Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-29
DOctOring Cheap Kerosene.

Cheap articles, composed in part of
material that will inflame at a very low
temperature, and which will form ex-
plosive compounds when united with
the air, are still sold in many country
places. To prevent t-lger in using
these oils, persons are advised not to
purchase nostrums generally sold by
peddlers, but sometimes by grocers,
that are warranted to render the con
tents of a lamp harmless. The Scia,-
tfc AmricoR has the following to say in
regard to the safety powders, as we'll as
the means of testing oils TO ascertain
their safety when burned in ordinary
lamps
Very frequently, of late, we nave re-
ceiyed from correspondents, east and
west, samples of stuff sold them by
peddlers, with the assurance that when
little of these preparations are mixed
with the poorest burning oil, the latter
is rendered perfectly safe, OF course,
one of the chief inducements to use
the compositions is the assurance that
with them a much cheaper oil of
equal illuminating power can be used
safely. This fraud Is a very dangerous
one, and perhaps the best way to- stop
it is by the diffusion of little practical
information respecting these oils. In
| the first place, there is nothing that can
be added to or mixed with poor kero-
sene OIL that will in the least affect its
dangerous qualities, or make it any
safer to use in lamps. The danger
with such oils arises solely from the
presence in them of light, easily vo-
talized and very inflammable hydro
carbons, such as naphtha, the vapor of
which, when mixed with air, explodes
on contact with flame.
Kerosene and naphtha, or benzine,
are derived by a process of distillatlon
from the same neutrality-suspicious..
The lighter oils gasoline, naphtha,
benzinc, etc.--are first yolatiIized and
condensed. As the products distill
over they are tested from time to time
with hydrometer, and when it is
found that the stream Of distilled oil
marks about 5S degrees (Baume's by
drometer), what follows is turned into
another tank, until it is found that the
gravity Of the oil coming ever has risen
to about 40 degrees, then the stream is
detected into another tank. The OIL
distilled between IS degrees and IS de-
grees, is called kerosene or buring oil.
In this process about ID per cent. of
the light oils are produced, and as
there is comparatively little demand
for then, they are very cheap. Naph-
tina costs from two to five cents a gallon,
while kerosene costs from twenty TO
twenty-five cents. As great competi-
ton exists among the reiiners, there IS
strong inducement to turn the heav-
ier portions of the naphtha into the
kerosene tank, so as TO get for the price
as for kerosene, or to cheaper the latter.
They change the direction Of the
stream from the still when it reaches
IS degrees to GO degrees b., instead OF
waiting until it reaches IS degrees; and
thus the volatile intlammable naphtha,
or benzine,, is allowed to run into the
kerosene, rendering the whole Of the
latter dangerous. II has been shown
that the one per cent. OF naphtha will
lower the flashing point of kerosene
ten degrees, while with 20 per
cent. Of naphtha, the same oil will
flash at eight degrees (Fah. above the
freezing point of water. |. -, there
fore, the cupidity Of tho refiner that
leads him to run as much benzine AS
possible into the kerosene, regardless
Of the consequences.
The specific gravity is not safe
guide respecting the character Of such
oils, as poor, dangerous oil may be
heavier than safe oil Astral oil Illus
trates this While it does not flash be-
low 12j degrees Fab, it's gravity is 40
degrees B. Foor kerosene flashes at
81 degrees Fab, but has gravity Of
AZ degrees b. Kerosene, when prop
erly refined, is nearly colorless by trans
mitted light and slightly tluorescent by
reflected light. It's density should be
about IS degrees A. At ordinary tenn
peratures it should extinguiish match
a. readily as water, without becoming
inhamed or flashing, and, when heated,
il should not evolve an inhammable
vapor below 10 degrees Fab, and
should not take fire below l25 or 40
degrees Fab.
As the temperature in burning
lamp rarely exceeds 100 degrees Fab,
such an oil would be safe. 1t would
produce no vapors to mix with the air