Nawamintharachinuthit Bodindecha School

English Program

An Investigatory Project

The Feasibility of Vegetable Oil and Salt as an Additive

Component in Making Candles

Yanaphat Kullachatkittisak M 3/10

Sujira Chantaragul M 3/10

Chalisa Nuttarang M 3/10

Researchers
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without

the kind support and help of the teachers and the school. We would like to extend our sincere

thanks to all of them. We are highly indebted to (EP Science Teachers) for their guidance and

constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the project & also

for their support in completing the project. We would like to express our gratitude towards our

parents & members of EP department for their kind co-operation and encouragement which help

us in completion of this project.

We would like to express our special gratitude and thanks to our advisers for giving us

such attention and time. Our thanks and appreciations also to our school in developing the

project and people who have willingly helped us out with their abilities.

To our ever supportive and loving parents, teachers and friends. This study is whole

heartedly dedicated with all sincerity and gratitude.

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 Table of Contents
Page

Acknowledgement i

Abstract 1

Chapter I

Background Study 2

Statement of the Problem 4

Significance of the Study 5

Scope and Limitations 6

Definition of Terms 6

Chapter II Related Literature

Review of Related Literature 7

Chapter III Methodology

Materials 9

Methods 9

Chapter IV Results and Observation

Data and Observation 13

Conclusion 19

Recommendation 19

References 19
 The Study of Vegetable Oil and Salt as an Additive

Component in Making Candles

Abstract

This study tries to find out the study of the used cooking oil and salt 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 vegetable oil and salt. The following

materials: 500 mL used cooking oil, 100 g salt, 1 kg paraffin wax, strings cut into 2.5 inches

long, serves as wick, Bunsen burner, beaker, stirring rod, and mold. 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 beaker. The beaker will be heated in low fire using a Bunsen

burner until the waxes melt. The melted wax will be added with different measurement of

vegetable 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.

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 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, the more the used

cooking oil in the candle and salt 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.

Chapter I Introduction

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, baptismal,

birthdays, etc. and as scented varieties for aromatherapy. Candles are made from different types

of waxes and oils.

Candle is an important material and is sometimes used in our community. In our modern

times, it is used mainly for its aesthetic purposes and scent. Its fragrant smell is known for this

study will be conducted in order to know the capabilities of the candle with used cooking oil and

learn the difference of it from the commercially produced candles. This study aims to develop a

better product that the commercial candles.

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 Vegetable oil is a major kitchen item in Thai households. It is also used substantially 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. Some oils burn

in liquid or aerosol form, generating light, and heat which can be used directly or converted into

other forms of energy such as electricity or mechanical work

Common salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical

compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in its natural form as a crystalline mineral is

known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quantities in seawater, where it is the main

mineral constituent. Salt is essential for human life, and saltiness is one of the basic human

tastes. The tissues of animals contain larger quantities of salt than do plant tissues. Salt is one of

the oldest and most ubiquitous food seasonings, and salting is an important method of food

preservation.

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Statement of the Problem

This study tries to find out the feasibility of the vegetable oil and salt as an additive

component of candle. This study aims to produce a low-priced but high-quality candle by using

vegetable oil as a major component. This also aims to compare the effectiveness between salt

and vegetable oil.

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:

1. It is probable to make candles out of vegetable oil and salt.

2. Candles out of used vegetable oil and salt can be comparable to candles out of paraffin wax

(commercial candle) in terms of life span and type of flame.

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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, vegetable oil is used as an alternative for

paraffin wax in candle making and the salt as an additive to make a candle melts slowly.

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 latter is much expensive. This study contributes knowledge to the

researchers and also to the community in the sense of finding an alternative way to used

vegetable oil and salt to make a candle that can help spending less money because it can reduce

the melting of candle.

The researchers wanted to develop a cheaper and recycled candle that can be easily made

at home and with materials that are eco-friendly, recycled and can be commonly seen. It is easy

to make a candle and is a good hobby. By doing this, we can save money and save mother earth.

Candles are also essential especially during power failures and emergencies.

