Water is one of the most frequently used reagents in any laboratory, but not all water provides the same level of purity. When salts, minerals, metals, microorganisms, and other contaminants could interfere with analytical results, a laboratory water distiller becomes an essential piece of equipment.
Water distillers produce high-purity distilled water suitable for a wide range of analytical, chemical, biological, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. At Pobel, we offer several types of laboratory water distillers, including glass water distillers, stainless steel water distillers, and fully automatic models, designed to meet the needs of laboratories of all sizes.
In this guide, we explain what a water distiller is, how it works, what it is used for, the different types available, and how to choose the right model for your laboratory.
What Is a Water Distiller?
A water distiller is laboratory equipment designed to purify water through the distillation process.
The process consists of:
- Heating the water until it reaches its boiling point.
- Converting the water into steam.
- Leaving most impurities behind inside the boiling chamber.
- Condensing the steam back into liquid water through a cooling system.
- Collecting the purified distilled water.
The resulting water contains significantly fewer dissolved salts, metals, minerals, and many other contaminants that could affect laboratory analyses.
What Is a Water Distiller Used For?
The primary purpose of a water distiller is to produce high-purity water whenever tap water is not suitable for laboratory work.
Common laboratory applications include:
- Reagent preparation
- Preparation of standard solutions
- Analytical dilutions
- Final rinsing of laboratory glassware
- Preparation of microbiological culture media
- Supplying purified water to laboratory equipment
- Chemical and biological testing
- Industrial quality control processes
Even very small amounts of dissolved minerals or contaminants can alter experimental results. Using distilled water helps ensure accuracy, consistency, and reproducibility.
How Does a Water Distiller Work?
Although designs vary, every laboratory water distiller operates according to the same basic principle.
1. Heating
An electric heating element raises the temperature of the feed water until it boils.
2. Evaporation
Only the water evaporates, while most salts, heavy metals, minerals, and particles remain inside the boiling chamber.
3. Condensation
The steam passes through a condenser, where it cools and returns to liquid form.
4. Collection
The distilled water is collected either in an external storage container or in an integrated reservoir, depending on the equipment.
Many modern laboratory water distillers also include automatic safety systems that stop operation if the cooling water supply is interrupted or when the storage tank becomes full.
Which Impurities Does Distillation Remove?
Distillation is considered one of the most effective water purification methods available for laboratory applications.
Depending on the incoming water quality and the equipment used, it significantly reduces:
- Dissolved mineral salts
- Metal ions
- Water hardness
- Suspended particles
- Many organic compounds
- Bacteria and microorganisms
- Pyrogenic substances
According to Pobel's technical documentation, distillation provides one of the most complete purification methods compared with filtration, reverse osmosis, or deionization for removing a broad range of contaminants.
Applications of Distilled Water in Laboratories
Distilled water is used daily in many scientific disciplines.
Chemical Laboratories
- Reagent preparation
- Volumetric analysis
- Quantitative testing
- Standard solution preparation
Microbiology Laboratories
- Culture media preparation
- Glassware rinsing
- Buffer preparation
Clinical Laboratories
- Water supply for certain laboratory instruments
- Diagnostic reagent preparation
Industrial Laboratories
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Food and beverage quality control
- Cosmetics production
- Industrial testing laboratories
Types of Laboratory Water Distillers
Different laboratories require different production capacities and equipment designs.
Pobel offers several categories of water distillers.
Glass Water Distillers
Glass laboratory water distillers remain one of the most popular solutions for research and analytical laboratories.
Their main advantages include:
- Excellent chemical resistance thanks to borosilicate glass 3.3
- Easy visual monitoring of the distillation process
- Simple cleaning and maintenance
- High-quality distilled water production
Pobel's glass water distiller range includes models such as the 710, 720 and 804 all designed for continuous automatic operation.
Stainless Steel Water Distillers
Stainless steel water distillers are ideal when durability and mechanical strength are priorities.
Key features include:
- Stainless steel construction
- Easy maintenance
- Continuous production
- Automatic safety protection
- Suitable for intensive laboratory use
Pobel manufactures the DESA and DETA series, available in different production capacities.
