Question:

Glycerol can be separated from spent-lye in soap industry by

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High boiling or heat-sensitive liquids are purified using vacuum distillation.
Updated On: May 8, 2026
  • crystallization
  • sublimation
  • differential extraction
  • chromatography
  • distillation under reduced pressure
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Solution and Explanation

Concept: Glycerol is obtained as a by-product during soap manufacture (saponification). It is mixed with water and impurities in spent-lye. Since glycerol has a high boiling point and decomposes at high temperature, special separation methods are required.

Step 1: Nature of glycerol

• High boiling point liquid
• Non-volatile under normal conditions
• Decomposes before boiling at atmospheric pressure

Step 2: Suitable separation method
To avoid decomposition, boiling temperature must be reduced → achieved by reducing pressure.

Step 3: Conclusion
Hence glycerol is purified using: \[ \text{Distillation under reduced pressure (vacuum distillation)} \]
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