This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor and control a distillation unit, which is separating two or more components, to achieve finished product that meets a predetermined specification. The distillation column may be trayed or packed and may be performing cryogenic gas distillation, liquid distillation, azeotropic distillation, fractional distillation, vacuum distillation or molten metal distillation.This unit of competency applies to operations technicians who are required to identify and correct operational problems, determine the impact of composition changes and adjust accordingly, and direct members of the operational team under start-up and running conditions.In a typical scenario an operations technician would be monitoring and controlling the distillation section of a plant from a central control room. The process may involve one or more distillation columns and their associated equipment, piping and controls.This unit of competency applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator, as appropriateThis competency does not require the operation of a central control panel. Operators undertaking this unit of competency should also be competent in operating fluid flow equipment andheat exchangers.Competency in this unit requires the ability to integrate the operation of all the component parts as a whole.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.