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Kerosene or paraffin oil (British English, not to be confused with the waxy solid also called Paraffin) is a Colorless flammable Hydrocarbon Liquid.
Typically, kerosene directly distilled from crude oil requires some treatment, either in a Merox unit or a Hydrotreater, to reduce its Sulfur content and its corrosiveness. Kerosene can also be produced by a hydrocracker, which is used to upgrade the parts of crude oil that would otherwise only be good for Fuel oil.
Its use as a Cooking fuel is mostly restricted to some portable stoves for backpackers and to less developed countries, where it is usually less refined and contains impurities and even debris. It can also be used to remove lice from hair, but stings and can be dangerous on skin.
As a heating fuel, it is used in often portable stoves and is sold in some filling stations. It is sometimes used as a backup heat source for emergencies in the U.S. and deaths occur annually from mishandling by inexperienced users.
Kerosene is widely used in Japan as a home heating fuel for portable and installed kerosene heaters. In Japan, kerosene can be readily bought at any Filling station or be delivered to homes.
It is also used as an organic Solvent.
Kerosene is often used in the entertainment industry, as a fuel for fire-dancing. Kerosene is not an appropriate fuel to use for indoor fire-dancing as it produces an unpleasant odour which overwhelms the audience. Methanol is a much better alternative. If the performance is outdoors however, kerosene is fine to use and makes quite a spectacular display.
Kerosene was first refined from coal by Atlantic Canada's Abraham Gesner in 1846, founding the modern petroleum industry in the process. Gesner went on to establish his Kerosene Gaslight Company to market kerosene around the world in 1850. Polish chemist Ignacy Łukasiewicz discovered the means of refining kerosene from the less expensive seep Oil in 1856.