Simple distillation is a technique of ancient and medieval alchemists. It can be a process on its own or part of a larger work, involving separation and purification of elements. Simple distilling is the major process for centuries, and the basis for all other types of distillation.
Simple distillation is one of the most straightforward and historically significant methods. It operates on the principle substances have unique boiling points. The process involves heating a liquid/solid or solution until it reaches boiling point of one component, which vaporizes.
This vapor is then cooled and condensed back into liquid form, separating it from the non-evaporated materials. In an alembic or retort, the liquid drains into a collector vessel.
Simple Distillation: Alchemists of Alexandria
The ancient alchemists of Alexandria become proficient at the process of distillation. Not only is Alexandria an early center of glass-making, it has a tradition of medicine and philosophy catering to both the esoteric and practical alchemical adept.
Simple distillation can separate volatile liquids from non-volatile impurities; or separate two liquids with vastly different boiling points (greater than 25-30°C apart). In separating water from table salt, salt remains in the boiling flask and purified water collected as distillate.
In simple distillation, when a liquid mixture is heated, the component with the lowest boiling point evaporates first. The vapor is then collected and condensed back into a liquid, resulting in separation of components based on their boiling points.
Key Steps in Simple Distillation:
Heating the Mixture: The liquid blend is heated in a distillation flask until the component with the lowest boiling point vaporizes.
Vaporization: As the liquid boils, the vapor rises through a tube connected to the flask.
Condensation: The vapor enters a condenser, a cooling tube where the vapor is cooled with water or air, causing it to condense back into liquid form.
Collection: The purified distillate is collected in a separate container, while the remaining mixture stays in the distillation flask.
Simple distillation is used for purifying water, producing essential oils and separating liquids when the boiling points are significantly different. The alembic body, cucurbit or mattrass, is placed over or in a heat source.
The fluid or molten matter with the lowest boiling point will evaporate first, condense in the head or cup of the alembic and drip into a container vessel. The name "alembic" is based on Greek "ambix" for cup, prefixed with the Arabian al- meaning "the", or al-ambic.
Although the process can be applied to any liquid at any vapor pressure, it is generally used to describe the boiling of water by lowering the container's internal pressure below standard atmospheric pressure. This causes water to boil at room temperature.
Simple distillation is the basis for many more complex processes. It's commonly used in the purification of water, extraction of essential oils, and production of alcoholic beverages like whiskey and vodka.
Zosimos c. 300 mentions distillation when he describes teaching of alchemy experiments:
"Knowledge is treated with great honor, because only a philosopher, who has acquired Wisdom, scientifically and practically, is able to use it. An experimentalist may obey his master when he tells him: Take this and do such and such a thing, evaporate it, dissolve it, distill it, and so on till the end of the work.
1. Medicinal Applications
Early physicians use the process of distillation to extract concentrated essences and medicinal compounds from plants. In medicine from ancient to modern times, herbs and botanicals can be distilled to create potent tonics, elixirs, and remedies with natural healing properties.
Essential oils extracted through distillation are valued for therapeutic qualities in treating a range of ailments. In ancient times there are no clear boundaries between medicine and alchemy, both having the same goals of healing.
One of the curative aims of alchemy, besides the discovery or creation of the Elixir of Life, is a related search to produce a panacea to heal all disease. As for metals, zinc, cadmium and mercury can be purified using distillation. Mercury is extracted from cinnabar this way.
In Western alchemy, the Stone of the Philosophers is said to grant these powers, as well as having or giving the ability to turn base metals into precious ones. The stone is made from the pure prima materia, or prime matter making up all life.
2. Production of Booze
One of the enduring legacies of distillation is its role in the creation of alcoholic beverages. Ancient cultures know the process of fermentation for centuries, and eventually produce distilled spirits.
Distillation allows the concentration of alcohol, enhancing flavor and potency. Artisan and industrial brewers through millennia work to perfect the technique.
According to Zosimos:
“…wines can be made in a multitude of ways, [as shown] through many accounts that authors have left to us, and nature, and art such things, that is, grown wines from the vineyard and medicinal, or by adding various spices like palm, cannabis seed etc …”
“Certainly brewers of Egyptian beer [‘zythi’], which is more powerful [then our beers] are not lacking in the false and wicked arts, and might be better used for intoxication. This [concoction] includes: borage, cannabis seeds and leaves, helenium, ivy leaves, strychnine, and darnel.”
3. Extraction of Fragrances
Perfume-making has ancient roots, with distillation playing a key role in creating fragrances from flowers, spices, and other natural materials. Essential oils extracted through distillation are used to craft perfumes both luxurious and highly valued.
Fragrances are infused into incense, flavors blending into herbal remedies, healing properties used in skin lotions or medical treatments. Essential oils are still widely sold and applied today. Extraction of essential oils from plants uses alchemical processes in a specialized genre.
Distillation is a ubiquitous process in alchemy through the ages. It's essential in the alchemy of herbs and plants, termed spagyria in the 16th century by physician alchemist Paracelsus, and practiced centuries before, in the remote mountain villages he visits to gain herbal wisdom.
Separating the essences of products, re-distilling and refining are alchemical processes used to purify substances and extract fundamental components. The materials can be recombined or blended with other ingredients
Making of cosmetics and perfumes is alchemical in nature. Processes are found in ancient Egypt, medieval Islam and Europe. Renaissance alchemists Caterina Sforza and Isabella Cortese are two of the best known producers of cosmetics.
Finally, simple distillation is also used in desalination to produce potable water from seawater. It can be accomplished on a large or smaller scale. This process effectively removes salt and water impurities. Freshwater vapor condenses in the head and runs into a collector vessel.
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