Explain the principles of distillation in chemical engineering. In a distillation process, a liquid mixture is separated into its components based on differences in volatility. This process relies on the fact that each component in the mixture has a unique boiling point. By heating the mixture, the component with the lowest boiling point vaporizes first, forming a vapor phase, which is then condensed back into a liquid. The condensed liquid, known as the distillate, is collected separately from the remaining mixture. Distillation is widely used in chemical engineering for purification, separation, and concentration of substances, playing a pivotal role in industries like petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, and beverage production.