fractional distillation

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. 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.

---

fractional distillation British  

noun

1. the process of separating the constituents of a liquid mixture by heating it and condensing separately the components according to their different boiling points

2. a distillation in which the vapour is brought into contact with a countercurrent of condensed liquid to increase the purity of the final products

---

fractional distillation Scientific  

1. 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.

2. See also distillation

---

Etymology

Origin of fractional distillation

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Jet fuel is essentially a highly refined form of kerosene with specialised additives, and is usually produced from fractional distillation of crude oil.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

Nobody who bought Standard Oil stock could explain fractional distillation either.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 28, 2025

Argon, neon, krypton, and xenon come from the fractional distillation of liquid air.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

If you clean, through fractional distillation, the coolant in the equipment, you restore it to its previous - identical to brand new- chemical composition.

From New York Times • Oct. 16, 2016

The pure acid may be obtained by fractional distillation as a colourless liquid of very unpleasant smell, boiling at 30� C., and extremely explosive.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1 "Austria, Lower" to "Bacon" by Various