Using this combination of metals is much cheaper as it prevents erosion of the entire vessel and lowers copper levels in the waste product (which in large distilleries is processed to become animal feed). All copper stills will require repairs about every 8 years because of copper erosion from the compounds it is designed to remove; this erosion is therefore unavoidable. The alcohol industry was the first to use anything close to a modern distillation apparatus and led the way in developing what is now a large part of the chemical industry.
The simplest standard [[distillation]] apparatus is commonly known as a [[pot still]], consisting of a single heated chamber and a vessel to collect purified alcohol. A pot still incorporates only one [[condensation]], whereas other types of distillation equipment have multiple stages which result in higher purification of the more volatile component (alcohol). Pot still distillation gives an incomplete [[separation]], but this can be desirable for the flavor of some [[distilled beverages]].
If a purer distillate is desired, a [[reflux still]] is the most common solution. Reflux stills incorporate a [[fractionating column]], commonly created by filling copper vessels with glass beads to maximize available [[surface area]]. As alcohol boils, condenses, and reboils through the column, the effective number of distillations greatly increases. [[Vodka]] and [[rum]] are both distilled by this method, then diluted to concentrations appropriate for human consumption.
Alcoholic products from home distilleries is common throughout the world, but is sometimes in violation of local statutes. The product of illegal stills in the [[United States]] is commonly referred to as [[moonshine]].
==See also==
* [[Distillation]]
**[[Retort]]
**[[Alembic]]
**[[Column still]]
**[[Pot still]]
**[[Reflux still]]
**[[Solar still]]
[[Category:Distillation]]
[[Category:Separation processes]]
[[Category:Laboratory equipment]]
[[de:Brennblase]]
[[es:Alambique]]
[[fr:Alambic]]
[[gl:Alambique]]
[[it:Alambicco]]
[[pl:Alembik]]
[[pt:Alambique]]
[[simple:Still]]