Sublimation is a process of refinement, purification or extraction of specific elements. The aludel, a unique alchemical apparatus, is often shown as a stack or progression of vessels, pipes or tubes in medieval labs, used in the process of sublimation.
The Aludel
The term aludel emerges in the 14th century. It comes from the Arabic ﺍﻟﻮﺛﻞ (alwthl) meaning "the first one", a specialized pot designed for the sublimation process. Sublimation is also mentioned in 1393 by English poet John Gower. Much of history is written by poets.
Alternate names for the aludel include the Hermetic Vase, Vase of the Philosophy or the Philosophers' Egg. The latter also refers to a vessel used in alchemical digestion.
In full form, an aludel is a series of earthen or glass tubes or pots, stacked atop one another, with each pot diminishing in size as it ascends. The lowest pot, containing the raw materials to be sublimed, is set in the furnace. A constant temperature must be maintained.
The uppermost section of the apparatus is a head designed to capture the re-solidified gasses. As a condenser in the sublimation process it's comparable to the alembic. Traditional aludels are typically crafted from clay or similar ceramic materials due to heat transfer and durability.
Clay or ceramic vessels fare better in high heat conditions. Glass, on the other hand, is ideal for watching the experiment in process. Either way the apparatus and its parts can be engineered in different ways to suit the purpose.
The aludel extracts pure elements by transitioning from solid to gas without the liquid phase. The vessels enable alchemists to concentrate desired materials effectively. The method removes impurities, which are left behind in the apparatus to be discarded or further processed.
Sublimation Process
Sublimation is a physical process through which a solid transforms directly into a gas without first becoming a liquid. This transformation occurs when the molecules in a solid gain enough energy to break free from their fixed positions and enter the gas phase.
The word sublimate comes from Latin verb sublimare, meaning "to elevate", the root of "sublime". At one time sublimate meant "to elevate to a place of dignity or honor" or "to give a more elevated character to," but these references are obsolete.
In the context of alchemy and the use of an aludel, materials such as antimony, sulfur and arsenic are subjected to heat. This prompts the change to gas or vapor. The vapors ascend to the top of the aludel and re-condense.
"The contrivance serves to sublimate mercury (zaybak), sulfur, orpiment (zarnīkh) and the like. It is made of glass or clay (fakhkhār) and consists of two tubes (ziḳḳ, actually hoses) fitted together. The mineral is put in the lower tube, the two tubes are fitted together with clay and the whole is put on the fire. The ascending smoke gets to the upper tube, cools down and produces the desired sublimate."
~ from a 14th century text originally attributed to Pseudo-Geber
Mercury, a favorite of alchemy, cannot itself be sublimed as the process calls for a change of solid to gas, and mercury is liquid, hence the name quicksilver. It will solidify by freezing, at -38.83 °C ( -37.89 °F). Compounds such as mercury II chloride can undergo sublimation.
The Liber de aluminibus et salibus (Book of Alums and Salts), a Latin treatise translated from Arabic, includes a procedure for subliming mercury with vitriol and “common” salt. According to the text, this mixture sublimes to the top of the vessel as white shining crystals.
Examples of Sublimation
Several chemical substances can be produced or refined through sublimation. Among these are:
Flowers of Antimony (Alchemy): antimony trisulfide (Sb2S3), used historically in medicinal and chemical applications.
Flowers of Sulfur (Alchemy): A fine sulfur powder known in medicinal and agricultural uses, prized for its soft yellow color and elemental purity. In medieval times and later, flowers of sulfur commands markedly higher prices than simple sulfur alone.
Sublimated Caffeine (Industry): extraction of pure caffeine from other substances. Caffeine appears as a white microcrystalline powder when re-solidified.
Sublimation of Iodine (Education): Iodine's purple sublimation is a striking visual often used to demonstrate the process in schools.
About 30% of chemical compounds in the pharmaceutical industry today use sublimation techniques for purification and medication development. Today's techniques can achieve sublimation at temperatures as low as -78 °C ( -104 °F).
While the use of aludels in contemporary practice is rare, their principles are absorbed into modern scientific techniques. Sublimation is conducted through controlled environments using advanced laboratory apparatus designed to optimize efficiency and safety.
Modern Sublimation
In modern science, sublimation is typically used to purify and collect compounds using vacuum sublimation apparatus or rotary evaporators. These methods expedite the sublimation process and mitigate risks of handling hazardous materials.
In vacuum sublimation, chemists reduce pressure around a substance to reduce its boiling point and enable sublimation at lower temperatures. This method safeguards heat-sensitive compounds and can increases yield by up to 40%.
Rotary evaporation uses a similar method with a rotary evaporator, or "rotavap." To eliminate excess solvents from samples chemists heat a rotating container under reduced pressure.
Facts about Aludels and Sublimation
Historical Context: Although the term aludel first appears in the 14th century, the concept of sublimation exists in ancient cultures.
Cultural Variations: Different cultures recognize the benefits of sublimation for medicinal purposes, promoting evolution of the process over centuries.
In spiritualized alchemy the aludel is often depicted symbolically, representing the common clichés of transformation and quest for enlightenment.
Sublimation is also a fundamental principle in various fields today, including materials science, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. Certain ingredients are sublimated for preservation.
Natural Product Extraction: Sublimation remains essential for extracting components like essential oils and herbal extracts, highlighting its role in both traditional and contemporary wellness.
Non-Fiction Books:
Fiction Books:
READ: Lora Ley Adventures - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series
READ: Reiker For Hire - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries