Figure 1. Diagram of a fractional distillation tower, showing where the different fractions will condense. [1] Note that the temperature is higher at the bottom, so the longer carbon chains will fall out at the bottom, the shorter carbon chains will go up the column until they hit a temperature at which they become liquid. Fractional distillation is the process by which oil refineries separate crude oil into different, more useful hydrocarbon products based on their relative molecular ... A simple distillation is incapable of significant purification if the boiling points of the components are too close. When the difference in boiling points is less than 100 ˚C, a modification is … Fractional distillation is a type of distillation process that is used to separate two or more miscible liquids from the mixture. Learn what fractional distillation is, how it works, and why it is used in various industries. Find out the principle, procedure, applications, and FAQs of fractional distillation with examples and videos.