Steam distillation:
This method is applicable for solids and liquids. If the compound to be steam distilled and it should not decompose at any steam temperature should have a fairly high vapour pressure at 273 K, it should be insoluble in water and the impurities present should be non-volatile.
The impure liquid along with little water is taken in a round bottomed flask which is connected to a boiler on one side and water condenser on the other side, the flask is kept in a slanting position so that no droplets of the mixture will enter into the condenser on the brisk boiling and bubbling of steam.
The mixture in the flask is heated and then a current of steam passed into it. The vapours of the compound mix up with the steam and escape into the condenser. The condensate obtained is a mixture of water and organic compound which can be separated. This method is used to recover essential oils from plants and flowers also in the manufacture of aniline and turpentine oil.