Final answer:
Distillation of water is a purification process used to separate mixtures based on volatility, and while it removes many impurities, it does not necessarily sterilize the water as sterilization involves killing organisms. Filtration would be the method that physically removes microbes without killing them, and antiseptics are suitable for preventing infections on living tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distillation of water is a purification process that may remove volatile chemicals, endotoxins, and some microorganisms. Distillation is a physical process used to separate homogeneous mixtures into their component substances based on differences in volatilities. Unlike reverse osmosis, which employs a semipermeable membrane to remove impurities through back pressure, distillation involves heating the water to create vapor and then condensing that vapor to collect pure water. This technique does not necessarily kill all microbes or inhibit their growth; instead, it removes impurities, including microorganisms, by separation. Sterilization, on the other hand, involves processes that actively kill or deactivate organisms, such as autoclaving or using chemical agents.
For a process that does not kill microbes but physically removes them, filtration is an option, as indicated in a similar context. Antiseptic could be suitable for use on living tissues for microbial control to prevent infection, whereas disinfectants are generally used on inanimate objects. It's important to note that while UV disinfection is effective in eliminating many microorganisms from water, it does not remove impurities, only deactivates the contaminants.