Talk:Destructive distillation

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Destructive Distillation does not mean driving off (and collecting) gas from some matter by heating it in the absence of air. That definition would also include any number of standard distillation processes, such as the distillation of alcohol, which does not involve destructive processes.

Also, do not attempt to merge this page with dry distillation, they are different things.

What about the destructive distillation of cellulose being a cause of global warming and such? Lawlor421 19:53, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dry distillation and destructive distillation

To me dry distillation and destructive distillation seems to be the same thing. It has been previously stated in the discussion thread of both articles that they are not the same thing (A B). However no explanation or references has been given to back up the statement. Would someone care to explain the difference? --Alf 09:33, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Destructive distillation involves chemical changes, ie. molecular breakdown, but not necessarily a solid starting material. Dry distillation involves a solid starting material, but not necessarily chemical changes, the chemicals are merely separated and not necessarily changed. Of course, dry distillation and destructive distillation could occur, and often do, at the same time.

So a process like coking could then be labeled as dry destructive distillation since it involves a solid material and molecular breakdown? --Alf 07:57, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Yeah.