What You Need to Know
Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions. Chemical compounds are separated by heating them to a temperature at which one or more fractions of the mixture will vaporize. It uses distillation to fractionate. Generally the component parts have boiling points that differ by less than 25 °C (45 °F) from each other under a pressure of one atmosphere. If the difference in boiling points is greater than 25 °C, a simple distillation is typically used.
Steps
- 1.
Whiskey production (Scotland): Separates alcohol from fermented mash
- 2.
Essential oil extraction (France): Isolates aromatic compounds from botanicals
- 3.
Vodka purification (Russia): Removes impurities and fusel oils