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

See Examples For:

fractional distillation

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

The scientist showed me round his lab, including a mini version of the huge fractional distillation columns that tower over oil refineries.

From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2023

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

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Distillation of Coal-Tar.—Much more important than all applications of crude coal-tar is the industry of separating its constituents from it in a more or less pure form by fractional distillation, mostly followed by purifying processes.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various