Distillation is the process of removing minerals from the water. It is often regarded as the highest form of pure water. However, as there’s no mineral, it can often bring in the risk of reacting with other metals, especially aluminum. 

One thing that people often ask is if they can distill water in aluminum. Well, the answer is that you can. But, since there’s a potential reactivity between aluminum and water, you should not use aluminum to distill water.

Read on for a detailed explanation of why you shouldn’t use aluminum containers to distill water and what are the alternatives.

Risks of Distilling Water in Aluminum 

When you distill water in aluminum containers, it can be problematic. Because aluminum is a reactive metal. So, when it comes into contact with water, it forms a thin layer of aluminum oxide on its surface. However, this layer often acts as a protective barrier. This barrier often prevents further reactions from happening. 

However, if you’re attempting to distill water in an aluminum container, there are a few things to consider:

(a) Risk of Corrosion

The distillation process involves heating water to produce steam. The water then condenses back into its original liquid form. This high temperature and steam can potentially fasten the breakdown process of the protective oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum. This can then lead to corrosion. When corrosion happens, you will find aluminum ions in the water that’s being distilled. Therefore, it may not be suitable for consumption.

(b) Affecting the Purity of Water

Another risk of distilling water in aluminum is that the quality of the distilled water can be affected due to the reaction of aluminum with water and the release of contaminants. While some people will tell you to disregard this factor, stating that the amount of impurity won’t matter when it comes to drinking water, it certainly does matter for other applications. Most of the time, when you need distilled water for applications, it requires a high level of purity. Applications like medical usage, lab usage, etc. generally require you to distill water using materials that are inert and don’t react with water.

(c) Possible Health Risks

While aluminum, mixed with water, is not usually harmful to your body, ingesting a high amount of it is not considered safe for your health. Ingesting high levels of aluminum is associated with certain health issues. And while the small amounts of aluminum that might potentially leach into the distilled water are unlikely to cause immediate harm, it’s still a concern.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Why does aluminum react with water?

Aluminum reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas and aluminum oxide. The equation for this reaction is 2Al + 3H2O → 3H2 + Al2O3.

Can aluminum be used for distilling?

Use only copper or stainless steel for your distill. Never use aluminum as it can react with water.

Final Thoughts

For the reasons mentioned above, if you’re looking to distill water, it’s generally safer to use materials that are less reactive and inert, such as stainless steel or glass, for both the container and the distillation apparatus. However, if you must use aluminum containers, it is important to make sure that they are specifically designed to handle the purpose and coated or treated to prevent direct contact between the water and the aluminum surface.