Question

Explain Fractional distillation of petroleum.

Answer 1

Crude oil, is a mixture of large number of compounds. As we heat the crude oil, the lighter hydrocarbons are the first to boil off. They are collected as the first fraction, which a mixture of hydrocarbons with similarly low boiling points.

On increasing the temperature fraction by fraction the mixture of products are obtained.

The products obtained are:-

Gasoline $46$%, Heating Oil $20$%, Kerosene $8$%, Propane $7$%, NGL $6$%, Still gas $4$%, Petroleum coke $2$% etc.