Lighter fluid is a well-known and a highly combustible part of many ordinary household devices. Their general purpose, of course, is the making and upholding of controlled fire. Mainly made of gaseous-state hydrocarbons, lighter fluid is obtainable in more than a few chemical compositions.
A Quartet of superior Conflagration
Butane - This is a very flammable gas fuel and simple to converted to a liquid form. It frequently used in outside food preparation grills, regular cigarette lighters and torches. Butane’s chemical make up consists of four carbon atoms joined to ten hydrogen atoms.
Butane lighter fluid is favored over gas fuel because it has a much shorter beginning initial ignition time and a lesser burning temperature. Therefore, butane is an obtainable form of lighter fluid without any difficulties.
Charcoal - This is a fuel-based lighter fluid solvent and chiefly used for outside barbecues and picnic grills. Because of its intense flammability, caution is highly suggested when using charcoal lighter fluid. Charcoal nuggets turn an ashy grey shade and give off enough heat to grill food in less than half an hour after igniting with charcoal lighter fluid.
Although charcoal nuggets appear to be cool, they are often quite scorching under their surfaces. Although essential for starting the flames to cook on the charcoal grills, the typical flavor of charcoal lighter fluid is awfully strong and extremely unappealing to most people. While it burns, charcoal lighter fluid exudes unstable natural compounds as lighter fluid dissolves from drenched charcoal nuggets.
As a group, these volatile organic compounds assist in helping ground-level ozone to shape as they unite with nitrogen in the instantaneous environment. These kinds of conditions are extremely dangerous for older people, those with breathing issues.
Kerosene - A favorite multi-use lighter fluid, kerosene that is also known as paraffin, coal oil, or paraffin oil. Depending upon the particular chemical make up, kerosene is appropriate to use in a charcoal grill for cooking outdoors, fuel lamps, jet propulsion, wood burning fireplaces and carriers for insecticide spray.
Renewed Vigor for Old Flames
A patent is pending as of this writing for a new kind of lighter fluid called Smarter Natural Charcoal. Its chief purpose is to replace kerosene. Nothing like kerosene, it leaves no fuel “aftertaste” behind in barbecued or grilled foods. Moreover, its incineration is much more secure and more proficient than kerosene.
Practice Safety to Prevent Tragic accidents
The very explosive nature and flammability of any lighter fluid potentially pose extreme safety and health hazards. Make sure that you use lighter fluid exactly as the manufacturers’ instructions details. Never let unsupervised children use or be anywhere around lighter fluid or lighters. Should some one accidentally swallow the fluid, call 911 immediately to get medical assistance.
There are three main types of commonly used fuels that are referred as lighter fuels. In transparent liquid form the butane gas is used in cigarette lighters. To be functional it must be in pressurized form. It is the gas released by it that catches fire. Because of being under pressure the butane in cigarette lighters is in liquid form. Commercial grade butane is also referred as liquid petroleum gas (LPG). It is mixed with gasoline and for higher chemical compounds it is used as a base. About 20 or 30 years ago butane was regularly used in underarm spray deodorants and in cleaning products used in homes that were available in aluminum can and used propellants.
In the category of lighter fuel the second one is naphtha. Generally it is used in camp stoves and also used in chemical sprays as a solvent. These cleaning products are preferred for metals because there is no staining or corrosion. Naphtha is also found in some lacquers and resins. This chemical is behind the distinctive smell found in shoe polish. Lighter fluid based on naphtha is used by some fire-eaters because it burns safely and cleanly.
For grilling there are briquettes that use lighter fluid. Each brick of charcoal is saturated and for this reason many people consider it as a lighter fluid. The burning of charcoal takes place only at high temperature. A special fluid solvent is used to soak the charcoal bricks for its easier burning. About a century back in fuel trains and furnaces, lump charcoal was used. For combustion it requires higher level of heat and also takes longer to light up, but keeps burning for a long time. One can say that one of the original lighter fluids was lump charcoal. Compared to wood it kept burning much longer and was readily available. Charcoal is basically another form of oil in compressed form mixed with minerals.
When using lighter fluid for general use like cooking, there are some health risks that a user must be aware of. These fuels are available in transparent form. Some compounds of the lighter fluid used for cooking may get mixed up with the food. There is no breakdown of hydrocarbons. Also no combustion of hydrocarbons takes place at normal temperatures used in grilling. At low levels it can be undetectable and tasteless. Repeated and high exposure to hydrocarbons is known to pose cancer risks.
Similar to its crude state the lighter fluids are as toxic in gas and liquid states. Many of the chemicals found in petroleum products are fat and water soluble. Over time many people suffer cancer because of exposure and ingestion of these chemicals. When the oil price rises, the cost of household lighter fluids also goes up.
