refining

References

refining

industrial process

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Refining is an industrial process that purifies substances, primarily crude oil and metallic minerals, to make them more useful. In petroleum refining, crude oil is separated into various hydrocarbon fractions through processes like distillation. These fractions are then chemically converted to produce more desirable products such as gasoline and jet fuel. Purification steps remove unwanted elements like sulfur and nitrogen using hydrogen treatment or molecular sieves.12345

In metallurgy, metallic minerals are processed to extract and refine metals. This involves converting complex mineral compounds into forms that allow for easier extraction through methods like pyrometallurgy (heating) or hydrometallurgy (dissolving). The extracted metals are then further purified through processes like oxidation, electrolysis, or chemical treatments to achieve the desired level of purity for commercial use. Environmental concerns are a significant aspect of modern refining, with strict regulations in place to minimize pollution from emissions and wastewater.678

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

8 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

fat and oil processing
Refining
) The nonglyceride components contribute practically all the colour and flavour to fats. In addition, such materials as the free fatty acids, waxes, colour bodies, mucilaginous materials, phospholipids, carotenoids, and gossypol (a yellow pigment found only in cottonseed oil) contribute other undesirable properties in fats…
Read More
) The nonglyceride components contribute practically all the colour and flavour to fats. In addition, such materials as the free fatty acids, waxes, colour bodies, mucilaginous materials, phospholipids, carotenoids, and gossypol (a yellow pigment found only in cottonseed oil) contribute other undesirable properties in fats…
Read More

flour
In the production of refined flour, the purpose of the milling process is to separate the endosperm from the other kernel portions. In the production of whole wheat flour, all parts of the kernel are used.
Read More
In the production of refined flour, the purpose of the milling process is to separate the endosperm from the other kernel portions. In the production of whole wheat flour, all parts of the kernel are used.
Read More

magnesium processing
Extraction and refining
A strong chemical reagent, magnesium forms stable compounds and reacts with oxygen and chlorine in both the liquid and gaseous states. This means that extraction of the metal from raw materials is an energy-intensive process requiring well-tuned technologies. Commercial production follows two completely different…
Read More
A strong chemical reagent, magnesium forms stable compounds and reacts with oxygen and chlorine in both the liquid and gaseous states. This means that extraction of the metal from raw materials is an energy-intensive process requiring well-tuned technologies. Commercial production follows two completely different…
Read More

materials testing
Corrosion
Corrosion simply reverses the refining process, returning the metal to its natural state. Corrosion compounds form on the surface of a solid material. If the compounds are hard and impenetrable, and if they adhere well to the parent material, the progress of corrosion is arrested. If the compound is…
Read More
Corrosion simply reverses the refining process, returning the metal to its natural state. Corrosion compounds form on the surface of a solid material. If the compounds are hard and impenetrable, and if they adhere well to the parent material, the progress of corrosion is arrested. If the compound is…
Read More

sugar
Sugar refining
Sugar refining is the production of high-quality sugars from remelted raw cane sugars. (“Refining” is also used in beet sugar factories to describe the remelting and recrystallization processes by which high-quality white sugars are made from lower-grade beet syrups; see below Beet sugar.) About…
Read More
Sugar refining is the production of high-quality sugars from remelted raw cane sugars. (“Refining” is also used in beet sugar factories to describe the remelting and recrystallization processes by which high-quality white sugars are made from lower-grade beet syrups; see below Beet sugar.) About…
Read More

zone melting
In zone refining, a solid is refined by passing a number of molten zones through it in one direction. Each zone carries a fraction of the impurities to the end of the solid charge, thereby purifying the remainder. Zone refining was first described by the U.S. scientist…
Read More
In zone refining, a solid is refined by passing a number of molten zones through it in one direction. Each zone carries a fraction of the impurities to the end of the solid charge, thereby purifying the remainder. Zone refining was first described by the U.S. scientist…
Read More