The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-10
NEW PROCESS In OIL
A Minneapolis Chemist Discovers
~, New Methods of Refining
CAN REMOVE ALL THE SULPHUR
Even From the Best Product of 9th
er Methods He Can Extract
Impurities.

. F. G. Russell, an analytical chemist
who has lived in Minneapolis for three
years, has discovered process for re-
timing Illuminating oils which, he believes,
will revolutionize the business. Plans
are already under way for the erection Of
a big refinery under his supervision in the
Beaumont oil district backed by Mime
apolis men. it,
Mr.. Russell claims that his process pro-
duces an oil that is both odorless and
smokeless. recent experiment con-
Quoted under the direction Of the city
light Inspector also proves that it is a
better oil than "eocine," a superior grade
Of kerosene considered the best illum1nat-
ing oil known to science. Comparative
tests have shown that the Russell oil
gives, at it's highest point of perfect COM
bustion, a light from 20 to IS per cent
better than that of "eocine," while at the
same time, the quantity consumed is 4.S
per cent less. &C., sy.@ ),
) "Eocine' is the best oil produced by the
Standard. Oil company. It is of so high
grade and so expensive that it is not
to be purchased anywhere in Minneapolis
except Of the company; and yet Mr.. Rus
sell, subjecting a gallon of this oil to his
process, took from it 266 grains of refuse
matter, the value of which, he says, is
more than sufficient to pay for the slight
increase in the cost of the new process.
The new oil can be placed upon the
market at the same price as ordinary
kerosene although much superior to that
commodity in every respect.
The Russell process removes from the
oil every trace of sulphur, thus making it
wholly combustible, and obv1ating the
possibility of it's smoking. The process
works we'll with oils of asphaltum base
as we'll as those which have a base of
parafin. In fact better results, If any
thing, can be obtained from the Texas as
phaltum oils, as they contain more sui
phur than the eastern oils and conse-
quently more hydrogen, which is the
light giving element. 81.
Heretofore the quantity of sulphur in
the Texas oil has lessened its value for
Illuminating purposes, as the old process
failed to remove that element. With the
sulphur removed, however, the Texas oil
becomes the best that can be put upon
the market and for this reason the dis
covery is expected to prove of great bene-
fl: ITO owners of oil propertiesh in the
southern field.
Mr.. Russell got the idea some three
years ago while in Winnipeg. He came
to Minneapolis and has been at work upon
the process ever since, until now he feels
that it is perfect. He is still a young
man, having been born in San Francisco
in 1872, where he studied in the Boston
college under his uncle, William Atkinson,
a we'll known analytical chemist of the
Pacific coast. Later Mr.. Russell was
graduated from the University of Michi-
gan, and other institutions. He made
chemistry his hobby, and his devotion to
that science now promises to make him
rich. r: -.
The incorporators of the company, all
Minneapolis men, are J. w. Lawrence,
C. w. Little, c. c. Elicit, F. G. Russell
and William H. Weaver.