Engineering English
Bottoms
Chemical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The liquid product that exits from the bottom of a distillation column, typically containing the least volatile components. It is often the heavier fraction of the feed mixture.
Example in context
“The bottoms from the distillation column are sent to a reboiler to be partially vaporized before returning to the column.”
“Distilasyon kolonunun dip ürünü, kolona geri dönmeden önce kısmen buharlaştırılmak üzere bir reboilere gönderilir.”
Where engineers use it
Bottoms composition is a key quality parameter in distillation control. Engineers monitor it to ensure product specifications are met and to adjust reboiler duty. It also affects energy consumption and separation efficiency.
Synonyms: bottom product, bottoms product
Antonyms: distillate, overhead product
Practice: can you use “Bottoms” at work?
An operator reports that the bottoms product purity is off-spec. The trainee must identify possible causes and suggest corrective actions.
Show a model answer
“The bottoms temperature must be controlled to maintain the desired composition.”
“Bottoms” in 21 languages
| English | Bottoms |
|---|---|
| Turkish | dip ürünü |
| French | produit de fond |
| German | Sumpfprodukt |
| Spanish | fondos |
| Chinese | 塔底产品 |
| Arabic | القاعيات |
| Portuguese | produto de fundo |
| Russian | кубовый остаток |
| Japanese | 缶出液 |
| Italian | prodotto di fondo |
| Vietnamese | sản phẩm đáy |
| Hindi | तल उत्पाद |
| Thai | ผลิตภัณฑ์ก้นหอ |
| Indonesian | produk bawah |
| Korean | 탑저 생성물 |
| Bengali | তল পণ্য |
| Dutch | bodemproduct |
| Swedish | bottenprodukt |
| Finnish | pohjatuote |
| Ukrainian | кубовий залишок |
Frequently asked questions
What does Bottoms mean in engineering?
The liquid product that exits from the bottom of a distillation column, typically containing the least volatile components. It is often the heavier fraction of the feed mixture. In Chemical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Bottoms?
Bottoms is pronounced /ˈbɒtəmz/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Bottoms used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The bottoms from the distillation column are sent to a reboiler to be partially vaporized before returning to the column.”
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