WHAT ARE PETROLEUM DISTILLATES?
Defining "petroleum distillates" is much like trying to define "liquids", because they can be many different things. Everyone may have a different mental image of a "liquid". Petroleum distillates are liquids, but so are water, whiskey, pancake syrup, eye drops, mercury, battery acid and motor oil. They all fall into the general category of liquids – yet they are all different. The liquids listed above have one thing in common – each of them has a distinct area of use where they are beneficial and effective. This same analogy applies to petroleum distillates, so let’s examine them in greater depth.

Some people are mystified by the name itself “petroleum distillates”, but that is exactly what they are – products made from crude oil that have been distilled in a refinery and then usually processed further and purified in some manner. The word petroleum, derived from the Latin petra and oleum, literally means "rock oil" and refers to hydrocarbons that occur in sedimentary rocks of the Earth's crust. Because most people mistakenly believe that all petroleum distillates must be similar, they find it hard to believe that there are so many totally different types, many with completely opposite characteristics and uses. In fact, even the term "distillate" raises concerns in some minds. Yet, lots of common and very beneficial things are distilled – water is distilled to eliminate impurities and alcohol is distilled from fermented sugars. The list could go on and on, but the point is that distillation is neither good nor bad, just a tool to make something more useful.

THE DISTILLATION PROCESS
Distillation is still the basic process used to separate and purify the components of crude oil. The type and source of the crude oil heavily influences the resulting by-products. Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with impurities like sulfur, nitrogen and small amounts of metal. It is found throughout the world and varies greatly in content and composition. There are thousands of types, varying from a nearly clear liquid with the consistency of kerosene, to a solid (at room temperature) that looks like brown candle wax and, of course, the heavy black tarry kind that is usually what the general public visualizes when thinking of crude oil.

The most primary function of an oil refinery is distillation – i.e., the oil is heated in a large closed vessel (usually called a still). The lighter components boil off first and rise to a higher point inside a tower above the still. The heavier components boil off at higher temperatures and condense back into liquids more quickly. These products are captured on trays at each level and pass out of the tower. The lighter and more volatile products are used in gasoline or as solvents, the next heavier might be used as diesel or stove oil and the next as lubricants, and so forth. Frequently, the leftover crude is then subjected to more processing (typically catalytic and thermal cracking) in which many more compounds are formed and then separated again by distillation. The amount of product distilled from crude is dependent on its characteristics. Some crudes will yield over 90% distillates while other may yield fewer than 20%.

RESULTS OF DISTILLATION
The nice thing about petroleum distillate is that the distillation process leaves behind most of the heavy black residue (like asphalt) that can’t be boiled off as well as other undesirable components. As you may know, gasoline is a typical petroleum distillate as are kerosene and mineral spirits. Yet, so are motor oil, cutting oils and the base oil of many greases.

The distilled or purified portion of crude oil usually contains three general classes of compounds, aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic hydrocarbons.

• Aromatics are great solvents and a base for many types of useful compounds. They are a perfect ingredient for making such things carburetor cleaner or a tar remover where strong solvency is needed.

• Naphthenics (AKA cycloparaffins) are used to make light oils, solvents and even as a base for things like detergents and paint dryers.

• Paraffinic compounds have much less solvency and usually are purified further. They are used in a myriad of consumer products, such as a coating for milk cartons and as ingredients in many lotions and skin creams. Crystal clear white oils are used as a laxative, to coat pans in bakeries and as a base for medicines. Paraffinic compounds are perfect for use as a component in automotive waxes and polishes and those products used to treat painted surfaces, vinyl and plastic for reasons to be discussed later.

All of these products started as a distillate of petroleum but ended up being as different as night and day. This is because petroleum distillates can be further purified, re-distilled, reacted and combined with various other chemicals to produce a wide range of useful products.

PRODUCT LABELING REQUIREMENTS
Any product that contains a petroleum distillate in its formula must be labeled with the phrase "contains petroleum distillates" regardless of the actual properties of the distillate used. The reason for this is labeling requirements mandated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a government agency. The disclosure on a container containing low viscosity petroleum distillates is usually preceded by a Caution or Warning statement. The warning is provided to help doctors and emergency medical personnel understand how best to treat children or others who might accidentally drink the product. Child safety is a common concern when storing any of the thousands of products that may be found in your garage, laundry room, or under your kitchen or bathroom sink, whether they contain a petroleum distillate or other ingredients. If a product contains petroleum distillates, the medical personnel may elect not to induce vomiting. The only reason that petroleum distillate appears on the label of products is because of this concern for children and the government regulation that mandates it. The warning has nothing to do with product performance. In my opinion, the label's directions for use and other cautions are more informative for this purpose.

