The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-03-18

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-Petroleum as it is raised from the rocky
cavities in which it is found, is dark and
dirty liquid, ,disagreeable to the eye and
offensive to smell and touch. But fortE
Inately simple process Of refining gives
us from this foul substance q beautiful and
illuminating oil perfect sub
stitute for spirits Of turpentine; an excel
lent lubricating substance; materials for
the manufacture of gas and Of The most
beautiful dyes. It is known that petro1e-
UNI is composed of two elements, hydro
gan and carbon. These two elements COM
bine together, chemically, to form large
number Of chemical compounds, which
are mechanically mixed together 10 consti-
tute petroleum. These hydro-carb have
one property in con- n1on, they ere all cOrn-
bustible. But their other properties vary
very widely. Some are gases; others ire
LIQUIDS, and one at least is sold, almost
as hard as lead. As the solids, aaa to some
extent the gases, are soluble IL the liquids
the whole mass is liquid. Theyolatiiity Q,
the several hydrocarbons which consti-
tute petroleum il the first properly which
An oil can be obtained which will boil a,
80 degrees, another which will boil at 81
degrees, and another at 80 degrees, even
these are found, however, to he not single
chemical compounds, but several hydro.
cartoons mechanically mingle.
Petroleum IL distilled from iron boilers
usually holding about fifty barrels each. =
They are heated by coal furnace, aud the
products of Installation are condensed in
the usual way by means Of worms i'm
mersed in cold water. As the Oil flows from
the condenser 1t is divided into three por.
lions for different uses. The lightest, that
comes over first, is called gasolene. This
cAnnet be used In lamps with safety, as il
rises in vapor 90 freely that 1t mixes with
the atmospheric air to form an explosive
compound. It 10 employed to some extent
its vapor with air. Its specific gravity
ranges from 90 to 80 degrees OF Beaume's
scale. The next that comes over, ranging
from 60 degrees to 50 degrees is separated
and sold under the name Of benzine. This
10 used in mixing paints and varD ishes, and
for purposes generally for which canphene
was formerly employed. The last Of the
ton Of the petroleum, is illuminating oil.
This ranges in density frola IS degrees to
60 degrees. As the stream OF Oil flows out
from the lower end of the condenser it's
color is light, DELEGATE blue. The tar is
sold fof making illuminating gas, and CON
siderable quantities arc sent to Europe to
be employed in manufacturing dyes.
The publication Of distilled burning oil,
Ey which IL is in great measure deprived
Of its offensive odor, 10 effected by agita-
ting il with sulphur!c acid, neutralizing the
acid with soda, and finally thoroughly
washing Il by agitationwit water. Near.
|ly all the hydrocarbons Of petroleum are
neutYal-neither acid nor alkaline or basic
properties, and it il from these tia. the
crude Oil derives its offensive odo, Sui
phur.c acid enters into combination with
these basic oils, forming salts which can be
completely removed bywashing. The acid
also oxydiEes . portien Of the heavier by
dro- carbons, converting them into asphalt
tum which settles out Of the oil with the
water. The washing is effected in the same
vessels that are employed in treating the
OH with sulphuric acid. The Oil il pumped
or drawn into the vessels, the suiphuric
acid il added, the fans are set in motion
till the liquids are thoroughly mixed, and
then the oil 10 allowed TO settle TO the bot
tom Of the eask. The bottom is OF conf
cal form, with . hole in the center closed
by stop-cock. The oil and its compounds
settle In q dark mass ct the bottom, and
then The stop cock is opened and this
sediment 10 drawn on, the workmen care
fully watching the dow 70 as to stop it be-
fore any Of the clear oil escapes. Next.
soda 10 put into the cask, the agi;a.ors are
driven awhile, the mass 10 allowed to set
tie, and the sediment ID drawn OF. Finally.
water il pumped in with the oil. and the
agitating, settling and drawing of process
IS repeated.-Bost0n Courier.