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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

1. Candle - a stick of solid wax with an embedded wick burned for light

2. Hydrocarbon - are compounds that can produce light to candle

3. Stearic acid - serves as the hardener in candle making

4. Paraffin wax - a white, waxy substance consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons, distilled from

petroleum and used for making candles, sealing jars, etc.

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Chapter II: Related Literature

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 compromise 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. Vegetable oils are increasingly used as a substitute for fossil fuels. Vegetable oils

are the basis of biodiesel, which can be used like conventional diesel. Some vegetable oil blends

are used in unmodified vehicles, but straight vegetable oil needs specially prepared vehicles

which have a method of heating the oil to reduce its viscosity and surface tension. Another

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alternative is vegetable oil refining. The oil has a presence of viscosity, which means it is thicker

in surface than the other liquid.

Wick were made up of cotton or linen woven and braided in such a way that it will burn in

one direction, curling so as to texture its end into oxidizing zone of the candles flame for

complete combustion.

Common salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a

chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in its natural form as a crystalline

mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quantities in seawater, where it is

the main mineral constituent. The open ocean has about 35 grams (1.2 oz) of solids per liter,

a salinity of 3.5%. Salt is essential for human life, and saltiness is one of the basic human tastes.

The tissues of animals contain larger quantities of salt than do plant tissues. Salt is one of the

oldest and most ubiquitous food seasonings, and salting is an important method of food

preservation.

The Sodium chloride or salt has high melting point which means it can’t be easily be

melted with just a common fire. The reason why too much salt can make wax easily melt

because of the ratio or proportion of a solution between solute and solvent. One factor that

affects the rate of solution is that the proportion between the solvent and solute.

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Chapter III: Methodology

Materials:

100 mL salt

500 mL vegetable oil

1 kg paraffin wax

strings cut into 5 inches long, serves as wick

beaker

Alcohol lamp

stirring rod

Candle molds

Balance Scale

Methods:

The measured paraffin waxes will be cut into small pieces to facilitate melting. It will be

placed in a clean and dry beaker. The beaker will be heated in low fire using alcohol lamp until

the waxes melt. The melted wax will be added with different percentages of used cooking oil.

The melted wax was then measured in specific measurement to make a candle. The experiment

was done in three trials, first trial all candle has the same amount of wax with different amount

of oil, the second trial was with the same amount of paraffin wax and different amount of oil and

salt mixture and the third trial was with the same amount of paraffin wax and different amount of

salt. 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.

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 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.

Figure 1 Some materials (Paraffin wax Figure 2 Some materials (Paraffin wax
and molds) and molds)

Figure 3 Table Salt

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 Figure 4 Alcohol Lamp Figure 5 Vegetable Oil Figure 6 Melting Candle

These are the following preparations made by the researcher:

Trial 1

A. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0 mL vegetable oil

B. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0.5 mL vegetable oil

C. 40 mL paraffin wax – 1 mL vegetable oil

D. 40 mL paraffin wax – 2 mL vegetable oil

E. 40 mL paraffin wax - 5 mL vegetable oil

Trial 2

A. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0 mL vegetable oil – O g salt

B. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0.5 mL vegetable oil – 5 g salt

C. 40 mL paraffin wax – 1 mL vegetable oil – 10 g salt

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 D. 40 mL paraffin wax – 2 mL vegetable oil – 15 g salt

E. 40 mL paraffin wax - 5 mL vegetable oil – 20 salt

Trial 3

A. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0 g salt

B. 40 mL paraffin wax – 5 g salt

C. 40 mL paraffin wax – 10 g salt

D. 40 mL paraffin wax – 15 g salt

E. 4o mL paraffin wax – 20 g salt

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Chapter IV: Results and Discussion

Data and Observation

In this chapter, it tries to discuss the observation noted on the experiment and the

characteristics of the candles made from vegetable oil and salt.

Trial I

Table 1

Final Length After

Melting- 15 mins.
Ratio Between Paraffin Wax , Type of
Other Observation
duration
Vegetable Oil and Salt Flame

(original length 2 cm)

A. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0 mL Orange 0.9 cm The wax melts fastest

vegetable oil flame compare to the rest of

the sample

2. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0.5 mL Orange 1.4 cm The wax melts slowly

vegetable oil flame

C. 40 mL paraffin wax – 1 mL Orange 1.7 cm The slowest candle that

vegetable oil flame melts.

