Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-07-03
On the Manufacture of Oils from raal, and the
Extraction of other New Articles.

Tie diSltldncO OF OILS IfOtN coal mas De-
come known in this country, and this
branch of industry begins now 10 attract
general attention, not only here, bat all
over Europe.
Your readers will, perhaps, feel some
interest In knowing how these difftren,
oils and other artIclas are extracted from
coal, as well as TO learn TO what 6itieren,
uses the same can be applied.
Engaged as | am in the branch OF
chemistry, applied 10 industrial purposes
was delighted TO receive your valuable
journal, as a new sign of life from the
heart OF this beautiful coauIry, and shall
be pleased i YOU 'iiI gave publication 10
articles | intend TO send You from time to
tlme-comIuunicauous which | hope will
prove useful 10 our readers.
The quality of coal generally used In
this country for the extraction OF oils is
the so oal!ed Camel Coal" IL is OF a
very firm, compact structure, mostly of a
brownish black color, and of slatv ap-
pearance, without lusler. This coal
which In Scotland is called Parrot Coal =
burns with a very brilliant light, and was
IN England sometimes used as substitute
for candles, practice which has led TO
the now universally adopted name of
"Cannel (candIe) Coal" Ii does not
soil the fingers when handled, and admits
of being polished; snuff boxes. bracelets
and other ornaments have been made of
II.
! The opinions as 10 .Ae origin of this
Camel Coal are various. | have lately
examined some specimens from Marion
County, Virginia, and, after had suo-
! jectedh The codlto dry dI>tillatiou,I / found
The coke remaining in the still presenting
/ tie same Rrnf 1cOOIty structure as clstlr-
coal naaote fI0nt tie ac00d ot the palm tree
This coal yielded neNs Il great quantity OF
excellent illuminating gas; also consl1-
cradle quanuly OF oils and paratiine Goal
wax.
/ THIS Camel Coal is then put in prop
/ erly arranged retort and subjected to dry
/ d:siIlauou. The following Is the chem-
icil process gong on when the necessary
! heat Is generated under the slIt
From the moment in which the elt-
menis (the ele.nen,s of Camel Coal are
carbon, Nitrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, po,-
ash, with oome admixIurc of silica, and
sometimes a trace OF sulphur, J are forced
/ by the heat to abandon their former stale
OF equilibrium, the formation OF new pro-
ducts commences. which Is due 10 tirse
/ different causes the temperature; The
degrees OF chemical atiiarty amongst ia
elements being IN sonre Instances .ucreas-
ed hy electric action; aud thirdly, b}
their volatility. hydrogen and oxygel
possess ;hIs property 10 very high de-
gree II Is not 50 wuh carbon. 1 mere j,
a tendency, therefore, Ia. The former tt
seperale and pass off IN The form of gas
but chemical affinity obiigcs both to unite
and form compounds, partly with eacI
other, partly together or single with car
bon. Hydrogen aud oxygen, II not inter
fered with 10y some other agent, combine
TO form water; the excess Of hydrogen
takes up as much carbon d The tempera-
tures admit OF, toLuIug olctiut gas, car
bureted and bcarbureted hydrogen, while
the united action OF the other elements up
Oh the carbon gives rise to other tcnarl
compounds. Any ~one familiar VIII
chemistry will agree with me when rs
sert that the nature % this process of the
producuon OF such an Inuumerable series
OF bodies, tina, they Will never be exhaus-
ted 10y Sclence-as many as there ar,
mathematical combinations, binary anJ
ternary, depending upon. the tenperai Ir :
give shls somewhat -tengthy description
that the chemical action may be- better
understood.
To the still coiled coppervorm is Al.
lached, m which the different gases con
dense 10 lquid, alterward purified with
different. chemicals. The following are
the prodaets which gradually, and under
.diltereni Temperatures, pass fEouI the CON
densing worm.
The hrst liquid is Naphta, very light
volatile, and highIy lnnlnmable oil /. i.
extensively used for dIssoiving caoulchouc
or India Rubber; II i Il hIguiy recon
mended remedy for rheumatic pains. and
when purified, and redlstilled, It Is USED
to dissolve resins and gums for The maLu-
faciure Of varnIshrs. 1t can also be used
for the extraction OF perfumes from flow
ers. By different treatment this kaphia
Z is converted iuto "Benzoie," which on
promises 10 be of great commercisi m
pertance. Wool, six and other labric>
( can most ehectgally be cleaned fron he
adhering fatty oits and grease by snDpiy
stepping It in "BenzoIe." In Eng.and
| France and Germany this liquid IS al
ready very extensively used and prefer
red 10 allalieS, because "Benzoie" does
/ not impair the Uol0rs, AID is free frou,
any resineus i'npuriIy. BY treating Ben
zole with nitric acid, q" y nro Benzoie" Is
termed, which can be used as i substitute
for essence OF bliler almonds IN perfume
/ ry.
4 The next fluid coming from the still IS
a light OF, new 50 extensively usea under
+ the names OF kerosene" Goal Oh, b"
or 4Carbou OH" to burn in spec.aliy "a
I dn pied laasps This oil IS not explosive,
and, properly purified. has an agreeable
odor, and burns without smoke. A time
F NAV be distant when steam boilers on land
or sea, stoves. furnaces, etc, viii be heat
ed by ihIs fund
( Wood, when ir9fre gnated his liquid
T is preserved from deednp0Siiion. Redis-
lilied, another highly Interesting article,
"Creoso,e," or "Carb0lic Atid.f' is ex-
tracted, which possesses the extraordIna-
ry properly OF preserving meat, and oth' +
bodies liable to decomposition, from Pu'rI-
Fficatioa-a quahiy highly infPorsan, 10
surgery "Cafboiic Acid added to tam
nin extrac;s. hitherto 50 difficult 10 keep,
will preyent = same -frQsn -sssIpse sssIpseraQen.-
Eram CaHbstc Acid -sno,baT aa,a Is pro-
~ !.