'Fractional distillation' definitions:

Definition of 'fractional distillation'

From: WordNet
noun
Fractionation of a liquid by distillation

Definition of 'Fractional distillation'

From: GCIDE
  • Distillation \Dis`til*la"tion\ (d[i^]s`t[i^]l*l[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [F. distillation, L. destillatio.]
  • 1. The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which falls in drops. [R.] --Johnson [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Chem.) The separation of the volatile parts of a substance from the more fixed; specifically, the operation of driving off gas or vapor from volatile liquids or solids, by heat in a retort or still, and the condensation of the products as far as possible by a cool receiver, alembic, or condenser; rectification; vaporization; condensation; as, the distillation of illuminating gas and coal, of alcohol from sour mash, or of boric acid in steam. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The evaporation of water, its condensation into clouds, and its precipitation as rain, dew, frost, snow, or hail, is an illustration of natural distillation. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. The substance extracted by distilling. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Destructive distillation (Chem.), the distillation, especially of complex solid substances, so that the ultimate constituents are separated or evolved in new compounds, -- usually requiring a high degree of heat; as, the destructive distillation of soft coal or of wood.
  • Dry distillation, the distillation of substances by themselves, or without the addition of water or of other volatile solvent; as, the dry distillation of citric acid.
  • Fractional distillation. (Chem.) See under Fractional. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Fractional distillation'

From: GCIDE
  • Fractional \Frac"tion*al\, a.
  • 1. Of or pertaining to fractions or a fraction; constituting a fraction; as, fractional numbers. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Relatively small; inconsiderable; insignificant; as, a fractional part of the population. [1913 Webster]
  • Fractional crystallization (Chem.), a process of gradual and approximate purification and separation, by means of repeated solution and crystallization therefrom.
  • Fractional currency, small coin, or paper notes, in circulation, of less value than the monetary unit.
  • Fractional distillation (Chem.), a process of distillation so conducted that a mixture of liquids, differing considerably from each other in their boiling points, can be separated into its constituents. [1913 Webster]