D. 40 mL paraffin wax – 2 mL Orange 1.5 cm Slow melts

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vegetable oil flame

E. 40 mL paraffin wax - 5 mL Orange 1.4 cm The wax melts slowly,

vegetable oil flame the presence of liquid

on the top is the oil.

Table 1 shows that the candle A melts faster than the rest of the candle, while the candle C has

the slowest. The candle C has an average amount of oil so it melts very slow, while that more

vegetables oil in the candle melts slow also but not like the sample C which melts really so slow.

Also with the lifespan of the candles. As shown above, it is found out that the more vegetable oil

in the candle cannot prevent the wax from melting slowly, but with just average amount of oil

can make the candle melts so slowly. The flame produces were all the same- orange colored

flame and the same brightness.

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Trial 2

Table 2

Final Length After

Melting- 15 mins.
Ratio Between Paraffin Wax , Type of
Other Observation
duration
Vegetable Oil and Salt Flame

(original length 2 cm)

A.40 mL paraffin wax – 0 mL Orange 0.9 cm The paraffin continue

vegetable oil – 0 g salt flame melting.

B. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0.5 mL Orange 1.0 cm The oil is visible on the

vegetable oil – 5 g salt flame top of the candle which

prevent paraffin wax

melts fast.

C. 40 mL paraffin wax – 1 mL Orange 1.0 cm The oil is visible on the

vegetable oil – 10 g salt flame top of the candle which

prevent paraffin wax

melts fast.

D. 40 mL paraffin wax – 1 mL Orange 1.2 cm The oil is visible on the

vegetable oil – 15 g salt flame top of the candle which

prevent paraffin wax

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 melts fast.

E. 40 mL paraffin wax – 1 mL Orange 1.5 cm Upon lighting the oil

vegetable oil – 20 g salt flame melts first and control

the paraffin from

melting.

Table 2 shows that the candle A melts very fast while the candle E has the slowest melting point.

It only means that the more used vegetable oil mixed with salt can make the candle melts very

slow. Also with the lifespan of the candles. As shown above, the vegetable cooking oil with salt

in the candle, the more it lasts long.

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Trial 3

Table 3

Final Length After

Melting- 15 mins.
Ratio Between Paraffin Wax
duration
Type of Flame Other Observation
, Vegetable Oil and Salt
(original length 2

cm)

A. 40 mL paraffin wax – 0 g Orange flame 1.1 cm Melts faster than B, C,

salt and D

B. 40 mL paraffin wax – 5 g Orange flame 1.4 cm Melts slowly than A

salt

C. 40 mL paraffin wax –10 g Orange flame 1.4cm Melts slowly than A

salt

D. 40 mL paraffin wax – 15 g Orange flame 1.4 cm Melts slowly than A

salt

E. 40 mL paraffin wax – 20 g Orange flame 0.4 cm Melts very fast than A,

salt B, and C

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Table 3 shows the result that as it was observed, that if the candle has more amount of salt will

melt faster, but with those only little amounts of salt mixed with paraffin wax will melt slowly

compare to the pure paraffin wax candle.

Figure 7 Measuring time

Figure 10 Figure 11
Figure 9
Measuring the
Melted Candle Melted Candle remaining wax
pure wax and wax, oil and after melting
molds) salt
Figure 8 Measuring the weight
of salt

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Conclusion

It was concluded that adding vegetable oil and salt in the production of alternative candles only

make few significant difference or great impact on the effects of the samples when applied on the

candles. The addition of vegetable oil and salt only increased the moisture of the samples which

helps the wax less in melting. Indeed, it lowered the costs of the production of the candles.

Furthermore, trial 2 can be comparable to the commercial one and is more effective than the

other samples.

Recommendations

The researcher recommends further research on the project especially on the right amounts of the

vegetable oil and salt and its other composition to achieve a better mixture and produce a better

product.

References:

http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-make-a-candle-last-longer/#.V3Kmxfl97IU

http://www.edu-sciece.com/2013/01/the-feasibility-of-used-cooking-oil-as.html

http://www.judyofthewoods.net/diy/lamp.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2165685_candles-last-longer.html

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