Fractional Distillation Equipment Solves Today’s Top Lab Challenges

Laboratories face a unique set of challenges every day, from managing solvents and ensuring worker safety to meeting sustainability goals—all while maintaining efficiency and precision. Fractional distillation equipment has become an indispensable tool, offering practical, scalable solutions to these pressing issues. This technology can help address some of the most difficult lab challenges while enhancing workflows and cutting costs.  

Before investing in equipment, it’s important to understand fractional distillation. Fractional distillation technology enables the separation of solvents in the same solution from each other (ex. isopropyl alcohol from xylene) for recovery and reuse. This is a key technique in solvent recovery and recycling, now let’s take a deeper dive to discuss how it helps address some of today’s top laboratory challenges.

1. Solvent Waste Management Simplified

Handling solvent waste is a time-consuming and complex task in any lab. Without proper management, solvent disposal can be expensive, costly and environmentally harmful. Fractional distillation equipment like CBG Biotech’s PathTrue™ laboratory solvent recyclers can eliminate much of this hassle by allowing labs to recycle used solvents directly on-site. 

Instead of transporting hazardous waste to disposal facilities, labs can reclaim high-purity levels for solvents such as xylene, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and ethanol efficiently. This reduces the volume of waste generated, cuts down on disposal costs, and minimizes the environmental impact—a triple win for any laboratory aiming to improve its processes. 

2. Enhancing Lab Efficiency

Solvent recycling through fractional distillation not only saves money, but also streamlines your lab operations. For instance: 

• Automated Recycling: Modern equipment like PathTrue™ Recyclers run independently once set up, requiring minimal human oversight. Technicians can focus on other critical tasks, while the system operates in the background or even overnight. 

• Reduced Administrative Work: With less reliance on external suppliers and waste disposal services, onsite solvent recycling can help labs reduce the paperwork and logistics associated with solvent procurement and removal. 

This automation and operational efficiency allow labs to do more with fewer resources—crucial in today’s leaner lab environments. 

3. Enhancing Safety in the Lab

Safety is always a priority in laboratory settings, and fractional distillation equipment contributes significantly to a safer work environment. 

• Closed-Loop Systems: These systems minimize exposure to hazardous fumes, protecting technicians from harmful chemicals like xylene or alcohol during processing and disposal. 

• Handling Hazardous Solvents: By automating the recycling process, workers spend less time handling dangerous solvents, lowering the risk of spills, exposure, or accidents. 

By prioritizing safety, fractional distillation helps labs meet stringent regulatory standards while fostering a healthier workplace. 

4. Supporting Sustainability Goals

Sustainability initiatives are no longer optional for labs—they’re a necessity. Fractional distillation equipment plays a pivotal role in creating greener workflows: 

• Reduced Solvent Consumption: By reclaiming and reusing solvents, labs can significantly lower their dependency on purchasing new chemicals. 

• Lower Carbon Footprint: Recycling solvents means fewer shipments, less packaging waste, and a smaller environmental impact. 
• Hazardous Waste Generator Status: Recycling and recovering your used solvents reduces your disposal, positively impacting your facility's hazardous waste generator status.

These sustainable practices can be a key differentiator for labs seeking accreditation, such as College of American Pathologists (CAP) certification. 

5. Cost Savings That Add Up 

While an initial investment in fractional distillation equipment might seem significant, the long-term cost savings are undeniable: 

• Lower Solvent Purchases: Recycled solvents maintain high concentration and are ready for reuse, drastically reducing the need for new purchases. 

• Cut Disposal Costs: On-site recycling eliminates the need for external waste removal services, which often come with hefty fees. 

• Improved Equipment Longevity: Clean solvents result in fewer equipment breakdowns, minimizing repair and replacement costs. 
• Activity Costs: Your costs are simplified through recycling and recovery, and you effectively become your own solvent supplier.

Additionally, the ability to reclaim multiple solvents from the same waste mixture enhances the overall value of fractional distillation systems.  

6. Real-World Applications in Labs

In daily operations, labs working in fields like pathology, chemistry, and veterinary science often handle complex solvent mixtures. Fractional distillation equipment makes it possible to: 

• Recycle multiple solvents with different boiling points in a single process. 

• Ensure a consistent supply of high-quality solvents for critical applications. 

• Save time by eliminating trips to stockrooms or waste disposal facilities. 
  
  

Meeting Today’s Challenges with Confidence 

Fractional distillation equipment is more than just a tool—it’s a transformative solution for modern laboratories. By simplifying workflows, improving safety, reducing waste, and cutting costs, it empowers labs to meet today’s challenges head-on. 

If your lab is ready to optimize operations and embrace a more sustainable, efficient future, fractional distillation might be the answer. Contact CBG Biotech today to learn how this technology can benefit your team and take your lab’s performance to the next level. 

Check out these other helpful resources:

• Blog Post: How Solvent Recycling and Recovery Saves Time and Improves Workflow 
  Implementing an automated solvent recycler not only streamlines operations but brings many advantages that can transform your lab's efficiency and effectiveness.
  
• Blog Post: How Much Does Using a Solvent Distillation Unit in Your Lab Cost?
  Learn how much solvent distillation equipment costs and how much your laboratory will need to spend to operate and maintain your lab distillation system.
  
• Video: Simple vs. Fractional Distillation
  What is fractional distillation? What is simple distillation? This video provides a brief overview of distillation, the differences between simple and fractional distillation, applications these processes are used in and how these processes work.