What is primarily involved in the distillation process related to petroleum products?

The distillation process related to petroleum products primarily involves the separation based on boiling points. During distillation, a mixture of various hydrocarbons in crude oil is heated to create vapor. As the temperature increases, different components of the mixture vaporize at their specific boiling points. This process allows for the separation of lighter fractions, such as gases and naphtha, from heavier fractions, like heavier oils and residues.

The ability to separate these components efficiently is crucial in refining because it enables the production of various petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, and lubricating oils, each having different applications and requirements. The operational principle of distillation directly exploits the varying boiling points of these compounds, ensuring a targeted extraction of desired products.