fractional distillation

• Fractional distillation is…

  a way of separating out the different hydrocarbons in crude oil into fractions, based on their boiling point.
•  Each fraction contains molecules with a similar number of carbon atoms → have similar boiling points.

   

  Most hydrocarbons obtained through fractional distillation are alkanes
• HOW FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION WORKS:

  1. First, the crude oil is heated until it evaporates.
  2.   The vapour moves up the fractionating column.
  3.   The top of the column is much colder than the bottom.
  4.   Shorter hydrocarbon molecules → condenses at lower temperatures → collected higher up the column.
  5.   Longer hydrocarbon molecules → condenses at higher temperatures → collected lower down the column.
• Fractions can be processed to produce fuels and feedstock for the petrochemical industry.
• Many of the fuels on which we depend for our modern lifestyle, such as petrol, diesel oil, kerosene, heavy fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gases, are produced from crude oil.

  
  

  Many useful materials on which modern life depends are produced by the petrochemical industry, such as solvents, lubricants, polymers, detergents.
• The wide range of natural and synthetic carbon compounds occur due to the ability of carbon atoms to form families/groups of similar compounds.