Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02593912 2007-06-18
CANDLE COMPOSITION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to candle compositions. In particular, this
invention relates to candle compositions having non-hydrogenated oil and a
process
for making a candle composition having non-hydrogenated oil.
Background of the Invention
Candles have been used for centuries as a source of light and for their
aesthetic appeal.
Paraffin wax has been traditionally used in making candle wax, which
conventionally comprises 80 to 100% paraffin wax. It comes in various grades
and
melting points, and is predominantly composed of fully saturated long chain
hydrocarbons. Although it is widely used in the candle industry, paraffin wax
has a
long cooling rate and is subject to pitting and bubbles arising during the
candle
manufacturing process. Paraffin wax is also a petroleum by-product and is
known to
produce toxins, black soot and carcinogens. It would therefore be advantageous
to
eliminate or reduce the paraffin wax used in candles in favour of a "green"
alternative,
and especially in favour of vegetable derived raw materials and ingredients.
Some manufacturers in the candle industry have started using vegetable oil as
a main ingredient of wax for candle production. Vegetable oil is usually
liquid at room
temperature, thus it needs to be modified so that it can tum into solid form
wax at
room temperature. One way of doing this is to hydrogenate the vegetable oil by
adding hydrogen atoms to the double bonds of the fatty acid in the molecule of
oil so
as to increase the melting point of the triglyceride. The melting point rises
as the oil
is saturated and the double bonds eliminated. Another way to modify the liquid
vegetable oil into solid form wax is to convert the unsaturated cis-fats into
trans-
unsaturated trans-fats. Unsaturated trans-fats have higher melting point and
are in
solid form at normal room temperature. Conversely, the unsaturated cis-fats
usually
have lower melting point and will be in liquid form even at or below 0 C.
During
the vegetable oil hydrogenation process, some of the cis-form triglyceride
converts to
tran-form at the high temperature and with the addition of the catalyst of
Nickel or
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noble metal salts. The trans-form vegetable oil contributes partially to the
solidifying
of partially-hydrogenated vegetable oil (commercially called shortening).
The use of partially or wholly hydrogenated vegetable oil as the main
ingredient of wax for candle production is advantageous because it is a solid
at room
temperature. However, the use of hydrogenated vegetable oil also has a number
of
disadvantages, including high consumption of energy during the hydrogenation
process, and high costs for transportation, storage and handling because
hydrogenated
vegetable oil is solid at room temperature and can oxidize easily. If the
hydrogenated oil is kept at high temperatures for a long period (2-3 weeks),
it will
usually darken and change colour. The transportion and storage costs and
troubles
are especially concerning during the cold winter since hydrogenated oil can
easily
solidify and thereby block pipes, thus causing logistical and production
planning
problems. The hydrogenation process also produces trans-fats, which might be a
health concern when the candle/wax is used in thermotherapy. The trace residue
of the
catalysts (nickle or platinum) from the hydrogenation process is harmful to
the metal
equipments (wax storage container, tanks, pipes, etc.) and is also a health
issue.
The main constituent of vegetable oil is triglyceride, which is essentially a
glyceride in which the glycerol is esterified with three fatty acids. The
chemical
formula of triglyceride is CH2COOR-CHCOOR'-CH2-COOR", wherein R, R' and R"
2o are long alkyl chains and the three fatty acids RCOOH, R'COOH and R"COOH
may
all vary.
Vegetable oils which contain more unsaturated fatty acids remain in the liquid
phase at temperatures at which saturated vegetable oils are solid. Unsaturated
vegetable oils (and fatty acids) can be converted to saturated vegetable oils
(and fatty
acids) by hydrogenation, which involves the process of addition of diatomic
hydrogen
at high pressure and in the presence of catalysts which are very expensive and
not
environmentally friendly. The elimination of double bonds in the triglyceride
by
adding hydrogen atoms increases the degree of saturation, thereby raising the
oil's
melting point and viscosity.
Unsaturated vegetable oils usually stay in liquid form at a point between -18
C
and -5 C, depending on the type of oil, and have an Iodine value of 77-178.
There is
therefore a need to turn unsaturated liquid vegetable oils into a solid
without using
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chemical processing, thereby allowing the mixture to be modified for candle
production purposes. Such a candle would be easier to burn due to its low
viscosity
with suitable melting point and therefore has a safety advantage.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The object of the present invention is to provide a way to solidify non-
hydrogenated oils into a solid candle composition, without consuming
significant
energy and without using hydrogenation or converting unsaturated cis-fats into
unsaturated trans-fats.
