Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Chromatography • Ion Exchange • pH Control

Distillation

Term from Chemical Engineering industry explained for recruiters

Distillation is a common process in chemical and manufacturing industries that separates different liquids from a mixture based on their boiling points. Think of it like separating water from salt water - when you boil it, the water turns to steam while the salt stays behind. Industries use this on a much larger scale to separate and purify products like oil into gasoline, perfumes, or alcoholic beverages. When you see this term on a resume, it usually means the candidate has experience working with industrial-scale separation processes and understands how to control and optimize these operations.

Examples in Resumes

Optimized Distillation columns resulting in 15% increased product purity

Supervised operation of multiple Distillation units in petrochemical plant

Designed and implemented Distillation process improvements saving $500K annually

Led troubleshooting efforts for Fractional Distillation systems

Typical job title: "Process Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Chemical Process Engineer Distillation Engineer Separation Specialist Process Control Engineer Plant Operations Engineer Chemical Operations Engineer Production Engineer

Where to Find Process Engineers

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you approach optimizing a distillation column that's not meeting product specifications?

Expected Answer: A senior engineer should discuss systematic troubleshooting approaches, including checking operating conditions, analyzing feed composition variations, reviewing control systems, and evaluating column internals. They should mention cost considerations and production impact.

Q: Tell me about a time you led a major improvement project involving distillation equipment.

Expected Answer: Look for examples of project management skills, team leadership, problem-solving abilities, and quantifiable results in terms of efficiency improvements or cost savings.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when monitoring distillation column performance?

Expected Answer: Should mention key operating parameters like temperature profiles, pressure, flow rates, and product quality specifications. Should understand basic troubleshooting and control adjustments.

Q: How do you ensure safety when operating distillation equipment?

Expected Answer: Should discuss safety protocols, monitoring procedures, emergency responses, and common safety concerns in distillation operations.

Junior Level Questions

Q: Can you explain the basic principle of distillation in simple terms?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain how different boiling points allow separation of liquids, and describe basic column components and their functions in non-technical terms.

Q: What's the difference between batch and continuous distillation?

Expected Answer: Should explain that batch processing handles one amount at a time while continuous processing runs constantly, and describe basic advantages of each.