Wax composition for candles

Abstract

The present invention provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 weight percent (wt%) to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition is a triglyceride component containing multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, the multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains being esterified with C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acids, and the natural oil-based petrolatum composition has a drop melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 362,134, filed March 30, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This application relates to wax formulations, candle wax compositions, and methods of making same. In particular, this application relates to wax formulations and compositions that include natural oil based petrolatum compositions. [Background technology]

[0003] Natural waxes (i.e., beeswax) and petroleum-based waxes (i.e., paraffin wax) have been commonly used to make candles and other wax-based products. Paraffin became the primary industrial wax used to make candles over 100 years ago as a more cost-effective alternative to beeswax. Paraffin is produced from residual residues from refined gasoline and motor oil in conjunction with the petroleum refining industry.

[0004] Many efforts have been made to replace petroleum-based waxes with vegetable-based alternatives. Although many examples of vegetable-based wax alternatives exist, there remains a need for suitable alternatives with improved softness and usability in certain candle applications.

[0005] Therefore, it continues to be advantageous to have wax products, including candles, that contain improved natural-based materials that have reduced amounts of petroleum-based components and that more closely mimic the texture, viscosity, stability, and melting profile across a wide range of applications. The use of natural oil-based petrolatum-like compositions is one example. Moreover, it is environmentally and economically desirable if such materials are biodegradable and derived from renewable raw materials such as natural oils. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 weight percent (wt%) to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component containing multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, the multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains being esterified with C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acids, and the natural oil-based petrolatum composition has a drop melting point of 30 to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component, the triglyceride component containing multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, the multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains being esterified with C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acids, and the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains less than 10% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides.

[0008] The present disclosure provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component containing multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, the multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains being esterified with C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acids, and the natural oil-based petrolatum composition a) contains less than 10% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides, and b) has a drop melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.

[0009] The present disclosure provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprising an esterification product of a pre-esterification mixture comprising a triglyceride component, the triglyceride component comprising a plurality of hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, the plurality of hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains being esterified with C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acids, the triglyceride component a) comprising less than 10% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides, and b) having a drop melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.

[0010] The present disclosure further provides a method of making the wax formulations described herein, comprising heating a wax material to a temperature at which the wax material is in a molten state and mixing the molten wax material with a natural oil-based petrolatum composition described herein.

[0011] The present disclosure provides a candle wax composition comprising the wax formulation described herein.

[0012] The present disclosure provides a candle comprising a wick in the candle wax composition described herein.

[0013] Aspects of the present disclosure achieve advantages, some of which are unexpected, such as, for example, the various formulations and compositions described herein advantageously improve fragrance throw.

[0014] As a further advantage, the various embodiments of the present disclosure described herein have the advantage of including components that are natural oil-based and therefore biodegradable, renewable, and environmentally friendly. For example, the wax formulations of the present disclosure can be prepared from natural-based components (e.g., natural oil-based petrolatum and natural oil-based waxes) and can further provide the advantages described above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter. The disclosed subject matter will be described with the enumerated claims, but it will be understood that the illustrated subject matter is not intended to limit the claims to the disclosed subject matter. An aspect described with a particular aspect is not necessarily limited to that aspect, and can be implemented with any other aspect(s).

[0016] Throughout this specification, values ​​expressed in range format should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values ​​expressly recited as the limits of the range, but also all individual numerical values ​​or subranges subsumed within the range as if each numerical value and subrange were expressly recited. For example, the range "about 0.1% to about 5%" or "about 0.1% to 5%" should be interpreted to include not only about 0.1% to about 5%, but also individual values ​​(e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and subranges (e.g., 0.1% to 0.5%, 1.1% to 2.2%, 3.3% to 4.4%) within the recited range. The statement "about X to Y" has the same meaning as "about X to about Y" unless otherwise indicated. Similarly, the statement "about X, Y, or about Z" has the same meaning as "about X, about Y, or about Z," unless otherwise indicated.

[0017] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing elements (particularly in the context of the claims below) include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to "a substituent" encompasses two or more substituents, in addition to a single substituent. It is understood that any term in the singular form may include its plural counterpart, and vice versa, unless otherwise indicated in this specification or clearly contradicted by the context.