The present invention relates to candle compositions that have non-
hydrogenated oil.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a candle
composition comprising non-hydrogenated oil and long-chain hydrocarbons and/or
long-chain hydrocarbon derivatives. For the purposes of the present invention,
examples of long-chain hydrocarbons include beeswax, synthetic hydrocarbons,
paraffin and petrolatum, as well as other long-chain hydrocarbons known to a
person
skilled in the art. The long-chain hydrocarbon derivative is preferably a wax
with 20
or more carbon atoms, and even more preferably an oxidized paraffin wax,
however
other long-chain hydrocarbon derivatives may be used as known to a person
skilled in
the art.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a candle composition is
provided having non-hydrogenated oil and a solidifying amount of congealing
reagent.
The congealing reagent solidifies the non-hydrogenated oil for use in candle
compositions. The non-hydrogenated oils are preferably vegetable oils. For the
purposes of the present invention, acceptable non-hydrogenated oils include
soy oil,
sunflower oil, corn oil, grape seed oil, olive oil, canola oil, safflower oil,
sesame oil,
almond oil, linseed oil, flax seed oil, and cottonseed oil. A person skilled
in the art
would understand that any non-hydrogenated oil may be used in the present
invention.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a candle composition is
provided having paraffin, non-hydrogenated oil, and a solidifying amount of a
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congealing reagent. The congealing reagent is preferably a natural-based long
chain
ester, petrolatum, oxidized petrolatum, oxidized long-chain hydrocarbons,
modified
hydrocarbon derivatives, or beeswax.
The congealing reagent may also be long-chain hydrocarbon derivatives with
functional groups such as hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), acyl (RCO-),
aldehyde
(-CHO), phenzyl, cycloalkane on one or two ends; and/or long-chain hydrocarbon
derivatives with at least one side chain which include functional groups such
as
hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), acyl (RCO-), aldehyde (-CHO), phenzyl,
alkanes
or cycloalkanes. The congealing reagent may be natural-based long chain
esters,
high melting point petrolatum, oxidized petrolatum, oxidized long chain
hydrocarbons, and/or modified hydrocarbon derivatives with side chain which
containing functional group. Such long-chain hydrocarbon congealing reagents
can
strongly attract liquid triglyceride molecules (vegetable oil) and turn the
liquid form
vegetable oil into a creamy/solid substance. The further addition of
congealing
boosters such as high melting-point paraffin and high melting-point (highly
saturated)
fats/triglycerides will allow the formation of a uniform solid solution (wax
base)
which will remain solid at temperatures around 42 C to 54 C, and thereby used
in
candle applications.
Preferably, the non-hydrogenated oil used in the embodiments of the present
invention has an Iodine value in the range of 77-178, and preferably has a
melting
point of at least -5 C or lower.
The non-hydrogenated oils of the present invention may be vegetable oils,
preferably wherein 20% to 78% of the fatty acids of the triglyceride
composition is
linoleic acid. The candle composition may contain about 1%-95% non-
hydrogenated
oil.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
candle composition having non-hydrogenated oil, hydrocarbon or paraffin wax,
congealing reagent. A further aspect of the present invention provides a
candle
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composition having non-hydrogenated oil, hydrocarbon or paraffin wax,
congealing
reagent, and a polymer.
The congealing reagent is preferably s natural-based long chain esters,
petrolatum (more preferably, high-melting point petrolatum), oxidized
petrolatum,
long-chain hydrocarbon derivatives (preferably oxidized), or modified
hydrocarbons,
preferably with side chain containing functional groups. The polymer functions
as a
sweat controlling reagent and is usually added for high-load fragrance jar
candlers.
The polymer used may include Polyboost 165, Polyboost 130 (from S.S.
Chemical),
Vybar 260 (from Baker Hughes).
A preservative may also be added since a high percentage of food grade
ingredients of wax can be easily contaminated.
