Advertisement

Advertisement

fractional distillation

noun

, Chemistry.
  1. the separation of volatile components of different boiling points in a mixture by the gradual increase of temperature and the separate collection of each component.


fractional distillation

noun

  1. the process of separating the constituents of a liquid mixture by heating it and condensing separately the components according to their different boiling points
  2. a distillation in which the vapour is brought into contact with a countercurrent of condensed liquid to increase the purity of the final products
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fractional distillation

  1. A process by which a chemical compound is separated into components by distillation. In fractional distillation the compound is heated and, as each of its constituent components comes to a boil, its vapors are separated and cooled, so it can be removed in its pure form. Fractional distillation is used to refine petroleum.
  2. See also distillation
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of fractional distillation1

First recorded in 1855–60
Discover More

Example Sentences

The scientist showed me round his lab, including a mini version of the huge fractional distillation columns that tower over oil refineries.

From BBC

Instead of exploring fundamentals like the solar system, Leo delves into the nuances of oil refining, teaching kids as young as eight about “fractional distillation” and “residuals.”

If you clean, through fractional distillation, the coolant in the equipment, you restore it to its previous - identical to brand new- chemical composition.

A volatile, very inflammable liquid, C6H6, contained in the naphtha produced by the destructive distillation of coal, from which it is separated by fractional distillation.

Mond gas is produced in generators of the blowing or pressure type from bituminous coal, necessitating the employment of special purifiers and permitting the collection of the by-products of the fractional distillation of the coal.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


fractional currencyfractionalize