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How does fractional distillation of crude oil work?
The crude oil is heated to a very high temperature. This causes it to boil, making all the hydrocarbons evaporate and turn into a gas.
The crude oil vapour is fed into the fractional distillation column, which is hotter at the bottom and cooler at the top. The vapours rise up the column.
When each hydrocarbon reaches their boiling point in the column, they will condense and turn back into a liquid. The liquid fractions are then removed.
Long chain hydrocarbons will be removed from the bottom of the column as they have very high boiling points.
Short chain will be removed from the top of the column as gases as they will not condense (low boiling points.)
Why does it work?
Because all hydrocarbons have very different boiling points
Some things that use these fractions of hydrocarbons as fuel include…
Petrol and diesel
Heavy fuel oil
Kerosene
Liquified petroleum gas
What’s the definition of feedstock?
A chemical used to make other chemicals
Some things that use these fractions of hydrocarbons as feedstock include…
Solvents
Lubricants
Detergents
Polymers