Hello Soygirl,
My search returned the following results for information about soybean
wax used in candles, its composition and who to contact for additional
information.
Soywax is actually Hydrogenated soybean oil.
Soybean oil:
“Extracted from soybeans, this light yellowish oil is high in both
polyunsaturated fats (58 percent) and monounsaturated fats (23
percent), and low in saturated fats (15 percent).
I located the patent for Soybean wax candles at the United States
Patent and Trademark Office. The process is explained in detail. I am
providing some relevant excerpts below but I highly recommend that you
read the complete publication in order to understand the entire
process.
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Soybean wax candles
US Patent 6,599,334
Abstract
“A solid fuel candle which is highly adapted for use both in a
container and also as a free-standing candle includes at least 85
percent hydrogenated soybean oil, approximately 0 to 4 percent
synthetic wax composition, approximately 0 to 4 percent of a second
hydrogenated vegetable or petroleum oil, approximately 0 to 10 percent
fragrance or scent, and approximately 0 to 3 percent dye. The
hydrogenated vegetable oil most preferably has an iodine value of
approximately 50 and a melting point of approximately 125 degrees
Fahrenheit, with a free fatty acid content of less than one-tenth of
one percent. The synthetic wax composition is most preferably formed
from alpha olefin monomers and oligomers under free radical conditions
at relatively low pressures to yield a highly branched polymer wax
having congealing and melting points lower than the starting alpha
olefin material and a higher molecular weight.”
(..)
“Recently, there have been several attempts to manufacture candles
made from soybean oil. Soybean oil offers several attractive benefits
including relatively large quantities of oil found therein, the use of
a renewable resource produced through agriculture, elimination of
paraffin, and elimination of associated soot.
(..)
“In 1996, a group of students from Purdue University developed an
innovative soybean-oil-based candle which is composed of 83 percent
hydrogenated soybean oil, 16 percent glycerol, about 1 percent
coloring, and a touch of peppermint flavoring.”
(..)
”In a first manifestation, the invention is a candle wax composition
consisting essentially of at least 85 percent partially hydrogenated
soybean oil having an iodine value of between 49 and 53 and a melting
point of between 122 and 128 degrees Fahrenheit; 0 to 4 percent
synthetic wax formed by polymerizing alpha olefins under free radical
conditions to form a highly branched polymer; 0 to 4 percent secondary
oil; 0 to 10 percent fragrance; and 0 to 3 percent dye.”
Hydrogenating the vegetable liquid produces varying degrees of
solidification or hardness.
How the soybean oil is hydrogenated:
“The most preferred vegetable oil which is suitable for use in the
preferred embodiment is soybean oil, also referred to as soya oil in
some references. The oil will typically be refined to remove
undesirable impurities, bleached, and then hydrogenated. The process
of hydrogenation may be carried out in a hydrogen environment,
typically at elevated temperatures as from 400 to 700 degrees
Fahrenheit, under pressure, in the presence of a hydrogen catalyst
such as nickel. While other catalysts have been used to accomplish the
hydrogenation and may be suitable in the practice of the present
invention, nickel is most preferred. The hydrogen will preferably be
mixed with the oil, either by mechanical agitation or through various
jets or bubblers which effectively pass the hydrogen through the
vegetable oil. As the oil is progressively hydrogenated, its
properties are monitored for optimum values and characteristics. Among
these are the iodine value, which in the preferred embodiment will be
between approximately 49 and 53 with one embodiment having a preferred
iodine value of 51, and the Mettler melting point, which will range
between 122 and 128 degrees Fahrenheit. Preferably there will be less
than 0.1 percent free fatty acids after hydrogenation. Once the
hydrogenation is complete, the catalyst will be removed, the oil will
be cleaned and purified, and the oil may again be bleached.”
United States Patent and Trademark Office
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/search-adv.htm&r=21&f=G&l=50&d=ptxt&S1=((soybean+AND+oil)+AND+wax)&OS=soybean+AND+oil+AND+wax&RS=((soybean+AND+oil)+AND+wax
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Tong Wang is involved in the research of the composition of soywax in
order to improve melting and solidification behavior.
“Hydrogenated soybean oil is increasingly used as ‘wax’ (referred as
soywax) to replace petroleum paraffin products in candle production.
Soywax is renewable and releases less soot during burning.”
“Replacing paraffin wax (a 2.3 billon pounds market in US) with soywax
could have potentially immense economic benefits for Iowa soybean
producers.
Contact person:
Tong Wang
Assistant Professor
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
3397 Food Science Building
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-5448
tongwang@iastate.edu
Iowa State University: College of Family and Consumer Sciences,
http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:9kXhYADBUecJ:www.fcs.iastate.edu/rge/research/statements/Wang2.htm+Hydrogenated+soybean+oil,+referred+to+as+soywax&hl=es&ie=UTF-8
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Tong Wang participated in the following publication:
Combustion Characteristics of Candles Made from Hydrogenated Soybean
Oil by Karamatollah Rezaei, Tong Wang, and Lawrence A. Johnson
“Hydrogenated soybean oil, referred to as soywax by candle makers, is
a renewable and biodegradable alternative to paraffin wax in candle
manufacturing.”
Soywax:
(14.5% palmitic, 34.1% stearic, and 51.4% oleic)
You made read the full 18 page research publication at the following
URL provided by The Iowa Soybean Promotion Board
http://www.iasoybeans.com/ispb/soycandles/cumbstion.pdf
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Follow this link to view the history of soy candles from 1991-to the
present.
http://www.iasoybeans.com/ispb/soycandles/schistory.html
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Search Criteria:
Soywax, soybean candle, soybean wax, hydrogenated soybean oil,
hydrogenated oil, soybean oil,
I hope this information helps you in your research. If anything is
unclear or if a link does not function, please let me know and I’ll be
glad to offer further assistance.
Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga |
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