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Fractional Distillation

Fractional distillation is used to separate mixtures of liquids by taking advantage of differences in their boiling points. It involves heating a mixture to vaporize components and condensing the vapors in a fractional distillation column, where components separate based on boiling point differences and are withdrawn from different parts of the column. Fractional distillation of petroleum involves heating crude oil and passing the vapors up a distillation column to separate it into fractions like gasoline, kerosene, and fuel oil that are withdrawn at different heights based on their boiling points. Further processing like cracking or reforming can be used to convert heavier fractions into more useful products like gasoline.

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660 views

Fractional Distillation

Fractional distillation is used to separate mixtures of liquids by taking advantage of differences in their boiling points. It involves heating a mixture to vaporize components and condensing the vapors in a fractional distillation column, where components separate based on boiling point differences and are withdrawn from different parts of the column. Fractional distillation of petroleum involves heating crude oil and passing the vapors up a distillation column to separate it into fractions like gasoline, kerosene, and fuel oil that are withdrawn at different heights based on their boiling points. Further processing like cracking or reforming can be used to convert heavier fractions into more useful products like gasoline.

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wayen8
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FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION Miscible liquids are much more difficult to separate.

Mixtures of miscible liquids can be separated by fractional distillation. It will provide the boiling points of the liquids are not too close. If we want to separate a mixture of ethanol and water. The diagram below is suitable for this process. The fractionating column is packed with glass bead. It provides a large surface area for vaporization and condensation of the liquid mixture.

Ethanol is more volatile than water, since it has a lower boiling point (78oC). The vapor rises up the fractionating column when the mixture is heated. Because ethanol is more volatile, the vapor contains more ethanol. The hot vapor condenses upon touching the cold glass beads. There is a continuous rise of hot vapor up the fractionating column at the same time. Hot vapor will make the condensed vapor boils again. It will contain more and more ethanol as the vapor rises up to the fractionating column. The above process is to be repeated many times before the vapor consists only pure ethanol. During the process the escaping vapor is measured by a thermometer of the fractionating column. The temperature will remain steady for some time and will then rise quickly and become pure ethanol. When the ethanol has boiled off completely, the escaping vapor will consist of pure water only. Generally, for fractional distillation to work best,the difference in boiling points of liquids in the mixture should be greater than 10C. The separation will not be complete if it is not.

Fractional distillation is used in industry to separate oxygen and nitrogen from liquid air. In whisky production it is used to increase ethanol. FOCUS ON FOSSIL FUELS Petroleum refining is the process of separating the many compounds present in crude petroleum. The principle which is used is that the longer the carbon chain, the higher the temperature at which the compounds will boil. The crude petroleum is heated and changed into a gas. The gases are passed through a distillation column which becomes cooler as the height increases. When a compound in the gaseous state cools below its boiling point, it condenses into a liquid. The liquids may be drawn off the distilling column at various heights. Although all fractions of petroleum find uses, the greatest demand is for gasoline. One barrel of crude petroleum contains only 30-40% gasoline. Transportation demands require that over 50% of the crude oil be converted into gasoline. To meet this demand some petroleum fractions must be converted to gasoline. This may be done by "cracking" - breaking down large molecules of heavy heating oil; "reforming" - changing molecular structures of low quality gasoline molecules; or "polymerization" - forming longer molecules from smaller ones. For example if pentane is heated to about 500 C the covalent carbon-carbon bonds begin to break during the cracking process. Many kinds of compounds including alkenes are made during the cracking process. Alkenes are formed because there are not enough hydrogens to saturate all bonding positions after the carbon-carbon bonds are broken.

Fractional Distillation Of Petroleum


Fractional distillation is done in petroleum refineries, chemical plants and natural gas processing plants. It is a continuous steady task, as input and output is a constant process. The fractional industrial distillation is normally done in huge, vertical columns called fractionating towers. They are also called distillation columns. Normally, the heights of these columns range from 6m to 60m. Inside the distillation tower, there are outlets at different stages to withdraw fractionating products. When the boiling is performed at the bottom, in accordance with the lightness and the heaviness of the input liquid, its vaporization flows and the fractionating condensed products are automated out. The fractional distillation system pushes the lightest product to the top outlet while the heaviest remains in the bottom. Hydrocarbon molecules of petroleum are a mixture of carbon atoms with numerous sizes and numbers. The miniature molecules consist of a little carbon atom and diminutive boiling points while large molecules have a significant number of carbon atoms and many boiling points. When petroleum is in this condition, it is of no use, as it cannot be ignited easily. It's only after refining, that people can use petroleum and its related products effectively. The fractional distillation of petroleum is the technique used for separating petroleum into various products. It is done in an oil refinery. Each division, or fraction is fusion of hydrocarbon atoms and it can be boiled with certain points of temperatures. For instance, fraction of kerosene boils when it is boiled at the temperature of 170 - 250 C degrees. The boiling is done in a furnace. In the furnace, petroleum vaporizes when heated and fractionates to columns in the fractionating tower. In accordance with the boiling points, fractions flow out to columns in different elevations. Since the minimum boiling points is the fraction of petroleum gas, it goes to the top of the column and then condenses. An automated drainage system carries it to a separate storage tank from the top. The condensed fuel comes out next and is stored in another part. The residue bitumen comes out from the lowest part of the furnace, as it is heavier than other petroleum fractions. When the fractional distillation of petroleum is performed, gasoline comes out from the topmost outlet of the fractionate tower while kerosene comes out from the next. The light gas oils are the next product to come out. Heavy gas oil comes from the lowest outlet while the residue remains in the bottom.

PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM For more details CLICK HERE The word petroleum is derived from the Latin word Petra means Rock and Oleum means Oil. Petroleum is a complex mixture of different hydrocarbons. The composition of petroleum varies according to its occurrence.

Petroleum in solid form is called ASPHALT. Petroleum in liquid form is called CRUDE OIL. Petroleum in gaseous form is called NATURAL GAS. Petroleum is the most important natural source of fuel. FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION For latest information , free computer courses and high impact notes visit : www.citycollegiate.com The process of evaporating a liquid followed by condensation in which different fractions are separated due to their different boiling point is called fractional distillation. FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION OF PETROLEUM The refinery in which distillation of petroleum is carried out has the following components. A pipe-still Fractionating tower Condenser

PROCEDURE

The petroleum to be refined is first heated in pipe-still at 371oC to 426oC. The pressure in the pipe is so adjusted as to avoid evaporation of crude oil. The hot petroleum now goes to fractionating tower. Here pressure is released and the liquid is vaporizes. The vapors go up the tower where hydrocarbons that have a high boiling point range are condensed to liquid in the lower part of the tower. The other fractions like gasoline having lower boiling point range continue to move up the tower as vapors which are then led to condenser where they are changed to liquid state. Condensed liquid is collected on shelves and is then drained off to separate storage tanks REFINING: The fractions s obtained are not completely pure. Now petroleum is re-distilled to produce good quality petroleum and remove impurities.

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