[0018] The term "or" is used to refer to a non-exclusive "or" unless otherwise indicated. The statement "at least one of A and B" has the same meaning as "A, B, or A and B."

[0019] It should be understood that phrases or terms used herein and not otherwise defined are for purposes of description only and not of limitation. Any use of section headings is intended to aid in the reading of the document and should not be construed as limiting. Information associated with a section heading may be within that particular section or may be outside that section. Any publications, patents, and patent documents referenced in this document are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if each were individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usage between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated references should be construed as supplementary to that of this document. In the event of irreconcilable discrepancies, the usage in this document shall control.

[0020] As used herein, the terms "for example," "for instance," "such as," or "including" are meant to introduce examples that further clarify a more general subject matter. Unless otherwise indicated, these examples are provided only as an aid to understanding the applications illustrated in this disclosure and are not meant to be limiting in any way.

[0021] In the methods described herein, unless a temporal or operational order is explicitly recited, acts may be performed in any order without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, certain acts may be performed in parallel unless express "claim" language recites them separately. For example, a claimed act of doing X and a claimed act of doing Y may be performed simultaneously in a single operation, and the resulting process will fall within the literal scope of the claimed process.

[0022] As used herein, the term "about" allows for a degree of variation within a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, or within 1% of the specified value or within the limits of a specified range, plus or minus, and includes the exact specified value or range.

[0023] As used herein, the term "substantially" refers to a majority or majority portion, such as at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.9%, 99.99%, or at least about 99.999% or more, or 100%.

[0024] As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings, unless expressly stated to the contrary.

[0025] As used herein, the term "natural oil" may refer to oils derived from vegetable or animal sources. The term "natural oil" includes natural oil derivatives, such as oils that have undergone saponification, transesterification, esterification, intermolecular interesterification, hydrogenation (partial or complete), isomerization, fractionation, oxidation, and reduction, unless otherwise indicated. Examples of natural oils include, but are not limited to, vegetable oils, algae oils, animal fats, tall oils, derivatives of these oils, combinations of any of these oils, and the like. Representative non-limiting examples of vegetable oils include 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, hemp oil, algae oil, jojoba oil, and castor oil. Representative non-limiting examples of animal fats include lard, tallow, poultry fat, yellow tallow, and fish oil. Tall oil is a by-product of wood pulp manufacturing. In any embodiment, the natural oils may be refined, bleached, and / or deodorized. In any embodiment, the natural oils are present individually or as mixtures thereof.

[0026] As used herein, the term "hydrogenated natural oil" refers to partial, full, or substantially full hydrogenation of natural oil. Partial or substantially full hydrogenation of natural oils is well known in the art, and many hydrogenated natural oils may be purchased commercially or are available from a variety of commercial sources.

[0027] The natural oil may be an "interesterified natural oil(s)." As used herein, the term "interesterification" or "interesterified" refers to a process of rearrangement and redistribution of fatty acids on the glycerol fragments of the triglycerides present in the natural oil. The rearrangement and redistribution does not change the overall composition of fatty acids on the starting material. The interesterification of edible oils may be performed chemically or enzymatically.

[0028] As used herein, a "natural oil-based" composition means that the composition contains oils and fatty acids that are primarily, substantially, or entirely derived from natural oils and natural oil derivatives. Natural oil-based compositions may, in various embodiments, contain oils that are at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, 99.99%, or about 100% natural oil or hydrogenated natural oil.

[0029] "Monoacylglyceride" refers to a molecule having a glycerol moiety with a single fatty acid residue linked through an ester bond. The terms "monoacylglycerol", "monoacylglyceride", "monoglyceride", and "MAG" are used interchangeably herein. Monoacylglycerides include 2-acylglycerides and 1-acylglycerides.

[0030] "Diacylglyceride" refers to a molecule having a glycerol moiety with two fatty acid residues linked through an ester bond. The terms "diacylglycerol", "diacylglyceride", "diglyceride", and "DAG" are used interchangeably herein. Diacylglycerides include 1,2-diacylglycerides and 1,3-diacylglycerides.

[0031] "Triacylglyceride" refers to a molecule having a glycerol moiety linked to three fatty acid residues via ester bonds. The terms "triacylglycerol", "triacylglyceride", "triglyceride", and "TAG" are used interchangeably herein.

