Distillation

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-008253",
  "term": "Distillation",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. The act of purifying liquids through boiling, so that the steam or gaseous vapors condense to a pure liquid. Pollutants and contaminants may remain in a concentrated residue.\n\n2. The process by which the components of a liquid mixture are separated by boiling and recondensing the resultant vapors. The main components in the case of alcohol production are water and ethanol.\n\n3. Wastewater is heated to form steam, leaving inorganic compounds and large, non-volatile organic molecules behind. The steam is then condensed, forming purified water. Distillation requires input of energy and collection of the purified water.",
  "subject": "General environmental",
  "references": [
    "Terms of Environment",
    "DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Bioenergy Glossary",
    "Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/distillation/"
}