BENEFICIAL RESULTS FOR APPEARANCE
The reason that petroleum distillates are used in most appearance care products is because they perform many different and important functions at an affordable price. Over 90% of the thousands of paste and liquid Car Waxes and Polishes formulated today contain significant amounts of petroleum distillate, from the best known brands to the lesser known, as well as the highly regarded premium quality brands used by professional detailers. It is used in these products because petroleum distillates easily dissolve waxes and silicones and become an excellent medium to allow them to be spread on a surface. They also cut quickly through oily dirt and light grease and helps lubricate the surface and prevent scratching.

Products that are used on plastic, vinyl and rubber surfaces should be formulated from very special types of petroleum distillate that contain little if any of the harsher aromatic and naphthenic molecules. While this type of highly refined paraffinic distillate costs a good deal more, it helps insure that the product does not attack the surface or remove important components from the vinyl or rubber when used as directed -- yet, it does help to clean and lubricate the surface. Such products can be formulated to leave behind a rich and protective film of wax or silicone (or both) to help lengthen the useful life of the surface and prevent cracking and shrinkage. The use of petroleum distillate allows premium UV Blockers to be included in the formulation as the most effective ones are not soluble in water. This can provide excellent protection against deterioration, chalking and fading caused by sunlight.

A COMMON SENSE DECISION
To sum it all up, there are a huge number of products available on the market today that contain petroleum distillates. The fact that they contain petroleum distillates doesn’t tell you much about the product’s performance. Even for someone like myself who has been involved with formulating specialty products for forty years, without the complete formula I can’t determine product quality. I do know that the majority of manufacturers today do their homework in product development and quality control. From a business standpoint it would not be prudent for them to do otherwise. However, I am suspicious of companies and products that rely on negative advertising, rather than selling their product on its own merits. Therefore, I rely on the manufacturer’s reputation and especially on recommendations from other users when judging what product to buy for the first time and then by my own experience after I’ve used it.

Mr. Dean Whitehead
BIOGRAPHY

Dean Whitehead’s career in the oil and chemical industry began in 1953 after attending UCLA where he majored in Chemistry. He continued his education at Bakersfield College by studying petroleum and later took courses at Marshall University in diplomacy as his responsibilities broadened taking him throughout the world.

Mr. Whitehead’s qualifications are extensive and impressive. The companies he has been associated with are a virtual Who’s Who in the petroleum and chemical industry. They include Union Oil Company, Arthur C. Withrow Company, Wynn Oil Company, Purolator, Inc. Ashland Oil, Inc./Valvoline Oil Company. The positions Mr. Whitehead held during his thirty-eight year tenure with these international companies included Manager of Technical Operations, District Manager of Products and Lubricants, Assistant Director of Automotive and Product Application Laboratories, Vice President of Operations, Executive Assistant to the President, and Group Vice President.

Mr. Whitehead has a broad foundation in the petroleum and chemical industries. His responsibilities were many including manufacturing, production, research, refining, distribution and operations. His efforts in these areas brought about many significant accomplishments. A few of these include:

• Directly responsible for Valvoline's Lubricants Laboratories and Engine Testing Facilities.

• Responsible for producing successful lines of marine, industrial and snowmobile products.

• Established a nationwide computerized lubricants testing program for fleet operators, directed efforts to synthesize motor oil additives and develop new lines of industrial and consumer products.

• Conceived and built the world's largest automotive additive blending and canning plant and set up manufacturing operations in Canada, Mexico, Columbia, Belgium and South Africa.

• Worked extensively within the industry to help determine the effect of chemicals on automotive emissions and emission hardware.

• Introduced a line of clear and odorless cutting oils, the first of its kind in the U.S.A. His efforts increased company sales two hundred percent in less than two years.

• Helped to develop an industrial lubricant line that included major advancements in lubricant technology.

• Produced product seminars for chemical and petroleum distributors throughout the world and was awarded "Most Valuable Manager" for two years.

• Introduced advanced management techniques and worked with the American Management Association to improve operations and provide uniform policies.

• Evaluated, recommended for purchase and managed opportunities in new technology and natural resources ranging from ocean thermal energy conversion to electric vehicles.

• Introduced new specialty coatings and lubricants to the major builders of transportation equipment such as Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, BMW and large truck manufacturers throughout the world.

• Helped conceive and develop a complete line of aluminum forging and extrusion compounds that captured eighty percent of the world market within two years.

Since 1988, Mr. Whitehead has been a consultant to companies utilizing his experience and expertise.

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