Automatic Water Distillers
Automatic laboratory water distillers simplify daily laboratory operations through features such as:
- Continuous water production
- Automatic shutdown in case of cooling water failure
- Overheating protection
- Water level monitoring
- Optimized water consumption on selected models
These automatic functions improve operational safety while reducing the need for constant supervision.
What Water Quality Can Be Achieved?
The quality of purified water depends on both the purification method and the laboratory equipment.
Laboratory water is generally classified into three categories.
Type III Water
Suitable for:
- General laboratory reagent preparation
- Glassware rinsing
- Routine laboratory work
Type II Water
Recommended for:
- Chemical analysis
- Buffer preparation
- Analytical reagents
- Microbiological culture media
Type I Water
Used for highly demanding laboratory applications such as:
- HPLC
- ICP
- Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
- Cell culture
- Biotechnology
- Enzymology
According to Pobel's technical information, distillation and double distillation systems can produce water suitable for many analytical applications depending on the equipment configuration.
How to Choose the Right Water Distiller
Several factors should be considered before selecting a laboratory water distiller.
Distillation Capacity
Production capacity typically ranges from approximately 4 liters per hour up to 10 liters per hour, depending on the model.
Available Laboratory Space
Water distillers are available as:
- Bench-top units
- Wall-mounted systems
- Models with integrated storage tanks
- Systems with external storage containers
Construction Materials
The choice of material depends on laboratory requirements.
Common options include:
- Borosilicate glass
- Stainless steel
Automation Level
Automatic models offer numerous advantages:
- Water level sensors
- Automatic safety systems
- Automatic stop/start operation
- Heating element protection
Water Distiller Maintenance
Proper maintenance helps extend equipment life while maintaining water quality.
Recommended maintenance includes:
- Regular cleaning of internal components
- Removal of mineral scale deposits
- Inspection of water connections
- Replacement of consumable parts when necessary
- Use of cleaning products specifically recommended by the manufacturer
Pobel also supplies water pretreatment accessories, flow restrictors, and specialized cleaning products designed for laboratory water distillers.
Common Mistakes When Using a Water Distiller
Avoiding these common mistakes helps maintain optimal performance:
- Failing to remove scale deposits
- Using untreated hard water without pretreatment
- Ignoring preventive maintenance
- Operating with insufficient cooling water
- Neglecting inspection of heating elements
Advantages of Using a Laboratory Water Distiller
The main benefits include:
- Production of high-purity distilled water
- Improved analytical reliability
- Reduced contamination risks
- Automatic operation on many models
- Continuous water production
- Low maintenance requirements with proper care
- Wide range of production capacities for different laboratory needs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is distilled water the same as deionized water?
No. Although both are purified waters, they are produced using different purification methods. Distillation removes contaminants through evaporation and condensation, while deionization primarily removes dissolved ions using ion-exchange resins.
What is the difference between a glass water distiller and a stainless steel water distiller?
Glass models provide excellent chemical resistance and allow visual observation of the distillation process. Stainless steel models offer superior durability, mechanical strength, and easy maintenance.
How often should a laboratory water distiller be cleaned?
Cleaning frequency depends on the incoming water quality and usage. Regular maintenance prevents mineral buildup and helps ensure consistent performance.
What production capacity should I choose?
The appropriate capacity depends on your laboratory's daily water consumption. Small laboratories often require around 4 L/h, while larger analytical or industrial laboratories may benefit from higher-capacity models.
Conclusion
A laboratory water distiller is an essential piece of equipment for laboratories that require high-purity water. Through the distillation process, laboratories can obtain water suitable for reagent preparation, chemical analysis, microbiology, research, pharmaceutical applications, and industrial quality control.
At Pobel, we offer a comprehensive range of glass water distillers, stainless steel water distillers, automatic laboratory water distillers, double water distillers, and related accessories, allowing laboratories to select the most suitable solution according to production requirements, automation level, and laboratory workflow.
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