[0032] As used herein, the term "fatty acid" may refer to a molecule that includes a hydrocarbon chain and a terminal carboxylic acid group. As used herein, the carboxylic acid group of the fatty acid may be modified or esterified (e.g., COOR (where R refers to, for example, a carbon atom)), such as occurs when the fatty acid is incorporated into a glyceride or another molecule. Alternatively, the carboxylic acid group may be in the form of a free fatty acid or a salt (i.e., COO'' or COOH). The "tail" or hydrocarbon chain of the fatty acid may also be referred to as a fatty acid chain, a fatty acid side chain, or a fatty chain. The hydrocarbon chain of a fatty acid is typically a saturated aliphatic group or an unsaturated aliphatic group. A fatty acid having N carbon atoms typically has a fatty acid side chain having N-1 carbons. However, the present application also relates to modified forms of fatty acids, and thus the term fatty acid may be used in situations where the fatty acid is substituted or otherwise modified as described. For example, in various aspects, the fatty acid may be substituted with another alkyl chain, as in isostearic acid, or with a hydroxy group, as in castor oil.

[0033] "Acylglyceride" refers to a molecule having at least one glycerol moiety with at least one fatty acid residue linked via an ester bond. For example, acylglycerides can include monoacylglycerides, diacylglycerides, and triacylglycerides. The group of acylglycerides can be further narrowed down by additional descriptive terms and modified to explicitly exclude or include certain subsets of acylglycerides. For example, the phrases mono- and di-acylglycerides refer to MAG (monoacylglycerides) and DAG (diacylglycerides), while the phrase non-MAG / non-DAG acylglycerides refers to the group of acylglycerides excluding MAG and DAG.

[0034] A "fatty acid residue" is a fatty acid in acyl or esterified form.

[0035] The concentration of a particular type of fatty acid may be provided herein as a percentage of the total fatty acid content of the oil. Unless otherwise specified, such percentage is a weight percentage based on total fatty acids, including empirically calculated free fatty acids and esterified fatty acids.

[0036] "Saturated" fatty acids are those that do not contain any carbon-carbon double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain. "Unsaturated" fatty acids contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. "Polyunsaturated" fatty acids contain one or more such carbon-carbon double bonds, while "monounsaturated" fatty acids contain only one carbon-carbon double bond. The carbon-carbon double bonds may be in one of two configurations, designated cis and trans. Naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acids are generally in the "cis" form.

[0037] Non-limiting examples of fatty acids include C8, C10, C12, C14, C16 (e.g., C16:0, C16:1), C18 (e.g., C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, C18:4), C20, and C22 fatty acids. For example, the fatty acid can be caprylic acid (8:0), capric acid (10:0), lauric acid (12:0), myristic acid (14:0), palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid or isostearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2), and linolenic acid (18:3).

[0038] The term "C8-C22 fatty acid" refers to a fatty acid containing 8 to 22 carbons. The C8-C22 fatty acid may be linear or branched and may be substituted with additional substituents such as C1-C3 alkyl groups or hydroxyl groups. In any embodiment, the C8-C22 fatty acid has a linear chain. In any embodiment, the C8-C22 fatty acid is a C16 or C18 fatty acid. In any embodiment, the C8-C22 fatty acid is stearic acid.

[0039] The C8-C22 fatty acid may be a mixture of C8-C22 fatty acids. Stearic acid is commercially available in various purities. It may be sold as 1890, meaning it contains 90% C18 (stearic acid). The remainder is typically made up of other fatty acids, mainly C16. Alternatively, stearic acid may be sold as 1845 (or 1655), meaning about 45% stearic acid and 55% palmitic acid.

[0040] In any embodiment, the C1-C3 alkyl substituent may be selected from methyl, ethyl, or propyl. In any embodiment, the C1-C3 alkyl substituent may be methyl. In any embodiment described herein, the C8-C22 fatty acid substituted with one or more C1-C3 alkyl substituents may be isopalmitic acid, isomyristic acid, isostearic acid, 19-methylarachidic acid, isolauric acid.

