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.

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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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of fractional distillation

First recorded in 1855–60