Hobbies And Interests
Alcohol Distillation
Historians disagree about who first invented distillation, but Albertus Magnus was the first to use distillation to separate alcohol from fermented materials and manufacture distilled liquor. In the Middle Ages, doctors, alchemists and religious leaders began to use distilled alcohol for curing ailments. Throughout the mid-1300s, some people drank alcohol extensively, believing that it would help protect them from the series of diseases that plagued Europe.
Perfumes, Oil and Vinegar
By the 16th century, people were making perfumes, oils and vinegar using the distillation process. Through repeated vaporization and condensation cycles, volatile components of plants such as extracts and essential oils could be separated out and concentrated.
Fractional and Vacuum Distillation
More-sophisticated distillation techniques were invented at the end of the 18th century. Fractional distillation using open glass tubes evolved to closed vacuum distillation systems. In both methods, mixtures of liquids could be separated because different components had different boiling points. Laboratories started using vacuum distillation as a standard method starting in 1869.
Technological Advances in Distillation
Distillation is used to develop and test pharmaceutical products and provide hope for curing diseases. With an increasing demand of natural resources and renewable energy, distillation is also used to capture vapor from industrial processes and reuse and recycle solvents and other liquids. Ironically, distillation continues to be an energy-intensive process.