Description and function Utility of the distillation column such that a mixture is separated into its components by heating the mixture to a temperature at which one or more of its components will evaporate and then will condense and collect[1].Types of distillation columns:There are different types of distillation columns[2]: Simple distillation column[12]Simple distillation occurs when a liquid is boiled and vapor moves through the column until it reaches the condenser and is cooled and re-liquefied. Fractional distillation column[12]It is similar to simple distillation, however it is filled with a material that has a high surface area to make the separation caused by repeated condensation more efficient and evaporation. Therefore, only vapors that have a sufficient amount of energy remain in the vapor phase and reach the condenser. As a result, the component that is condensed can have approximately a pure composition. The following figure illustrates the path of the vapors in the simple distillation column and in the fractionation distillation column, it is taken from [14]. Figure 1: This figure shows the liquid vapor phase diagram on composition A and B. The phase diagram above shows how a liquid of A and B, for example if composition C2 evaporates at the constant temperature indicated with in the red line and then si condensation; the vapor will have a C3 composition which is not pure B and is usually what happens in a simple distillation column. But in a fractional distillation column the C1 composition shown in the turquoise line will evaporate and condense, followed by the red line path which will then condense again and finally take the green path and condense to the almost pure B composition. This...... half of the document......s.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/228677925?accountid=16946. [April 5, 2014] [11] C. Ender et al.[2001]. “Minimize the risk of fire when maintaining the distillation column.” [online]. Available.http://www.nt.ntnu.no/users/skoge/prost/proceedings/distillation10/DA2010%20Sponsor%20Information/Koch%20Glitsch/Technical_Articles/Packing/Minimize_Risk_of_Fire.pdf[15 April 2014][12] WF “Simple Distillation.”[online].Available: http://www.wfu.edu/chem/courses/organic/distill/distillation.htm[April 15, 2014][13] (2012, December 10) .” Vacuum distillation is a key part of the petroleum refining process."[online].Available. http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=9130[April 20, 2014][14] J. Clark.(2005). "Fractional distillation of ideal mixtures of liquids", [online]. Available: http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/phaseeqia/idealfract.html[May 17,2014].