12 PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AND POLITICS
which, when coming into contact with water to produce Ca(OH) 2 ,
released heat that was sufficient to cause the liquid to ignite. One
can assume that the users of the fire were extremely cautious during periods of rain, or, if at sea, during periods of turbulent weather.
As an aside, the use of powdered lime in warfare is also documented. The English used it against the French on August 24,1217
with disastrous effects for the French. As was usual for that time,
there was a difference of opinion between the English and the
French that resulted in their respective ships meeting at the east
end of the English Channel. Before any other form of engagement
could occur, the lime was thrown from the English ships and carried by the wind to the French ships, where it made contact with
the eyes of the French sailors. The burning sensation in the eyes
was too much for the French sailors and the English prevailed with
the capture of much booty (Powicke, 1962).
The combustion properties of bitumen (and its fractions) were
known in Biblical times. There is the reference to these properties
(Isaiah, 34:9) when it is stated:
And the stream thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof
into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It
shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall
go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste;
none shall pass through it forever and forever.
One might surmise that the effects of the burning bitumen and
sulfur (brimstone) were long-lasting and quite devastating.
Approximately 2,000 years ago, Arabian scientists developed
methods for the distillation of petroleum, which were introduced
into Europe by way of Spain. This represents another documented use of the volatile derivatives of petroleum that led to
a continued interest in petroleum and its derivatives as medicinal and warfare materials, in addition to the usual construction
materials.
From 1271 to 1273, Marco Polo also reported the Baku region of
northern Persia as having an established commercial petroleum
industry. It is believed that the prime interest was in the kerosene
fraction that was then known for its use as an illuminant. By inference, it can be concluded that the distillation, and perhaps the thermal decomposition, of petroleum were established technologies. If
not, Polo's diaries may well have contained a description of the
stills or the reactors.
which, when coming into contact with water to produce Ca(OH) 2 ,
released heat that was sufficient to cause the liquid to ignite. One
can assume that the users of the fire were extremely cautious during periods of rain, or, if at sea, during periods of turbulent weather.
As an aside, the use of powdered lime in warfare is also documented. The English used it against the French on August 24,1217
with disastrous effects for the French. As was usual for that time,
there was a difference of opinion between the English and the
French that resulted in their respective ships meeting at the east
end of the English Channel. Before any other form of engagement
could occur, the lime was thrown from the English ships and carried by the wind to the French ships, where it made contact with
the eyes of the French sailors. The burning sensation in the eyes
was too much for the French sailors and the English prevailed with
the capture of much booty (Powicke, 1962).
The combustion properties of bitumen (and its fractions) were
known in Biblical times. There is the reference to these properties
(Isaiah, 34:9) when it is stated:
And the stream thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof
into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It
shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall
go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste;
none shall pass through it forever and forever.
One might surmise that the effects of the burning bitumen and
sulfur (brimstone) were long-lasting and quite devastating.
Approximately 2,000 years ago, Arabian scientists developed
methods for the distillation of petroleum, which were introduced
into Europe by way of Spain. This represents another documented use of the volatile derivatives of petroleum that led to
a continued interest in petroleum and its derivatives as medicinal and warfare materials, in addition to the usual construction
materials.
From 1271 to 1273, Marco Polo also reported the Baku region of
northern Persia as having an established commercial petroleum
industry. It is believed that the prime interest was in the kerosene
fraction that was then known for its use as an illuminant. By inference, it can be concluded that the distillation, and perhaps the thermal decomposition, of petroleum were established technologies. If
not, Polo's diaries may well have contained a description of the
stills or the reactors.