fractional distillation


nounChemistry.
  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.

Origin of fractional distillation

1
First recorded in 1855–60

Words Nearby fractional distillation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fractional distillation in a sentence

  • By the process of fractional distillation mineral oils of all grades can be obtained.

    Aviation Engines | Victor Wilfred Pag
  • The first step in the operations is fractional distillation, after the manner just described for petroleum.

  • The process of purification is thus far one of fractional distillation combined with chemical washing.

    Coal | Raphael Meldola
  • The undissolved hydrocarbon is similarly purified by fractional distillation, and furnishes the solid crystalline naphthalene.

    Coal | Raphael Meldola
  • The principle of fractional distillation has already been explained sufficiently for our present purpose.

    Coal | Raphael Meldola

British Dictionary definitions for fractional distillation

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

  • Sometimes shortened to: distillation

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

Scientific definitions for fractional distillation

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. See also distillation.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.