A distillation apparatus is an important tool in many labs and is responsible for facilitating the separation of substances from a liquid mixture through boiling and condensation. Distillation apparatuses are composed of numerous individual components. As such, distillation setup can be a bit of a challenge the first time. To help make the process easier, here are simple step-by-step guidelines on how managing a distillation setup.

1. Begin by placing a ring clamp on the ring stand to hold the heating mantle. Place your chosen heat source, such as a hot plate, on the ring clamp.
2. Above the ring clamp, secure a round-bottom flask to a small three-pronged clamp on the ring stand. This flask serves the important role of holding the liquid as it is distilled. As such, it is important to ensure that it is tightly secured.
3. Then, place a Y-adaptor on top of the round-bottom flask and secure it to the system through a condenser using a Keck clip. The condenser can be secured to the ring stand using a versatile clamp.
4. Next, you should connect a vacuum adaptor to the condenser using a Keck clip and drop a boiling chip into the round-bottom flask through the Y-adaptor. A stemmed funnel can then be used to pour the liquid you wish to distill through the Y-adaptor and into the round-bottom flask with the boiling chip.
5. Depending on the type of distillation you are completing, place an Erlenmeyer flask, beaker, graduated cylinder, or round-bottom flask under the vacuum adaptor to serve as the receiving flask.
6. At the top of the Y-adaptor, connect a thermometer adaptor and thermometer which will help measure the boiling point of the liquid.
7. Connect one piece of Tygon tubing to the water source in the condenser and another piece to the drain in the condenser. Then, you’re ready to turn on the cooling water and steam and start to heat the liquid in the round-bottom flask to start the distillation process.

While the exact configuration process will likely differ slightly for each lab, this distillation setup guide provides a general look at how to set up a distillation apparatus. If you require high-quality lab distillation equipment, shop with us at USA Lab Equipment. Our extensive stock of used and new lab equipment includes vacuum distillation kits, short path distillation turnkey kits, and full bore short bath distillation kits. For more information on how our lab equipment can help facilitate your distillation lab procedure, contact us today