Kerosene is a mixture of hydrocarbons that can be distilled from petroleum. The process of petroleum distillation has been used for centuries to produce various hydrocarbons. Kerosene was specifically named and patented in 1846 by Abraham Gesner, who discovered it was an excellent fuel for lighting lamps. When first used commercially in the late 19th century, kerosene replaced whale oil in lamps and helped save whale species from extinction. Modern kerosene production involves distilling petroleum, purifying the resulting kerosene through solvent extraction of contaminants, then storing it for use.