Improvement in Distillation

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


The distillation and rectification of tar, resin, bitumen, turpentine, shistore oil, and other substances, have been improved by M. D'Arcet, with a view to obtain a continuity of action. The principal object of the invention, and of the apparatus employed to carry it into effect, is to render the distillation of the above-named substances, and generally of all liquid hydro-carbons, liquifiable by heat, analogous to that of alcoholic liquids, and to effect this purpose at the lowest'possi-ble degree of temperature. The basis of the process may be said to consist in the continuity of the distillation or rectification, and the spontaneous separation of the resulting volatile substances. For this purpose they are placed in an apparatus divided into compartments, to each of which, in succession, increased degrees of temperature are applied. Each compartment is provided with an escapement valve, by which the products of distillation in that degree of temperature are conducted into a separate receiver.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 46This article was published with the title “Improvement in Distillation” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 46 (), p. 364
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican07241858-364a

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe