What is the difference between wiped film molecular distillation and a short-path distillation kit or a fractional still?


• Molecular distillation is the same as short path distillation. Both imply the use of a high vacuum and a condensing surface close to a heated evaporating surface. 

• However, "short path distillation kit" usually refer to with a basic glassware setup consisting of a basic boiling flask with a neck leading to a condenser and receiving flask. The kit usually includes glassware, vacuum pump, chiller, heating mantle and all accessories.

• A molecular still is not a fractionating still. Fractionating still equipment implies the use of a vertical packed column providing multiple equilibrium stages or "theoretical plates", which requires the condenser to be located far from the boiling flask and only accessible after a sometimes quite long obstruction of the packed column, which is a problem for heat sensitive materials.