Azeotropic distillation is primarily used for what purpose?

Azeotropic distillation is primarily employed to remove water from a mixture, particularly when dealing with azeotropes—a type of mixture that behaves as a single substance with a constant boiling point and composition. In many cases, azeotropic mixtures can present challenges in separation processes, as conventional distillation may not effectively separate the components due to the azeotropic behavior.

In the context of removing water, azeotropic distillation utilizes the addition of an entrainer—a substance that alters the volatility of the components—in order to break the azeotrope and facilitate the separation of water from other liquids. This technique is commonly utilized in industries such as chemical production and pharmaceuticals to achieve a higher purity level of the desired solvent or product by effectively eliminating moisture from the mixture.

Other options, while may seem relevant in separation processes, do not accurately reflect the primary use of azeotropic distillation. For instance, purification of gases and separation of solids from liquids involve different operational principles and methods, while concentration of solutions typically refers to the increase of solute in a solvent, which is a different objective than what azeotropic distillation accomplishes. Thus, the focus on water removal distinguishes the correct answer in this context.