Distillation vs. Extraction — What's the Difference?

A process to separate components of a mixture through their boiling points.

A technique to isolate a specific compound from a mixture through its solubility.

Distillation can purify liquids by removing impurities with different boiling points.

Liquid-liquid extraction separates compounds based on their differing solubilities in two immiscible liquids.

Fractional distillation separates crude oil into various fractions like gasoline and diesel.

Solid-liquid extraction pulls compounds from solid matrices into a liquid solvent.

Simple distillation is suitable for separating liquids with significantly different boiling points.

Soxhlet extraction continuously washes the solid material with solvent, ideal for lipid extraction.

Vacuum distillation lowers boiling points by reducing pressure, aiding in the separation of heat-sensitive substances.

Supercritical fluid extraction uses supercritical CO2 as a solvent for high efficiency and purity.

Distillation, or classical distillation, is the process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation. Dry distillation is the heating of solid materials to produce gaseous products (which may condense into liquids or solids).

The act of extracting or the condition of being extracted.

The evaporation and subsequent collection of a liquid by condensation as a means of purification:the distillation of water.

Something obtained by extracting; an extract.

The extraction of the volatile components of a mixture by the condensation and collection of the vapors that are produced as the mixture is heated:petroleum distillation.

Origin; lineage

A distillate.

An act of extracting or the condition of being extracted.

The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.

A person's origin or ancestry.

That which falls in drops.

Something extracted, an extract, as from a plant or an organ of an animal etc.

The separation of more volatile parts of a substance from less volatile ones by evaporation and condensation.

(military) An act of removing someone from a hostile area to a secure location.

Purification through repeated or continuous distilling; rectification.

(dentistry) A removal of a tooth from its socket.

(petroleum) Separation into specific hydrocarbon groups; fractionation.

The act of extracting, or drawing out; as, the extraction of a tooth, of a bone or an arrow from the body, of a stump from earth, of a passage from a book, of an essence or tincture.

The substance extracted by distilling.

Derivation from a stock or family; lineage; descent; birth; the stock from which one has descended.

The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.

That which is extracted; extract; essence.

That which falls in drops.

The process of obtaining something from a mixture or compound by chemical or physical or mechanical means

The separation of the volatile parts of a substance from the more fixed; specifically, the operation of driving off gas or vapor from volatile liquids or solids, by heat in a retort or still, and the condensation of the products as far as possible by a cool receiver, alembic, or condenser; rectification; vaporization; condensation; as, the distillation of illuminating gas and coal, of alcohol from sour mash, or of boric acid in steam.

Properties attributable to your ancestry;

The substance extracted by distilling.

The act of pulling out (as a tooth);

The process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors

A purified liquid produced by condensation from a vapor during distilling; the product of distilling

Medicinal compounds, essential oils, and natural pigments are common targets for extraction.

Generally no, but vacuum distillation can be used for heat-sensitive materials by lowering the boiling point.

Yes, fractional distillation provides better separation for mixtures with closer boiling points.

Distillation is very effective but may not remove all types of impurities, such as those with similar boiling points.

Yes, methods like mechanical pressing and supercritical fluid extraction don't use traditional solvents.

Yes, especially with solvent-based extractions, due to solvent recovery and disposal issues.

The solvent's polarity, boiling point, and toxicity can greatly influence the efficiency and safety of the extraction.

Distillation is key in the production of alcoholic beverages by separating alcohol from fermented mixtures.

Distillation separates based on boiling points, while extraction relies on solubility differences.

Yes, they can complement each other in a multi-step purification process.

A larger boiling point difference improves distillation efficiency, while higher solubility in a specific solvent improves extraction outcomes.

Temperature is crucial in distillation for vaporization, while in extraction, it can affect solubility and diffusion rates.

Yes, techniques like supercritical CO2 extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction are more environmentally friendly alternatives.

The pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries heavily rely on extraction for obtaining key ingredients.

Vacuum distillation operates under reduced pressure, lowering boiling points and making it suitable for heat-sensitive compounds.