Solvents are essential for many products and processes. These special chemicals can be used to passively clean very tough residues, isolate valuable compounds from various substances, and more. Although there are many solvents used in household capacities, from rubbing alcohol to nail polish remover, when they are used for industrial purposes, they require special handling and equipment.
Industrial solvent recycling systems, solvent extractors, and solvent distillation equipment are widely utilized to maximize resources and safely handle and reduce potentially dangerous substances. Sometimes solvent extraction, distillation, and recycling are used synonymously, but individual systems and units function in different ways and serve different purposes. Even with this in mind, almost any company that uses solvent in some part of their process should consider a reliable and efficient solution for handling such substances.
What Is The Difference Between Recycling, Distillation, And Extraction?
Solvent distillation systems, recycling, and extraction all use special machinery capabilities to separate solvent from other substances. This can be done by applying heat, through pressure changes, and other techniques that remove the solvent from other particles and isolate it for other purposes. Distilled or recycled solvent may be collected as a byproduct or reintroduced into a production flow, such as for cleaning or serialization purposes.
What Is Solvent Extraction?
Solvent extraction is the process of isolating chemical compounds by using solvent or by deriving solvents from natural substances. In a solvent extraction machine, certain useful substances can be isolated from whole materials. Solvent is applied to either liquid or solids and is used to break down compounds from waste, sediment, impurities, and other unusable elements as part of a refining process. Solvent extraction is regularly used by cosmetic companies, food additive manufacturers, and the pharmaceutical industry, among many others, to acquire substances like essential oils, beneficial acids, and aromatics.
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What Is Solvent Distillation?
Solvent distillation is a method of refining solvent that has been used for purposes of extraction, cleaning, or other processes that render the liquid solvent contaminated. Distillation is used as a type of filtration method that removes particles and contaminants via an evaporation and condensation process. This makes it possible to collect the cleaned solvent so that it can be used in the same manner as virgin solvent. The formerly suspended particles, debris, and other waste can then be properly disposed of. Solvent distillation helps to reduce the amount of solvent that is lost as hazardous waste.
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What Is Solvent Recycling?
Solvent recycling is the process of taking contaminated solvent, cleaning or filtering it, and integrating it back into the production flow. Solvent distillation is one method of solvent recycling, which can be integrated into a solvent extraction process. Solvent recycling is sometimes called solvent recovery. There are many different types of systems that carry out this process.
Choosing Solvent Extraction and Distillation Systems
Although they are used for different purposes and require different types of machinery, solvent extractors and solvent distillers can be made to work in a continuous, closed-loop system. Better solvent handling equipment will deliver benefits of safer facility operations, reduced environmental footprints, and a more consistent and streamlined production flow.
A solvent extraction system will integrate well with a solvent distillation system, but distillation units can also benefit companies that use solvent for non-extraction purposes, such as to clean ink, paint, and other tough residues from various tools, industrial containers, and more. Solvent recycling can be a major cost and time-saving asset when large quantities of solvent are used for just about any purpose.
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