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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 8131

Distillation operator

Distillation operators run and oversee the oil distillation process and assist with troubleshooting. They operate distillation equipment to separate intermediate products or impurities from oil. They turn control valves and gauges to attain temperatures, material flow rate, pressure, etc.

Check your gapsCheck yourself in a minute ↓AI risk: 53/100 (moderate risk)

Check yourself in a minute: distillation operator

Rate 5 of the 13 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

monitor distillation processes

calculate oil deliveries

transfer oil

set equipment controls

verify oil circulation

About distillation operator

As a distillation operator, you will run and monitor sophisticated equipment that separates oil into intermediate products and removes impurities through the distillation process. Your daily work involves adjusting control valves and gauges to maintain precise temperatures, pressure rates, and material flow, while carefully monitoring safety protocols. You will test oil samples, record detailed task logs, verify circulation systems, and perform preventive maintenance on equipment. This role is critical to ensuring product quality and operational safety in refinery environments, requiring focus, technical knowledge, and strict adherence to safety procedures.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a distillation operator.

1

Equipment Operation and Monitoring

  • Operate distillation equipment and control valves to maintain optimal process conditions
  • Monitor temperature, pressure, and material flow rate gauges throughout the distillation process
  • Adjust equipment controls to achieve and maintain target specifications
  • Monitor oil circulation systems to ensure proper flow and prevent blockages
2

Quality Testing and Verification

  • Test oil samples to verify quality and purity standards
  • Measure oil tank temperatures and record findings
  • Verify distillation safety procedures and equipment integrity
  • Calculate oil deliveries and maintain accurate delivery records
3

Maintenance and Cleaning

  • Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of distillation equipment
  • Maintain equipment in proper working condition to prevent breakdowns
  • Clean oil equipment and lines to ensure optimal operation
4

Record Keeping and Troubleshooting

  • Keep detailed task records and logs of distillation operations
  • Identify and troubleshoot equipment malfunctions or process anomalies
  • Report safety concerns and operational issues to supervisors

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (13)

chemistrychemistryThe composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk fa...monitor distillation processesmonitor distillation processesIdentify and report problems or potential hazards by monitoring instruments, indicators and meters. Inspect pipelines; lubricate valves or tighten connections if necessary.calculate oil deliveriescalculate oil deliveriesMake up receipts and calculate deliveries of oil and other petroleum products. Apply standard formulas to calculate test result values.transfer oiltransfer oilPrepare specific volumes of refined and unrefined materials for storage; transfer materials that require further processing.keep task recordskeep task recordsOrganise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.verify distillation safetyverify distillation safetyInspect total amount of oil in storage tanks; ensure safety of distillation activities; ensure compliance to legal regulations.set equipment controlsset equipment controlsManipulate equipment controls to produce required volumes and required product quality. Take into account lab recommendations, schedules and test results.verify oil circulationverify oil circulationEnsure that incoming and outgoing oil circulates through correct meters. Ensure that meters work properly.measure oil tank temperaturesmeasure oil tank temperaturesInsert thermometers inside oil tanks to obtain temperature information.test oil samplestest oil samplesAnalyse oil samples in order to determine characteristics such as consistency, texture, viscosity or concentration. Operate measuring instruments such as pH meters, hydrometers and viscometers.operate distillation equipmentoperate distillation equipmentOperate control panels and other distillation equipment, in order to monitor and adjust product flow, pressure, temperature, etc.clean oil equipmentclean oil equipmentClean and sterilise tanks, inflow pipes and production areas; use tools such as scraper, hose and brush; handle chemical solutions.maintain distillation equipmentmaintain distillation equipmentMaintain and repair equipment. Identify and report damaged or malfunctioning equipment.
Optional (3) — show
mathematicsmathematicsMathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to pr...coordinate oil well operationscoordinate oil well operationsCoordinate well operations such as shutdowns and major projects.analyse oil operations dataanalyse oil operations dataRecord and process oil operating data. Comprehend and analyse documents, instruments and data results of laboratory analyses.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a distillation operator do?

Distillation operators run and oversee the oil distillation process and assist with troubleshooting. They operate distillation equipment to separate intermediate products or impurities from oil. They turn control valves and gauges to attain temperatures, material flow rate, pressure, etc.

What skills does a distillation operator need?

A distillation operator needs 13 essential skills, including chemistry, monitor distillation processes, calculate oil deliveries, transfer oil, keep task records.

Will AI replace distillation operator jobs?

The AI disruption score for distillation operator is 53/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: calculate oil deliveries, keep task records, test oil samples. Most resilient: clean oil equipment, maintain distillation equipment, coordinate oil well operations.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupStationary plant and machine operators
Essential Skills13

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