According to a further aspect of present invention, a candle composition is
provided having 1%-95% by weight non-hydrogenated vegetable oil, may contain 0-
65% synthesis hydrocarbon or paraffin wax, 1-20 % congealing reagent, and
preferably at least one of 0-1.5% of polymer. The congealing reagent of a
preferred
embodiment of this invention preferably includes the natural-based long chain
esters,
a high melting point petrolatum, oxidized petrolatum, oxidized long chain
hydrocarbons, and/or modified hydrocarbon derivatives with side chain
containing
functional groups of hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), acyl (RCO-), aldehyde (-
CHO), phenzyl, alkanes or cycloalkanes.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
process for making a candle composition. The process includes combining a non-
hydrogenated oil and a congealing amount of a congealing reagent and heating
the
mixture to a temperature of 80-90 C. The mixture is stirred until completely
melted
and the melted mixture is brought to a temperature of 75-80 C. The mixture is
then
cooled and poured into a candle container. Preferred non-hydrogenated oils for
the
purposes of the invention include non-hydrogenated vegetable oils as described
above,
and which preferably have an iodine value of 77-178 and a melting point of at
least -
5 C or lower.
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A further embodiment of the present invention provides a process for making a
candle composition comprising the steps of combining non-hydrogenated oil,
hydrocarbon or paraffin wax, a congealing reagent, and preferably a polymer.
The
mixture is heated to 80-90 C, and stirred together until completely melted and
the
melted mixture is brought to a temperature of 75-80 C. The mixture is then
cooled
and poured into a candle container.
The following are examples of a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, without limiting its scope as defined by the claims.
Example 1:
This example is a candle composition formed mainly from olive oil and 100%
natural ingredients. The ingredients are:
Cool pressed pure extra virgin olive oil: 64%
Palm wax: 30%
Beeswax: 6%
Step 1: To make this candle, these three ingredients (olive oil, palm wax, and
beeswax) are weighed and placed into a batch tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in a hot wax bath (or a hot water bath) at a
temperature of 80- 90 C. Alternatively, one could melt the beewax first at a
high
temperature, and then bring the temperature to 80- 90 C and add the remaining
ingredients. Stir all ingredients until completely melted and set the melted
mixture
to 75-80 C. The mixture will be a dark green colour. It is important to
prevent the
mixture from reaching temperatures greater than 90 C or from being heated
continuously for 10 hrs or longer.
Step 3: Prepare the candle container with wick and wick sustainer if needed
(the size and type of wick may depend on the size of the candle). Heat the
container to
about 40 C (using a heating element) and pour the proper amount of melted
mixture
into the candle container.
Step 4: Cool candle with fan for about 30-120 minutes (depending on the size
of the candle and the cooling temperature).
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Step 5: Fix the wick so that wick is in the center
Step 6: Heat the candle surface to ensure it is flat and cosmetically
appealing.
Step 7: Let candle completely cool without fan for another 30-120 minutes
(depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
Step 9: Store the candle at normal room temperature (15-35C). Avoid
extreme cold and hot temperature.
Example 2
This example is a candle composition formed mainly from olive oil and
paraffin blend. The ingredients are:
Cool pressed pure extra virgin olive oil: 82%
Fully refined paraffin: 10%
High melting point petrolatum: 7%
Polyboost 165: 1%
Step 1: Place all ingredients into a batch container or tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in the hot wax bath at the temperature of 80-
90 C. Stir until all ingredients are melted and set the mixture to reach a
temperature
of 75-80 C. The temperature of the mixture should not go above 90 C or be
heated
for 10 hrs or longer.
Step 3: Prepare the candle container with wick and wick sustainer if needed
(the size and type of wick may depend on the size of the candle). Heat the
container to
about 40 C (using a heating element), then pour the proper amount of melted
mixture
into the candle container.
Step 4: Cool candle with fans for about 30-120 minutes (depending on the
size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 5: Fix the wick to ensure wick is in centre of candle
Step 6: Heat the candle surface to ensure it is flat. One could also refill
the
ensure the candle surface is flat.
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Step 7: Let candle completely cool with or without fan for another 30-120
minutes (depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
Step 9: Store the candle in normal room temperature (15-35 C). Avoid
extreme cold and hot temperatures.
Example 3
This example is a candle composition formed mainly from grape seed oil and
synthetic hydrocarbon blend. The ingredients are:
Pure grape seed oil: 66.5%
EP858 Synthetic hydrocarbon: 28%
High melting point petrolatum: 5%
Polyboost 165: 0.5%
Step 1: Place appropriate portions of ingredients into batch tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in a hot wax bath at a temperature of 80-90 C.
Stir until all ingredients are melted and let the mixture reach a temperature
of 75-
80 C. The temperature of the mixture should not go above 90 C or be heated for
10
hrs or longer.
Step 3: Prepare the candle container with wick and wick sustainer if needed
(the size and type of wick may depend on the size of the candle). Heat the
container to
about 40 C if the candle container is clear glass (for the frost jar and non-
transparent
container, not need to heat before pouring), then pour the proper amount of
melted
mixture into the candle container.
