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History of distillation
From the development, the early techniques and theoretical knowledge of more than 2500 years. It was a chance to thank for that more than 2500 years of Greek sailors on the high seas from seawater by distillation won the survival of fresh water. The simplest design of the distillation apparatus Tigels availed itself of a basic form. Closed it with a lid, so condensed here as long as it remained cool to the heat of the evolving Tigelinhaltes vapors in the form of fine droplets that are from time to time by wiping it with a tail feather or the like collected.
In the ancient and widespread until the beginning of modern times was known to use the so-called "wool-capacitor" in the distillation, a working method, which is already some progress compared to the previously reported shows. This method of condensation of vapors in wool or large surface area similar material was widely used to make seawater potable freshwater to win.
The Greek Philospoph ALEXANDROS Phrodisias of Caria in the 211 to 198 of our time in Athens in the teachings of Aristotle against Plantonismus defended and stoicism, said here in his "Commentari in Aristotle": "sailor at sea boil sea water and hang large sponges by the opening of the bronze vessel into which was evaporated, imbibe. If they press the sponge, then one finds that there is fresh water. "
Even in the 16th Century, describes the same procedure for drinking water at sea is one of the most famous natural scientists of his time, the Swiss doctor and classicist CONRAD Gesner (1516 to 1565), under the pseudonym EVONYMUS PHILIATER as "German Pliny," as it also called numerous scientific books drafted. However, this development Gesner mistakenly returned to Arab scientists.
The perception that evaporation of seawater in freshwater supplies, is zeifellos the chance to thank - the ancient knew no specific experiments, from which conclusions on certain issues and derived theories could be drawn. The first detailed comments on the basic principles of distillation, evaporation and condensation comes from Aristotle (384 to 322 BC) is one of the most famous philosophers of all times, in them the true and actual reasons for the constant circulation of water in nature recognized.
Plato, the teacher of Aristotle (427 to 347 BC), the outlook on the possibilities of transformation of the four classical elements, air and water here, albeit as an important prerequisite for the wrong theoretical support of more than one and a half millennia long dominant alchemy. " The sun absorbed by the water comes back down as rain, collects under the earth ... and it goes out again. "Thus, according to Aristotle, the streams and rivers that eventually flow into the sea. The constant cycle of water is also of a gradual overflowing of the sea prevented.
Aristotle has undoubtedly been in earlier times, the distillation of the underlying principles of evaporation and condensation properly observed and to interpret understood. Neither he nor his contemporaries found individual clues, how this knowledge into practice or to use it. Basically man in ancient Greece, where many major philosophers lived in theory to practice ahead of (the craftsmen were working at that time geltungslos). Physical, artisanal work left to be slaves, "intellectual creativity leads to lower Sinnesart". Only in this way is to understand that for many centuries no significant technical developments in the practice umgesezt were - unlike the earlier "Stromtalkulturen" Mesopotaniens and Egypt, the enormous chemical experience for metallurgy, textile dyeing and ceramics were able to collect.
In grave chambers were found on the Nile complete transcripts of the 10th u. 11. u. 11 Century extant literature of the "Sacred Art", which by 300 BC in the city live Mendes scholars had recorded. Here is the theme for the manufacture of dyes, as well as the imitation of gold and silver treated.
As the oldest Alexandrian images showing on distillation equipment (10./11. Century), belonged primarily to the distillation apparatus, a piston (boiler, and later to form his gourd called) of ceramic, glass or copper was produced. On him standing upright was mostly made of copper produced "fumes pipe" and ended in its upper part in the so-called helmet. At that were sometimes several leading downward flow pipes attached, which led to the templates. A special cooler one knew yet, helmet and flow pipes over cooler than this feature or you put cold water soaked towels to the submissions. In this way and thus it was not yet possible, low substances such as alcohol during the distillation to win. Broadest application of distillation was the manufacture of perfumes and floral waters from other parts of plants and was dedicated to rapidly become an important, veritable industry. Likewise, the use of animal and vegetable scents for preparation of scented oils and ointments - also originally cult-ritual purposes needed
Arabs century produced about 10 different perfumes from violets, daffodils, lilies, lotus flowers and other fragrant plants. Famous in Babylon was the rose water, with a thriving trade to Spain, southern Arabia, India and China led.