Recycling operations return a portion of the exit stream from a process unit back to its entrance to maximize the utilization of valuable reactants, improve performance, and conserve heat. Common applications of recycling include returning distillate or catalyst back to distillation columns or reactors. Recycling improves selectivity and rate of reactions while minimizing byproducts and losses. A purge stream is also often used to prevent the buildup of inert components in a recycling loop.