Distillation Glossary

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Distillation techniques and technology have many variations and configurations. In this post, we provide simple definitions for commonly used distillation terminology along with commentary. This should help sharpen communications and aid in equipment decision-making.

Evaporation refers to the thermal process of a liquid changing to a gas under a pressure or thermal influence. This change is also known as a “phase change”. This happens when water boils and makes water vapor. In the case of cannabis processing, evaporation refers to two different processes. First, a phase change of cannabinoids like CBD from the liquid state evaporating to a gas at a high temperature and vacuum. This change happens at the evaporator surface. Second, evaporation refers to the phase change of a solvent such as ethanol as it is being removed from the oil. An evaporator typically has an external condenser.

Refers to the thermal process of evaporation and condensation that separates components of a mixture on the basis of different evaporation temperatures. Evaporation of a liquid will produce a gas. That gas then travels (called diffusion) to a condenser where it cools and condenses back to a liquid. This is typically accomplished under a vacuum pump.

Wiped film apparatus used in hemp and cannabis distillation are not usually fixed distance but typically use “comb” shaped wipers to mix the oil on the surface of the oil while simultaneously creating a thin film at the surface. A thin film is important so that efficient evaporation can occur.

Molecular distillation refers to distillation under high vacuum pressure that reduces the probability or frequency of one evaporated molecule encountering another. Under high vacuum, evaporation of cannabinoids from oil purportedly migrate unimpeded from the evaporator to the condenser. However, the conditions for true molecular distillation do not occur in the case of cannabis or hemp oils as there are always other compounds that co-distill with the cannabinoids.

Wiped film refers to the existence of a wiper to wipe a fluid over a hot evaporation surface. Wiped film evaporation refers to evaporation from the hot surface as the wiper creates a thin film on the evaporation surface.

Short Path refers to the distance that the evaporated liquid vapor travels from the evaporation surface to reach the condenser. In practice, “short path” describes the location of the condenser in relation to the evaporator. Short path has an internal condenser (clearSTILL) whereas an evaporator has an external condenser (fracTron).

Falling film refers to a film that spreads over an evaporative surface by gravity. The fluid in this case must have low viscosity at the evaporator temperature so that it can flow and evaporate.

Fractional Distillation refers to the ability to start distilling at a low temperature and ramp up the temperature to sequentially boil the components. The components are also sequentially condensed thus allowing separate fractions to be collected.

With these terms are defined, you can put them together:

Condenser

Typical Pressure or Vacuum Level

Mixing

Boiling Point for Target Liquid

Wiped Film Evaporator (WFE)

External

Pressurized to 0.1 torr

Film wiped on evaporator

Low boiling solvents

Falling Film Evaporator

External

Pressurized to 0.1 torr

No wiper

Low boiling solvents

Wiped Film Distillation

Internal, short path

Molecular <0.001 torr

Film wiped on evaporator

High

Fractional Distillation/

Short Path Distillation

External

0.1 torr

No wiper

High

Thin Film Evaporator

External

Pressurized to 0.1 torr

No wiper

Low boiling solvents with

low viscosity

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