Fractional Distillation of Petroleum

Petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, which are organic compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon. To obtain useful fuels and other products, petroleum is separated into different fractions using a process called fractional distillation.

The Fractional Distillation Process

1. Petroleum is heated to a high temperature (typically 400┬░C) in a furnace. This vaporizes the hydrocarbons in the petroleum.
2. The hot vapour is then passed into the bottom of a fractionating column.
3. The fractionating column is cooler at the top than at the bottom.
4. The different hydrocarbons in the vapour condense at different temperatures depending on their boiling points.
5. The more volatile (lower boiling point) hydrocarbons condense higher up in the column, while the less volatile (higher boiling point) hydrocarbons condense lower down.
6. The condensed liquids are collected at different points in the column. These are the different petroleum fractions.

The Fractionating Column

The fractionating column is a tall tower with a temperature gradient. This gradient is crucial for the effective separation of the different fractions.

Petroleum Fractions and Their Uses

The different petroleum fractions have different boiling points and are used for various purposes. The following table shows the main fractions and their typical boiling point ranges and uses:

Fraction	Typical Boiling Point Range (┬░C)	Uses
Petrol (Gasoline)	40 - 100	Fuel for ÓñòÓñ¥Óñ░ÓÑïÓñé and motorcycles
Naphtha	100 - 150	Heating oil, solvent
Kerosene (Paraffin)	150 - 250	Jet fuel, heating oil
Diesel Oil (Gas Oil)	250 - 300	Fuel for diesel engines (trucks, buses, trains)
Fuel Oil	300 - 350	Heating oil in power stations and ships
Bitumen (Asphalt)	350┬░C and above	Road surfacing, roofing materials

Efficiency of Fractional Distillation

The efficiency of fractional distillation depends on the difference in boiling points between the fractions. The greater the difference in boiling points, the easier it is to separate the fractions effectively.

The temperature at which each fraction is collected is carefully controlled to ensure a pure product. This is achieved by adjusting the temperature at the bottom of the column.