- Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, [Webster's New World College Dictionary, "kerosene".] is a
combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek "keros" (κηρόςwax ). The word "Kerosene" was registered as a trademark byAbraham Gesner in 1854 and for several years only the North American Gas Light Company and the Downer Company (to which Gesner had granted the right) were allowed to call their lamp oil "kerosene". [cite book | last = Asbury | first = Herbert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The golden flood: an informal history of America's first oil field | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf | date = 1942 | location = | pages = p. 35 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = ] It eventually becamegenericized .It is usually called paraffin (sometimes paraffin oil) in the UK and
South Africa (not to be confused with the waxy solid also called paraffin wax or justparaffin , or the much more viscous paraffin oil used as a laxative); the term "kerosene" is usual in much of Canada, the United States, Australia (where it is usually referred to colloquially as "kero"), andNew Zealand . [Oxford English Dictionary , "kerosene".]Kerosene is widely used to power jet-engined aircraft (
Jet fuel ) and somerockets , but is also commonly used as a heating fuel.The
heat of combustion of Kerosene is similar to that ofdiesel : ItsLower Heating Value is around 18,500 Btu/lb, or 43.1 MJ/kg, and itsHigher Heating Value is 46.2MJ/kg. [cite book | title = Combustion Science and Engineering | first = Kalyan | last = Annamalai | coauthors = Ishwar Kanwar Puri | publisher = CRC Press | date = 2006| pages = p. 851 | isbn = 978-0849320712]Distillation
Kerosene is a thin, clear liquid formed from hydrocarbons, with
density of 0.78-0.81g/cm3. Kerosene is obtained from thefractional distillation ofpetroleum between 150 °C and 275 °C, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains containing 12 to 15 carbon atoms.* Kerosene was first described by
al-Razi (Rhazes) as adistillation of petroleum in 9th-centuryBaghdad . In his "Kitab al-Asrar" ("Book of Secrets"), he described two methods for the production of kerosene. One method involved usingclay as anabsorbent , whereas the other method involved usingammonium chloride ("sal ammoniac"). [Zayn Bilkadi (University of California, Berkeley ), "The Oil Weapons", "Saudi Aramco World ", January-February 1995, p. 20-27.]* In 1846 Canadian geologist
Abraham Gesner gave a public demonstration inCharlottetown ,Prince Edward Island of a new process he had discovered. He heated coal in aretort and distilled from it a clear, thin fluid which he showed made an excellent lamp fuel. He coined the name "Kerosene" for his fuel, a contraction of "keroselaion", meaning "wax-oil".cite book | last = Russell | first = Loris S. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = A Heritage of Light: Lamps and Lighting in the Early Canadian Home | publisher = University of Toronto Press | date = 2003 | location = | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0802037658] The cost of extracting kerosene from coal was, however, high. Fortunately, Gesner recalled from his extensive knowledge of New Brunswick's geology a naturally-occurringasphalt um calledAlbertite . He was however blocked from using it by the New Brunswick coal conglomerate because they had coal extraction rights for the province and he lost a court case when their experts claimed that Albertite was in fact a form of coal. [cite book | last = Black | first = Harry | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Canadian Scientists and Inventors | publisher = Pembroke Publishers Limited | date = 1997 | location = | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1551380811] Gesner subsequently moved toNewton Creek ,Long Island , USA, in 1854, where he secured the backing of a group of businessmen. They formed the North American Gas Light Company, to which he assigned his patents. Despite clear priority of discovery, Gesner did not obtain his first kerosene patent until 1854, two years afterJames Young 's US patent. Gesner's method of purifying the distillation products appears to have been superior to Young's, resulting in a cleaner and better smelling fuel. Manufacture of kerosene under the Gesner patents began in New York in 1854 and later inBoston , being distilled frombituminous coal andoil shale .* In 1848 Scottish chemist
