PRODUCTS OF FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
CONTENT
- The Distillation Process
- Crude Oil Fractionates
- Uses of Crude Oil
The Distillation Process
The distillation process is carried out by heating the crude oil to a high temperature. The crude oil changes to vapour and ascends the fractional column. As the vapour ascends the column, it cools, condenses and separates into its fractions. The fractions with lower boiling points separate out on the trays in the upper part of the column, while fractions with higher boiling points separate out in the trays in the lower part of the column.
During the separation of crude oil three stages are involved, separation, conversion and purification. Separation is the first stage where the fractions are split by heat. Conversion is the conversion of less useful fractions into more useful ones through thermal cracking or polymerization. Purification is the removal of impurities.
Crude Oil Fractionates
1. Natural gas: This is a mixture of gases like methane, butane and ethane used as cooking gas.
2. Petrol (Gasoline): Petrol is a mixture of volatile liquids.
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