The number one obstacle keeping people from making their own distilled water at home is the perception that making distilled water is a distinctly complicated process. In truth, however, water distillation is much simpler than you might think.
As a matter of fact, water distillation is an extremely simple process. The long and short of it is that it involves the water boiling, evaporating into steam, and then condensing back to its liquid state.
We are presenting you with the details of how distilled water is made, completely demystifying the process, and giving all the tips for making your own distilled water at home.
The Science Behind Water Distillation
There is some cool science behind the water distillation. As you probably already know, water boils at 212°F (100°C). However, other types of molecules and chemical compounds have different boiling temperatures. Most of them have higher boiling temperatures than water.
But what does this mean for water distillation?
Well, you need to remember that regular tap or bottled water isn’t just pure H20. There are minerals, chlorine, traces of dirt, and various other types of chemical compounds in the water.
So, when you take some tap or bottled water and heat it up until it starts to boil and evaporate, all these minerals, chlorine, and other debris won’t boil as well. That’s the very basic premise of the distillation process - make the pure water boil and evaporate, leaving all other compounds behind.
How Distilled Water is Made (Step by Step)
Now that you understand the science behind water distillation, let’s see step-by-step how distilled water is made:
- Step 1: The water is poured into a container and heated until it starts to boil.
- Step 2: The boiling water starts to evaporate and leaves the container. The minerals and other debris will stay behind.
- Step 3: The water steam will end up on a lid (if you are using a DIY distillation method) or on cooling coils/tubes (if you are using a water distiller). There, it will condense and transform back into its liquid state.
- Step 4: The condensed water will slowly drip into another pot or container. This is the distilled water, 100% free of everything that isn’t pure H20.
Types of Distillation Methods For Making Distilled Water
1. DIY Water Distillation
There are several distillation methods you can try. For example, you can try the good old DIY method. With this method, you don’t need any specialized equipment. All you need is some pots and lids, and a little bit of water. This method is great for individual use when you don’t need large amounts of distilled water. Also, this method is called simple distillation.
2. Fractional Distillation
Another interesting distillation method is fractional distillation. This method is great if your water is mixed with other liquids that have a similar boiling temperature. In this case, simple distillation won’t be effective enough.
Fractional distillation uses fractional columns to achieve several vaporization/condensation cycles, which allows the separation between water and other liquids.
3. Solar Distillation
Solar distillation uses sunlight to heat and evaporate water. This is a good method for sustainability, but not particularly fast. It’s also more suitable for individual needs than for industrial use.
Some other distillation types are:
- Steam distillation
- Vacuum distillation
- Multi-stage flash distillation
- Short-path distillation
- Destruction distillation
Home vs. Industrial Water Distillation
If you need distilled water for your home or for industrial purposes, you probably wonder what kind of equipment and tools you need. For your home, you don’t need any specific equipment. All you need is two pots, one bigger and one smaller, as well as one pot lid (the one that fits the bigger pot).
However, if this is too much work for you, you can buy a home water distiller. These machines are affordable, easy to use, and portable. They are also rather efficient, and you can even use them for industrial purposes.
Speaking of industrial purposes, if you want to distill water on an industrial scale, and some simple home water distillers aren’t enough, you’ll have to invest in more expensive equipment: distillation columns, reboilers, condensers, control systems, etc.
Get The Best Water Distiller for Your Home or Company
If your needs for distilled water are moderate, but you still want the efficiency and convenience, you should check out these water distillers:
CO-Z 1.1 Gallon Water Distiller, 750W Countertop
This 750W tabletop water distiller produces ultra-pure 2 ppm water at 0.3 gallons per hour. It is made of durable 304 stainless steel and uses a 1.1-gallon borosilicate glass pitcher. As such, this distiller is safe, automatic, and easy to clean.
CO-Z 4L Stainless Steel Water Distiller
This distiller is also made of 304 stainless steel with BPA-free materials. It can produce up to 6 gallons of pure water per day. Some of its other standout features are a one-button start, automatic shut-off, and a premium FDA-listed glass carafe.
Conclusion
The basic water distillation process is rather simple, and you don’t need much scientific background to be able to do it at home.
However, there are some other distillation methods that are more complex, and they are mostly used for industrial and specific purposes. If you want to produce distilled water effortlessly without investing in overpriced equipment, try CO–Z water distillers.