James Young experimented with oil discovered seeping in a coal mine as a source of lubricating oil and illuminating fuel. When the seep became exhausted he experimented with the dry distillation of coal, especially the resinous "Boghead coal" (Torbanite ). He extracted a number of useful liquids from it, one of which he named "paraffine oil" because at low temperatures it congealed into a substance resembling paraffin wax. Young took out a patent on his process and the resulting products in 1850, and built the first truly commercial oil-works in the world atBathgate in 1851, using oil extracted from locally-mined Torbanite, shale, and bituminous coal. In 1852 he took out a US patent for the same invention. These patents were subsequently upheld in both countries in a series of lawsuits and other producers were obliged to pay him royalties. See alsocoal oil .*
Ignacy Lukasiewicz , a Polish pharmacist residing inLvov had been experimenting with different kerosene distillation techniques, trying to improve on Gesner's process, using localseep oil. Many people knew of his work but paid little attention to it. On the night of July 31 1853, doctors at the local hospital needed to perform an emergency operation, virtually impossible by candlelight. They therefore sent a messenger for Luka and his new lamps. The lamp burned so brightly and cleanly that the hospital officials ordered several examples plus a large supply of fuel. Luka realized the potential of his work and quit the pharmacy to find a business partner and then travelled toVienna to register his technique with the government. Lukasiewicz moved to theGorlice region of Poland in 1854 and sank several wells across southern Poland over the following decade, setting up a refinery nearJasło in 1859. [cite book | last = Steil | first = Tim | authorlink = | coauthors = Jim Luning | title = Fantastic Filling Stations | publisher = MBI Publishing Company | date = 2002 | location = | pages = pp. 19-20 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0760310645]The widespread availability of cheaper kerosene was the principal factor in the precipitous decline in the
whaling industry in the mid- to late-19th century, as the leading product of whaling was oil for lamps.Uses
As a fuel
Heating and Lighting
At one time the fuel was widely used in
kerosene lamp s and lanterns. While replacingwhale oil , it was considered as 'explosive asgunpowder .' In 1880 39% of NYC fires were caused by defective kerosene lamps. [cite book | last = Bettmann | first = Otto | title = The Good Old Days--They Were Terrible! | publisher = Random House | date = 1974 | location = | pages = p. 34| isbn = 9780394709413] These were superseded by the electric light bulb andflashlight s powered bydry cell batteries.Its use as a
cooking fuel is mostly restricted to someportable stove s for backpackers and to less developed countries, where it is usually less refined and contains impurities and even debris.As a heating fuel, it is often used in portable stoves, and is sold in some
filling station s. It is sometimes used as a heat source during power failures. The use of portable kerosene heaters is not recommended for closed indoor areas without achimney due to the danger of build-up ofcarbon monoxide gas.Kerosene is widely used in Japan as a home heating fuel for portable and installed kerosene heaters. In Japan, kerosene can be readily bought at any filling station or be delivered to homes.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland kerosene is often used as a heating fuel in areas that are unconnected to the gas pipeline network. It is used less for cooking, which has more commonly been LPG for some decades now, owing to its easier lighting.
The
Amish , who limit use of electric appliances for religious reasons, rely on kerosene for lighting and often purchase kerosene-powered versions of appliances such asrefrigerators .More ubiquitous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, kerosene space heaters were often built into kitchen ranges and kept many farm and fishing families warm and dry through the winter. At one time citrus growers used
smudge pot s fueled by kerosene to create a pall of thick smoke over a grove in an effort to prevent freezing temperatures from damaging crops. "Salamanders" are kerosene space heaters used on construction sites to dry out building materials and to warm workers. Before the days of blinking electrically lighted road barriers, highway construction zones were marked at night by kerosene fired pot-bellied torches. Most of these uses of kerosene created thick black smoke because of the low temperature of combustion.A notable exception, discovered in the early 19th century, is the use of a mantle above the wick on a kerosene lamp. Looking like a delicate woven bag above the woven cotton wick, the mantle was a residue of mineral material (thorium dioxide) which glowed white hot as it burned the volatile gases emanating from the blue flame at the base of the wick. These types of lamps are still in use today in areas of the world without electricity.