Step 4: Cool candle with fans for about 30-120 minutes (depending on the size
of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 5: Fix the wick to ensure wick is in center of candle.
Step 6: Heat the candle surface to ensure the composition is flat, and if
needed
apply a second fill to ensure flat surface.
Step 7: Let candle completely cool with or without fan for another 30-120
minutes (depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
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Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
Step 9: Store the candle in normal room temperature (15-35 C). Avoid
extreme cold and hot temperatures.
Example 4
This example is a candle composition formed mainly from soybean oil and
hydrocarbon blend. The ingredients are:
Degummed soybean oil: 55%
Synthesis hydrocarbon: 40%
High melting point petrolatum: 5%
Step 1: Place the appropriate portions of all the ingredients into a batch
tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in a hot wax bath at a temperature of 80-90 C,
stir
until all ingredients melt and the mixture reaches a temperature of 75-80 C.
The
temperature of the mixture should not go above 90 C or be heated for 10 hrs or
longer. The colour of the mixture will be a light brown, however organic dyes
can
be added to change the colour. In addition, fragrances can also be added.
Step 3: Prepare the candle container with wick and wick sustainer if needed
(the size and type of wick may depend on the size of the candle). Heat the
container to
about 40 C if the candle container is clear glass (for the frost jar and non-
transparent
container, it is not necessary to heat the container before pouring the
mixture), then
pour the proper amount of the melted mixture into the candle container.
Step 4: Cool candle with fans for about 30-120 minutes (depending on the size
of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 5: Fix the wick to ensure it is in the center of the candle.
Step 6: Heat the candle surface to ensure it is flat or apply a 2"d fill when
the
temperature is 40 C and lower.
Step 7: Let candle cool with or without fan for another 30-120 minutes
(depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
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Step 9: Store the candle in normal room temperature (15-35 C). Avoid
extreme cold and hot temperatures.
Example 5
This example is a candle composition formed mainly from canola oil, palm fat
and paraffin blend. The ingredients are:
Canola oil: 43.5%
Palm fat (powder): 18%
Lower melting point paraffin: 33%
High melting point petrolatum: 5%
Polyboost 165: 0.5%
Step 1: Place the appropriate portions of all the above ingredients into a
batch
tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in the hot wax bath at a temperature of 80-90 C,
stir until all ingredients melt and the mixture reaches to 75-80 C. The
temperature of
the mixture should not go above 90 C or be heated for 10 hrs or longer.
Fragrances
and colour dyes may be added.
Step 3: Prepare the candle container with wick and wick sustainer if needed
(the size and type of wick may depend on the size of the candle). Heat the
container to
about 40 C if the candle container is clear glass (frost jars and non-
transparent
containers need not be heated prior to pouring), then pour the proper amount
of the
melted mixture into the candle container.
Step 4: Cool candle with fans for about 30-120 minutes (depending on the size
of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 5: Fix the wick to ensure it is in the center of the candle.
Step 6: Heat the candle surface to ensure it is flat or apply a 2"d fill when
the
temperature is 40 C and lower.
Step 7: Let candle cool with or without fan for about 30-60 minutes
(depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
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Step 9: Store the candle in normal room temperature (15-35 C). Avoid
extreme cold and hot temperatures.
Example 6:
This example is a candle composition mainly having sunflower seed oil and
paraffin blend. The ingredients are:
Pure sunflower seed oil: 57%
Fully refined paraffin: 3 8%
High melting point petrolatum: 5%
Step 1: Place the appropriate portions of all the above ingredients into a
batch
tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in a hot wax bath to a temperature of 80-90 C,
stir
until all ingredients melt and the mixture reaches to 75-80 C. The temperature
of the
mixture should not go above 90 C or be heated for 10 hrs or longer. Fragrances
and
colour dyes may be added.
Step 3: Prepare the candle container with wick and wick sustainer if needed
(the size and type of wick may depend on the size of the candle). Heat the
container to
about 40 C if the candle container is clear glass (frost jars and non-
transparent
container need not be heated before pouring), then pour the proper amount of
the
melted mixture into the candle container.
Step 4: Cool candle with fans for about 30-120 minutes (depending on the size
of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 5: Fix the wick to ensure it is at the center of the candle.
Step 6: Heat the candle surface to ensure it is flat or apply a 2"d fill when
the
temperature is 40 C and lower.
