Sunday 19 May 2013

5.7 describe and explain how the industrial process of fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions

Fractional distillation

Crude oil, as such, has no direct use. It has to be refined before it is any use. The first step in the refining of crude oil is fractional distillation.

Fractional distillation is carried out in a fractionating column. The column is hot at the bottom and gradually becomes cooler at the top. 

The crude oil is split into various fractions as described below. A fraction is a mixture of hydrocarbons with very similar boiling points. 

Crude oil is heated to convert it into a vapour. The vapour is then fed into the bottom of the fractionating column.

The hydrocarbons with very high boiling points (fuel, oil and bitumen) immediately turn into liquids and are tapped off at the bottom of the column.

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