Transportation
Today kerosene is mainly used in fuel for jet engines (more technically "Avtur", "Jet A", "Jet A-1", "Jet B", "
JP-4 ", "JP-5 ", "JP-7 " or "JP-8 "). One form of the fuel known asRP-1 is burned withliquid oxygen as rocket fuel. These fuel grade kerosenes meet specifications forsmoke point s andfreeze point s.In the mid-20th century, kerosene or "TVO" (Tractor Vaporising Oil) was used as a cheap fuel for tractors. The engine would start on gasoline, then switch over to kerosene once the engine warmed up. A "heat valve" on the manifold would route the exhaust gases around the intake pipe, heating the kerosene to the point where it can be ignited by an electrical spark.
Kerosene is sometimes used as an additive in diesel fuel to prevent gelling or waxing in cold temperatures. [ [http://www.epa.gov/diesel/presentations/keroseneblding.pdf Kerosene blending (pdf from EPA)] ]
Ultra-low sulfur kerosene is a custom-blended fuel used by the
New York City Transit to power its bus fleet. The transit agency started using this fuel in 2004, prior to the widespread adoption ofultra-low sulfur diesel , which has since become the standard.In 2008, the suppliers of the custom fuel failed to tender into for a renewal of the transit agency's contract, leading to a negotiated contract at a significantly increased cost. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/nyregion/25fuel.html How a Plan for Bus Fuel Grew Expensive, The New York Times] ]
Cooking
In countries such as India and Japan, kerosene is the main fuel used for cooking, especially by the poor. Kerosene stoves have replaced the traditional wood-based cooking appliances that are unhealthy and inefficient. The price of kerosene can be a major political and environmental issue; the Indian government subsidizes the fuel to keep the price very low (around 15 cents/liter as of Feb.2007). Lower prices discourage dismantling of forests for cooking fuel. [Citation | last = Bradsher
first = Keith
title = Fuel Subsidies Overseas Take a Toll on U.S.
newspaper = New York Times
date = 28 July 2008
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/business/worldbusiness/28subsidy.html ]Cultural/Performance Art
Kerosene is often used in the entertainment industry for fire performances such as poi and
fire dancing , because of its low flame temperature when burnt in free air, reducing the risk, should the performer come in contact with the flame. Kerosene is not usually used as a fuel for indoor fire-dancing as it produces an unpleasant odour which becomes poisonous in sufficient concentration.Methanol is often used instead, but it also produces less impressive flames, and it can be a more dangerous fuel because of its lowerflash point .Fact|date=June 2008Other
Kerosene has been used to treat pools of standing water to prevent
mosquitoes from breeding, notably in theyellow fever outbreak of 1905 inNew Orleans . It can also be used to remove lice from hair, but this practice is painful and potentially very dangerous. Also, this practice removes all natural oils and fats from the scalp.Since kerosene is chemically stable, it is used to store substances with
redox tendencies within to prevent unwanted reactions, such asalkali metal s. Kerosene is also used in the packaging and storage of white phosphorus to prevent contact with oxygen, which would lead to immediate combustion.Kerosene can be used to store
crystals . When ahydrated crystal is left in air,dehydration may occur slowly. This makes the colour of the crystal become dull. Kerosene can prevent the crystal contacting air.It is used as a
solvent and in conjunction withcutting oil as a thread cutting and reaminglubricant . When machining aluminium and its alloys, kerosene on its own is an excellent cutting lubricant.Kerosene can also be used to apply topically onto hard-to-remove mucilage or adhesive left by stickers on top of a glass surface (such as in show windows of stores) for easy removal after a few minutes of leaving on it. Precaution should be made when applying kerosene topically onto hard-to-remove mucilage or adhesive left by stickers on top of a plastic made of polypropylene (instead of glass surface), such as crystal clear cover of CD case or DVD case, as this will degrade its crystal clearness or show its foggy effect afterwards; baby oil or similar is recommended to be used instead.
Kerosene can also be used to remove candle wax that dripped onto surface of glass; it is recommended that it must be scraped off prior to applying kerosene soaked onto a used tissue paper.
ee also
*
Flash oil
*Gasoline gallon equivalent
*Tractor vaporising oil Notes
External links
* [http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/english/ke/kerosene.html Webster Online Dictionary Entry on Kerosene]
* [http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/heirloom_series/volume4/136-139.htm Article on Gesner]
* [http://www.endtimesreport.com/kerosene_fuel_primer.html Kerosene Fuel Primer]
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