The quality of kerosene is primarily determined by the crude oil source and refining process.

The quality of kerosene depends on the crude oil processed

The chemical composition of kerosene depends on the crude oil processed and on the further processing, like hydrocracking. Kerosene is therefore a mixture of n- and isoalkanes (paraffines), cycloalkanes (naphthenes) and aromatics. Due to possibly unwanted cracking reactions in the crude oil distillation furnace, small quantities of alkenes (olefins) can also be produced.

Kerosene may also contain small quantities of sulphur and oxygen compounds

Next to small quantities of sulphur compounds in kerosene also oxygen compounds are present, in the form of naphthenic acids. These acids may cause corrosion and affect the separation of water from kerosene. However, kerosene from the hydrocracker if virtually free of sulphur and oxygen compounds, and of excellent quality! Kerosene from other crackers will have to many alkenes (olefins), resulting in a poor oxidation stability and therefore unsuitable for many applications.

Recently, more processes are in operation, or under construction to produce high quality kerosene from natural gas (called: GTL-process), but also produced from biomass (or BTL-process). So: kerosene can be produced via the biofuel (BTL) and via the synthetic route (Fisher-Tropsch).