Which gas-processing process separates natural gas liquids such as ethane, propane, and butane by boiling point?

Fractional distillation separates natural gas liquids such as ethane, propane, and butane by boiling point.

In a fractionation plant, a liquid mixture is heated and sent through one or more distillation columns. Components vaporize and condense at different temperatures, allowing the plant to recover streams with different compositions. Ethane, propane, butanes, and natural gasoline are commonly separated in stages.

Natural gas liquids are valuable feedstocks and fuels. Ethane is widely used to make ethylene for plastics, propane can be used as liquefied petroleum gas or petrochemical feedstock, and butanes have fuel and blending applications. Their value depends on composition, infrastructure, and market conditions.

Fractionation is not the same as the initial removal of liquids from raw natural gas. Gas processing may first cool, compress, or absorb hydrocarbons to recover a mixed NGL stream. Fractionation then separates that mixed stream into individual or closely specified products.