Is rotary evaporator same as distillation?

1. Principle:
   • Distillation: Distillation separates components in a mixture based on differences in their boiling points. The mixture is heated to at least one component’s boiling point, and the vapor is then condensed and collected to separate the components.
   • Rotary evaporators: These are primarily used to remove solvents from solutions, commonly employed in laboratories and industries for concentrating, separating, and purifying compounds. They work by heating the sample under vacuum and forming a thin film inside a rotating flask to evaporate the solvent from the solution.
2. Application:
   • Distillation: Distillation finds wide applications in the purification of alcohol, petroleum, and other industrial products, as well as in desalination and purification of drinking water.
   • Rotary evaporators: These are typically used in chemical synthesis, pharmaceuticals, food science, and other fields for concentrating or separating compounds in samples.
3. Operation:
   • Distillation: Distillation usually requires a heat source and cooling system, making the operation relatively complex.
   • Rotary evaporators: They typically employ a vacuum system and work by rotating the flask and heating the sample to evaporate the solvent. The operation is relatively straightforward and more suitable for small-scale operations in laboratories.