Re: What is Fractional Distillation and what is it used for?

Dear Pat,

Fractional distillation is the separation of compounds, that have different boiling points, from a mixture.

Because most liquids have a boiling point exceeding its degradation temperature, fractional distillation is mostly performed under a vacuum which reduces the boiling point of a liquid.

The largest application of fractional distillation is in the petrochemical industry in which different alkanes in gasoline are separated to produce all products from gasses, such as butane (which can be used in a cooker) up to the highest alkanes which remain and form tar (which is used to build roads). I hope this answers your question.

Yours sincerely,
J. van der Rijt, MSc