Molecular distillation and thin film evaporator are two different separation technologies, and their differences are mainly as follows:
The principle is different: the molecular distillation apparatus uses the difference in boiling points of different components to heat the mixture to its boiling point under high vacuum, and then separates the components through intermolecular collisions; while the thin film evaporator applies the mixture on a thin film surface, the mixture is then evaporated by means of heat and reduced pressure, thereby separating the components.
The scope of application is different: molecular distillation is suitable for separating components in high-boiling point mixtures, while thin-film evaporators are suitable for separating components in low-boiling point mixtures.
Energy consumption and cost are different: Thin-film evaporators generally require low energy consumption and small equipment size, so the cost is relatively low; while molecular distillation apparatuses require high vacuum systems and high-precision temperature control systems, so the costs are high.
The separation efficiency and separation purity are different: the separation efficiency and separation purity of the molecular distillation apparatus are relatively high, which can reach more than 99.9%; while the separation efficiency and separation purity of the thin film evaporator are relatively low, generally around 90%.
Different application scenarios: Molecular distillation is suitable for high-purity chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and other fields; while thin-film evaporators are suitable for food, cosmetics, environmental protection and other fields.