The important technique of distillation was probably discovered by the Greek alchemist, Discorides, after he noticed condensate on the lid of a vessel in which some mercury was being heated. The technique of fractional distillation at reduced pressures was initially used to separate mixtures of fatty acids and esters derived from natural fats. The early distillation apparatus were not very efficient. Thus, natural mixtures were first separated into chemically similar groups prior to distillation.
The earliest laboratory columns were simply open tubes and spiral-type columns, these were introduced by Warren in 1864. The period 1900-1930 was one during which marked advances were made. One of the most important was the development of highly efficient packed columns. Columns containing rotating fractionation sections were introduced later in 1935. The oldest record of a distillation process dates about 3600 B.C., it was probably used to make perfumes. The instrument was 48 cm high and 53 cm in largest diameter. The distillation pot had a capacity of about 40 litres and the distillate collecting ring held about 2 litres.
Distillation apparatus made its appearance in the chemical laboratory in the early part of the 19th century, the invention of the distillation column is attributed to Cellier-Blumenthal and Derosene in France and also to Coffey in England. These bubble-plate towers were used primarily for the commercial distillation of spirits.
Author: Lyndsey Booth (document modification date: 19th May 2003)