Cooking Oil as an Additive Component of Candle

This study tries to find out the feasibility of the used cooking oil as an additive component of candle. This study aims to produce a low-priced but high-quality candle by using used cooking oil as a major component. The researcher would like to test the feasibility of cooking oil. The following materials: 500 mL used cooking oil, 1 kg paraffin wax, strings cut into 5 inches long, serves as, wick, crayons in different colors, kettle, beaker, stirring rod, mold made from bamboo, the researcher conducted the experiment.

The measured paraffin waxes will be cut into small pieces to facilitate melting. It will be placed in a clean and dry kettle, together with a small piece of colored crayon, to produce a colored candle candle. The kettle will be heated in low fire until the waxes and crayons melt. The melted wax will be added with different percentages of used cooking oil. Before the mixture solidifies, they will be formed into molds, wicks suspended in the middle of the container. They will be air-dried until hardened. The melting rate of the different preparations of candles will be tested by the measured initial lengths of the candles and allowing them to burn for 15 minutes. The final lengths of the candles will be measured again. The melted candle will also be collected and measured. The intensity of light produced by the candles will also be tested using the photometer.

The table shows that the candle A has a very dim type of flame while the candle F has the very bright type of flame. It only means that the more used cooking oil in the candle, the more bright the type of the candles’ flame. Also with the lifespan of the candles. As shown above, the more the used cooking oil in the candle, the more it lasts long.

The researcher would like to recommend that the study will be re-conducted to gather authentic results. It is also recommended to have further analysis of the composition of the candle.

Background of the Study

Today, candles are made not only for lighting purposes but for many other uses such as home decor, novelty collections, as fixtures for big occasions such as weddings, baptismals, birthdays, etc. and as scented varieties for aromatherapy. Candles are made from different types of waxes and oils.

Cooking oil is a major kitchen item in Filipino households. It is also used substancially in fast-food outlets, where it used in different stages of food preparations. Ordinarily, used cooking oil is discarded. This waste oil pollutes and clogs canals and sewerage systems.

Statement of the problem

This study tries to find out the feasibility of the used cooking oil as an additive component of candle. This study aims to produce a low-priced but high-quality candle by using used cooking oil as a major component.

This study aims to answer the following questions:

What would be the candle compositions to be used?
What would be the procedure in making the candle?

Hypotheses

It is feasible to make candles out of used cooking oil. Candles out of used cooking oil can be comparable to candles out of paraffin wax (commercial candle) in terms of:

-life span
-type of flame

Significance of the Study

In our country today more ways are now made to utilize common things in order to make products easier and cheaper. In this research study, used cooking oil is used as an alternative for paraffin wax in candle making. In the field of Science, this study contributes a lot for the reason that we can find alternative for paraffin wax as main component in candle making, besides paraffin was derived from petroleum and the later is much expensive. This study contributes knowledge to the researchers and also to the community in the sense of finding an alternative way to utilize used cooking oil that may pollute and clog canals and sewerage systems if not recycled in essential ways, instead of chemically synthesized sources. It also improves the human condition physically through minimizing the waste oil that pollutes our country.

Scope and Limitations

Upon conducting the experimentation process, the researcher had found out some limitations within the project and these are the following:

The researcher did not include the measurement of the amount of light given off by each candle because the instrument used to measure was not available in the surroundings. Upon testing the candle’s quality, the researcher only include the following parameters:

lifespan of the candles
type of the flame produce by the candles

Definition of Terms

candle – a stick of solid wax with an embedded wick burned for light hydrocarbon – are compounds that can produce light to candle stearic acid – serves as the hardener in candle making

paraffin wax – a white, waxy substance consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons, distilled from petroleum and used for making candles, sealing jars, etc. used cooking oil – is purified fat of plant or animal origin but not that “fresh” like the unused one. Liquid at room temperature.

Chapter II : Review of Related Literature
Candles used to be largely made up of solid combustible waxes of fatty substance formed around a wick. It is a source of light. Beeswax candles were used in Egypt and Crete as early as 3000 B.C. Much later, candles were made by pouring molten wax or tallow into molds, containing wicks. Next came the paraffin wax, which is crystallized from petroleum. Today, commercially available candles are approximately made up of 65 percent paraffin wax and 35 percent stearic acid.

Waxes compromises a broad group of opaque, water repellent, essentially solid materials having varied chemical composition and many diverse applications. Its name applied originally to naturally occurring esters of fatty acids and monohydric alcohols but not refers to both natural and manufactured products resembling these esters. They soften gradually on heating, going through a soft, malleable state before ultimately forming a liquid.

Oils are greasy, generally combustible liquid of vegetables, animals or mineral origin which is insoluble in alcohol and always in Ether. Oils are used as food, for lubricating, illuminating and as fuel. It is also used in the manufacture of soap, candles, cosmetics, perfumery, etc. Wick were made up of cotton or linen woven and braided in such a way that it will burn i n one direction, curling so as to texture its end into oxidizing zone of the candles flame for complete combustion.

Chapter III : Methodology
Materials:
500 mL used cooking oil
1 kg paraffin wax
strings cut into 5 inches long, serves as wick
crayons in different colors
kettle
beaker
stirring rod
mold made from bamboo

The measured paraffin waxes will be cut into small pieces to facilitate melting. It will be placed in a clean and dry kettle, together with a small piece of colored crayon, to produce a colored candle candle. The kettle will be heated in low fire until the waxes and crayons melt. The melted wax will be added with different percentages of used cooking oil. Before the mixture solidifies, they will be formed into molds, wicks suspended in the middle of the container. They will be air-dried until hardened.

The melting rate of the different preparations of candles will be tested by the measured initial lengths of the candles and allowing them to burn for 15 minutes. The final lengths of the candles will be measured again. The melted candle will also be collected and measured. The intensity of light produced by the candles will also be tested using the photometer.

These are the following preparations made by the researcher:

A. 100% paraffin wax – 0% used cooking oil
B. 90% paraffin wax – 10% used cooking oil
C. 80% paraffin wax – 20% used cooking oil
D. 70% paraffin wax – 30% used cooking oil
E. 60% paraffin wax – 40% used cooking oil
F. 50% paraffin wax – 50% used cooking oil

Chapter IV : Results and Discussion
In this chapter, it tries to discuss the observation noted on the experiment and the characteristics of the candles made from used cooking oil.

The table shows that the candle A has a very dim type of flame while the candle F has the very bright type of flame. It only means that the more used cooking oil in the candle, the more bright the type of the candles’ flame. Also with the lifespan of the candles. As shown above, the more the used cooking oil in the candle, the more it lasts long.