fractional distillation
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
1Words 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 PagThe first step in the operations is fractional distillation, after the manner just described for petroleum.
Marvels of Scientific Invention | Thomas W. CorbinThe process of purification is thus far one of fractional distillation combined with chemical washing.
Coal | Raphael MeldolaThe undissolved hydrocarbon is similarly purified by fractional distillation, and furnishes the solid crystalline naphthalene.
Coal | Raphael MeldolaThe principle of fractional distillation has already been explained sufficiently for our present purpose.
Coal | Raphael Meldola
British Dictionary definitions for fractional distillation
the process of separating the constituents of a liquid mixture by heating it and condensing separately the components according to their different boiling points
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
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.
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