Why is petroleum refined by fractional distilation
Answers
Because it separates the petroleum from crude oil without a single other element.
The process of separating useful components of petroleum is called fractional distillation of petroleum. Fractional distillation is a process where petroleum is refined to obtain different components of petroleum. Petroleum is refined by fractional distillation to obtain different components of petroleum such as diesel, kerosene,cooking gas ,jet fuels,LPG, petrol, lubricating oil, paraffin wax and bitumen. The components called fractions, are separated based on their different boiling points. During fractional distillation,crude oil is heated in the distillation tower. Heating separates heavy and light components from petroleum. The heavy components collect at the bottom whereas the light components collect at the top. when heated, some of the oil vaporises and rises up in the tower. The very top fraction in the distillation column is made up of light gases such as ethane and propane. Petrol is also light fraction. Kerosene is slightly heavier than petrol. Diesel is heavier than kerosene. The heaviest part is bitumen which is used to surface roads. Thus, fractional distillation of petroleum is to separate useful components of petroleum.