Atmospheric Distillation

Atmospheric distillation is a process used to separate crude oil into its various components based on boiling points. The crude oil is heated in a large column called a distillation tower, causing its parts to vaporize at different temperatures. Lighter, more volatile components like gasoline rise to the top and are collected, while heavier ones like diesel and lubricants settle lower down. This separation allows refineries to produce fuels and other products. It’s a fundamental step in transforming raw crude oil into useful materials, utilizing differences in boiling points to efficiently divide complex mixtures.