Step 7: Let candle cool with or without fan for about 30-60 minutes
(depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
Step 9: Store the candle in normal room temperature (15-35 C). Avoid
extreme cold and hot temperatures.
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Example 7
This example is a candle composition mainly having safflower seed oil and
synthetic hydrocarbon blend. The ingredients are:
Pure safflower oil: 59.5%
EP858 synthetic hydrocarbon: 35%
High melting point petrolatum: 5%
Polyboost 165: 0.5%
Step 1: Place the appropriate portions of all the above ingredients into a
batch
tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in a hot wax bath to a temperature of 80-90 C,
stir
until all the ingredients melt and the mixture reach 75-80 C. The temperature
of the
mixture should not go above 90 C or be heated for 10 hrs or longer. Fragrances
and
colour dyes may be added.
Step 3: Prepare the candle container with wick and wick sustainer if need (the
size and type of wick may depend on the size of the candle). Heat the
container to
about 40 C if the candle container is clear glass (frost jars and non-
transparent
containers need not be heated prior to pouring), then pour the proper amount
of melt
wax into the candle container.
Step 4: Cool candle with fans for about 30-120 minutes (depending on the size
of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 5: Fix the wick to ensure it is in the center of the candle.
Step 6: Heat the candle surface to ensure it is flat or apply a 2nd fill when
the
temperature is 40 C and lower.
Step 7: Let candle cool with or without fan for about 30-60 minutes
(depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
Step 9: Store the candle in normal room temperature (15-35 C). Avoid
extreme cold and hot temperatures.
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Example 8
This example is a composition for a citronella patio candle, and is mainly
composed of recycle liquid oil from fast food restaurants and paraffin wax
blend.
The ingredients are:
Recycled liquid form oil from fast food restaurant : 60%
Saturated Tallow: 14%
High melting paraffin wax: 20%
High melting point petrolatum: 1%
Citronella fragrance oil: 5%
Step 1: Place the appropriate portions of all the above ingredients, except
the
citronella fragrance oil, into a batch tank.
Step 2: Heat the batch tank in the hot wax bath in the temperature of 80-90 C,
stir until all ingredients melt and the mixture reaches a temperature of 75-80
C. The
temperature of the mixture should not go above 90 C or be heated for 10 hrs or
longer. Add citronella fragrance oil and any colour dyes, if necessary.
Step 3: Prepare the citronella patio candle bucket and pour the proper amount
of melted mixture into the candle bucket.
Step 4: Cool candle with fans for about 60-120 minutes (depending on the size
of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 5: Insert the wick and ensure it is in the center.
Step 6: Apply a 2d fill when the temperature of the candle is 40 C or lower,
if
required to ensure candle surface is flat.
Step 7: Let candle cool with or without fan for another 60-90 minutes
(depending on the size of the candle and the cooling temperature).
Step 8: Clean up the outside part of the candle, apply labels, tags and
lid/cover.
Step 9: Store the candle in normal room temperature (15-35 C). Avoid
extreme hot temperatures.
The candle composition of the present invention has the following advantages:
1) zero to low energy/materials wastage in solidifying liquid oil (compared
with
chemically hydrogenate method of solidifying unsaturated vegetable oil); 2)
less
trouble during transportation and production handling (reduces pipe blockage
trouble
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CA 02593912 2007-06-18
in cold winter time, no need to waste energy to keep solid oil at high
temperature, and
prevents darkening of the oil due to oxidation at high storage temperature);
3) faster
production speed: production output rate can be 2-3 times faster than high
content
paraffin wax candle; 4) candle with this kind of wax can be hot packed with
less
appearance defects of bubbling, pitting, frosting and cracking later; 5)
heat/cool
resisting test performance is good; 6) high fragrance loading capacity (up to
15%); 7)
cold flow is very good; and 8) burn performance is very good - smaller wick
with less
soot - thus more environmental friendly; 9) nice delicate appearance that can
be
presented as high-end candle products.
The candle wax composition of this invention is consistently in hard solid
form at and under 40 C, and can remain in hard solid form for more than 8 hrs
at
45 C.
The wax composition has the characteristics of rapid and even congealing, less
shrinking rate and high of fragrance loading capacity. It is preferable for
thermotherapy and container candle. For example, the candle composition
containing 80% wt. of cool pressed extra virgin olive oil, will posssess the
original
color and odor of olives. In another example, the candle composition contains
65%
wt. grape seed oil, which have a high content of linoleic acid.
Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in
details of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
variations and
modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention
includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the
appended
claims.
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