New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-03
Experimental Results on Refined Oii--Coi-
lins' Petroleum Compound.


lins' Petroleum Compound.
Wecopy the following, for the information
of our readers, from the Titusyille, Pennsyl-
vania, Neus:
Since the discovery of crude oil up to the
present-tlme, great Improvements have been
made in perfecting the apparatus necessary
to be used during the process OF Ctlstlllatlon.
The nature of crude petroleum has been to
chemists and pratical reaners q study Tor
years. To actually determine the matter,
mineral or otherwise, OF which Its compo-
nent parts are composed, has been their aim
and object, and with but little success. To
control its gaseous nature by dlstlliatlon
they have succeeded, and yet more or less
hydrogen gas remains IN the oil after the
refining process is completed, and different
samples of oil taken out of the same bar
rel or tank containing refined oil has
been found TO differ materially IN
the amount of hydrogen contained,
and difference also in the actual tempera-
ture to determine the burning point, or at
what heat refined oil will ignite when COM
ing in contact with a flame sufficiently near
to ignite the gas and set fire to the body OF
oil Our newspaper exchanges are con-
tinually recording accidents, destroying life
and property, Occasioned by the explosion
of oil lamps and oil cans. 1t certainly is
foolish proceeding for any person to pour oil
out of can on hot embers, much more so
on a fire. with the least particle of flame
arising. To all such persons who kindle
their fire in this manner, we would advise
them to abolish the plan altogether, or to
have small tin cup expressly for this pur-
pose, and pour a small quantity into the cup
and then on the kindling. We do not advo-
cate this plan, as we consider it dangerous
one at the best.
Mr.. Collins, the inventor Of the com
pound bearing his name. has favored us
with recital of some of his experiments;
and TO many of which we have lately been
an eye witness, as well as others. Mr.. Col
Inns claims that the ingredients composing
his compound, are by chemical process
known only to him, rendered of very low
temperature, and perfectly and entirely
carbonized, and when used IN lamp neu-
traiize the explosive pewers the oil may
contain. He claims a chemical process is III
operation, yet undlscernble to the OBJ
server, every time lamp is rehiled, tor
sixty days, when the operation ceases By
reason of the compound having lost its
strength. We are sure that the light OBJ
tanned is all he represents, both Tor bril-
hancy and steadiness, as well as the absence
of smoke, or smell, no odor, but that of hot
air, is discovered. We have seen
sample of OIL, the igniting point OF which
was one hundred and eight degrees, into
which compound was placed, and III three
days the igniting point was raised to ll4o.
Another sample raised from llOo to lloo.
gallon can, to our own knowledge, contain
lug oil of ll01, was, by the action of this
compound, raised to llSo in ten hours-sl
though Mr.. Collins claims action in five
minutes on one pint. The gravity of this
oil in the can was Ago, and it decreased TO
450. These experiments prove that no flame
arising from burner on lamp containing
this compound can ignite any gas which
may arise on the surface of the oil by means
of heat-the bottom of lamp being cool,
and suction through the wick, commencing
at the bottom, is cool until coming to the
top of the wick, when the heat causing
ignition, generates flame. This compound
certainly does affect the oil to such degree
as to render lamp containing it safe.
A pint of kerosene obtained at DR.. ThOmp-
sons drug store was experimental with,
and the following result: Temperature 720,
gravity 462, point of ignition 1872, time Is
minutes. compound was put into the
bottle containing the above oil AT 3;45 P. NJ;
bottle agitated for two minutes at P. NJ;
commenced testing at 400 p. NJ; flashing
point l047: ll4o point of ignition, at 4:l6 2.
NJ, an advance of % fire test in 80 minutes.
On benzine, a most volatile substance, as
everybody knows-s0 much so that the men-
ton OF its name strikes many with horror
can be reduced in gravity. A sample shown
us of 702 and evaporating, put into bottle
containing a compound, and tightly eorked
for three days, lost 50. We advise every
body that uses oil to give this compound
fair and just trial, and satisfy themselves of
it's actual merit. Clean out your lamp
thoroughly, put in compound, and fill up
with OIL use also new wick, and watch
the result carefully.