Wax Compositions and the Effect of Metals on Burn Rates

Abstract

A wax composition is disclosed, comprising a hydrogenated natural oil with (i) at least about 50 wt % of a triacylglycerol component having a fatty acid composition from about 14 to about 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acid, about 45 to about 60 wt % C18:1 fatty acid and about 20 to about 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acid, (ii) a nickel content of less than 1 ppm, and (iii) a melt point of about 49° C. to about 57° C. The hydrogenated natural oil is filtered and/or bleached to obtain a nickel content of less than 0.5 ppm. A candle is also disclosed, comprising a wick and the above described wax.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of making a candle, the method comprising:
 providing a mold having a wick disposed therein;   providing a wax composition, which is in a molten state, and comprises a hydrogenated natural oil composition;   pouring the wax composition into the mold; and   cooling the wax composition after pouring it into the mold;   wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition has a nickel content of less than 0.5 ppm, and is formed by a process comprising:
 hydrogenating a natural oil in the presence of nickel to form a crude hydrogenated natural oil composition that comprises nickel; and 
 treating the crude hydrogenated natural oil composition to reduce the nickel content to a concentration of less than 0.5 ppm and to form the hydrogenated natural oil composition. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition comprises at least 50 weight percent triacylglycerol components. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition comprises at least 75 weight percent triacylglycerol components. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition comprises at least 90 weight percent triacylglycerol components. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the triacylglycerol components have a fatty acid composition of: from 14 to 25 weight percent C16:0 fatty acids, from 45 to 60 weight percent C18:1 fatty acids, and from 20 to 30 weight percent C18:0 fatty acids. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the triacylglycerol components have an iodine value of: from 45 to 60. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the natural oil is selected from the group consisting of: canola oil, rapeseed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil, palm kernel oil, tung oil, jatropha oil, mustard oil, camelina oil, pennycress oil, castor oil, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the natural oil is selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, palm oil, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the natural oil comprises soybean oil and palm oil, and wherein the weight-to-weight ratio of soybean oil to palm oil 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the treating comprises filtering, bleaching, or both filtering and bleaching. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the wax composition further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of wax-fusion enhancing additives, coloring agents, scenting agents, migration inhibitors, free fatty acids, surfactants, co-surfactants, emulsifiers, optimal wax ingredients, and combinations thereof.