Industrial-scale columns use the Fenske equation t
Industrial-scale columns use the Fenske equation to determine the number of "theoretical plates" needed for this process. When applied to heat-sensitive materials, steam is often added, while the type often applied to petroleum to prevent cracking is the (*) "vacuum" type. It is often made more accurate by refluxing, or returning condensed vapors to the system. Unless entrainers are used, the composition of azeotropes remains unchanged by this procedure, which uses a large-area surface to increase the vapor-liquid ratio in its "fractional" form. For 10 points, name this process which separates out a mixture of compounds based on the differences in their boiling points.
Industrial-scale columns use the Fenske equation to determine the number of "theoretical plates" needed for this process.
distillation [accept "fractional distillation" before (*)]