Firelighter

Abstract

A firelighter composition comprises a mixture of a liquid hydrocarbon and lignite. The liquid hydrocarbon preferably comprises kerosene. It has been found that lignite has the effect of extending the bum time and lowering the flame height, thereby increasing the combustion efficiency for a given weight of firelighter.

1 . A firelighter composition comprising a solid emulsion of a fuel distributed or dispersed within a solid matrix of an aqueous cured resin, said fuel comprising a liquid hydrocarbon and lignite, the total water content of the composition being at least 12.5 parts by weight and no more than 20 parts by weight. 
   
   
       2 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , in which the lignite is at least partially substituted by peat. 
   
   
       3 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , in which the total water content is at least 15 parts by weight and no more than 17.5 parts by weight. 
   
   
       4 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , in which the total fuel concentration is at least 75 parts by weight of the composition and no more than 85 parts by weight of the composition. 
   
   
       5 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , said liquid hydrocarbon comprising kerosene. 
   
   
       6 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the weight ratio of lignite to kerosene is at least 5% and no more than 25%. 
   
   
       7 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , in which the lignite is in the form of granules. 
   
   
       8 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 7 , in which the granules have a particle size of at least 2 mm and no more than 6 mm. 
   
   
       9 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , resin comprising an acid-catalysed urea-formaldehyde resin, the composition further comprising an emulsifier. 
   
   
       10 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 9 , said emulsifier comprising a surfactant. 
   
   
       11 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 10 , said surfactant comprising an anionic surfactant. 
   
   
       12 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 11 , said surfactant comprising an alkyl aryl suplhonate. 
   
   
       13 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a trace amount of fragrance material. 
   
   
       14 . A firelighter according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a fuel additive, a filler or an extender in an amount up to 10% by weight. 
   
   
       15 . A firelighter composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising peat in at least partial substitution for the lignite, the formulation further comprising a dye.