What was the initial status of gasoline when it was first produced as a lighter fraction during the distillation of crude oil?
Answer
It was frequently discarded because there was no immediate application for it
When Edwin Drake established crude oil processing primarily to obtain kerosene for lighting, gasoline emerged merely as a byproduct—specifically, one of the lighter fractions resulting from distillation. At this time, the technology for high-compression engines capable of utilizing gasoline effectively had not yet matured, meaning the substance lacked immediate utility. Consequently, this volatile liquid was often discarded or wasted. The shift in perception occurred later with the development of engines like the Otto engines, which created a demand that eventually rescued gasoline from being considered a waste product.
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