fractional distillation & petrochemicals

• how does the fractional distillation of crude oil take place?

  • crude oil vaporised
  • vapour cools & condenses as it rises up the fractioning column
  • vapour condenses at different temperatures
  • there's a negative temperature gradient: the column is hotter at the bottom & cooler at the top
  • fractions have different boiling points
  • large molecules - high boiling points
  • small molecules - low boiling points
  • these fractions can be used in various ways
• what can the fractions be processed to produce?

  fuels & feedstock for the petrochemical industry