A Vigreux column (also called a fractionating columns or fractional columns), is a piece of lab glass ware that is designed to utilize the heat from your boiling system to create multiple distillations within its length, separating out fractions of mixtures based on volatility.

These are essential pieces of equipment to separate your mixtures into component parts (or fractions, the columns namesake). The greater surface area on the rising column separates out the fractions based on differences in volatilities.

This each cycle of vapor, condensing and vaporizing, through a fractionating column, vapors are enriched with a constituent components. Larger surface areas, or longer columns, allow for more cycles improving separation.

Vigreux columns work by having a a sequence of glass fingers, formed by pressing in the outer wall of the main chambers. Air-cooled, the vapor that enters here condenses on the fingers and drips downward. Heat entering the column from heated vapor can cause the dripped condensed distillate to recondense at a lesser temperature, fractionating mixtures into different vapors that are then typically condensed with a secondary condenser.

Fractionating columns are used in both small benchtop laboratories, and large, industrial scale ones. Heat entering a fractionating column is a critical component for the successful use of this device, and much be controlled accurately, we highly recommend using a 2 necked flask with a thermometer inlet to monitor temperature.

A heating mantle is also recommended for achieving a quality distillation. Excess or insufficient heat can lead to flooding, foaming or an unsuccessful distillation. You will also need other distillation equipment in conjunction to this to achieve desired results.

Vigreux Column Specifications:

– Made of Borosilicate glass
– 24/29 ground glass joint
– Available in a range of lengths

Packing material sold separately.

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