Retort

In a <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a> laboratory, a retort is a device used for <a href="/facts/Distillation/plDvUMxn">distillation</a> or <a href="/facts/Dry_distillation/Eh04GWau">dry distillation</a> of substances. It consists of a <a href="/facts/Sphere/jywYLNM2"> spherical</a> vessel with a long downward-pointing neck. The <a href="/facts/Liquid/t9GkLWzt">liquid</a> to be distilled is placed in the vessel and heated. The neck acts as a <a href="/facts/Condenser_(laboratory)/ITtBcchY">condenser</a>, allowing the vapors to condense and flow along the neck to a collection vessel placed underneath.
In the <a href="/facts/Chemical_industry/3M6gfHer">chemical industry</a>, a retort is an airtight vessel in which substances are heated for a chemical reaction producing gaseous products to be collected in a collection vessel or for further processing. Such industrial-scale retorts are used in <a href="/facts/Shale_oil_extraction/wcSV5C12"> shale-oil extraction</a>, in the production of <a href="/facts/Charcoal/tpYGBHTn">charcoal</a> and in the recovery of <a href="/facts/Mercury_(element)/WlxfoHva">mercury</a> in <a href="/facts/Gold-mining/9Uslr31T">gold-mining</a> processes or from <a href="/facts/Hazardous_waste/hvbE6Cup">hazardous waste</a>. A process of heating <a href="/facts/Oil_shale/WSREUH8t">oil shale</a> to produce <a href="/facts/Shale_oil/aAtffEIw">shale oil</a>, <a href="/facts/Oil_shale_gas/QhnN0yuF">oil shale gas</a>, and <a href="/facts/Spent_shale/yw6h4jhf">spent shale</a> is commonly called retorting. Airtight vessels to apply pressure as well as heat are called <a href="/facts/Autoclave_(industrial)/bg1J3cXJ">autoclaves</a>.
In the <a href="/facts/Food_industry/1JPhss6V">food industry</a>, <a href="/facts/Pressure_cookers/ugtHltbF">pressure cookers</a> are often referred to as "retorts", meaning "<a href="/facts/Canning/3v7LsDuY">canning</a> retorts" for sterilization under high temperature (116–130 °C).

Retort open-in-new

Retort