[0041] The fatty acid composition of an oil can be determined by methods well known in the art. The American Oil Chemist's Society (AOCS) maintains analytical methods for a wide variety of tests performed on vegetable oils. Hydrolysis of oil constituents to produce free fatty acids, conversion of the free fatty acids to methyl esters, and analysis by Gas-Liquid Chromatography (GLC) is a generally accepted standard method for determining the fatty acid composition of an oil sample. AOCS Procedure Ce1-62 describes the procedure used.

[0042] The term "esterification or esterified" refers to the basis of ester bonds, including the following: 1) dehydration reaction of an alcohol with an acid; 2) transesterification, which is the reaction of an alcohol with an ester to form a new ester; or 3) intermolecular interesterification, rearrangement of fatty acids within a triacylglycerol structure.

[0043] "Drop point" or "dropping point" generally refers to the temperature at which a material (such as a wax) softens and becomes a fully flowing fluid when determined under the conditions of a given standardized test. As used herein, the dropping point is determined by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80. (Official Methods and Recommended Practices of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 7th Edition). The dropping point is similar to the melting point in that it reflects the thermal properties of a compound, but the dropping point can be useful to define materials that do not have a distinct melting point. In any embodiment, the natural oil-based petrolatum exhibits a melt dropping point of about 35°C to about 70°C. In any embodiment, the natural oil-based petrolatum exhibits a melt dropping point of about 35°C to about 50°C.

[0044] The term "isostearic acid" as used herein refers to the chemical 16-methylheptadecanoic acid, which is a methyl-branched fatty acid that is heptadecanoic acid substituted at the 16 position by methyl. Isostearic acid is a lightly branched, liquid fatty acid that can be produced by the reaction of oleic acid with natural mineral catalysts. Isostearic acid is used in applications that require a liquid fatty acid with stability, heat stability in the case of lubricants, odor stability for cosmetic formulations, and oxidation stability for products with long shelf life requirements. The branched structure of isostearic acid also enhances its dispersing power and is used in cosmetics and industrial applications for the stabilization of pigments and mineral particles in oils and solvents. Isostearic acid is well known and commercially available. As used herein, the term isostearic acid refers to a composition that contains substantially all isostearic acid, but does not necessarily need to be 100% pure.

[0045] The term "Polydispersity Index" (also known as molecular weight distribution), as used herein, is the ratio of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn). Polydispersity data is collected using a gel permeation chromatography apparatus equipped with a Waters 510 pump and a 410 differential refractometer. Samples are prepared at approximately 2% concentration in THF solvent. A flow rate of 1 mL / min and a temperature of 35° C. are used. The columns consist of a Phenogel 5 micron straight / mixguard column and a 300×7.8 mm Phenogel 5 micron column (styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer) of 50, 100, 1000, and 10000 Angstroms. Molecular weights were determined using the following standards:

[0046] [Table 1]

[0047] As used herein, the term "weight average molecular weight" refers to the ΣM i 2 n i / ΣM i n i (In the formula, n i is the molecular weight M i is the number of numerators in w In various examples, the weight average molecular weight can be determined using the tests described herein, or size exclusion chromatography, light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, X-ray scattering, and sedimentation velocity.

[0048] The term "number average molecular weight" as used herein means M n M, which is equal to the total weight of the sample divided by the number of molecules in the sample. n is the formula ΣM i n i / n i where n i is the molecular weight M i is the number of molecules.

[0049] The term "Acid Value" (AV), as used herein, is defined as the weight (mg) of KOH required to neutralize the organic acid present in 1 g of test sample and is a measure of the free fatty acids present in a composition. AV may be determined by AOCS Official Method Cd 3d-63. The acid value of the compositions described herein may be less than 20.0, or less than 10.0, or less than 4.0, or between 0.5 and 20.0, or between 0.5 and 10.0, or between 0.5 and 4.0.

[0050] The term "Hydroxyl Value" as used herein is defined as the hydroxyl value, expressed in milligrams of potassium hydroxide, which corresponds to the number of hydroxyl groups present in 1 g of sample, and is one of the traditional properties of oils and fats. Hydroxyl value may be determined by AOCS standard method Cd13-60. The compositions described herein may have a hydroxyl value of less than 90 or less than 50. In any embodiment, the compositions may have a hydroxyl value of 10-90 or 10-50. In any embodiment, the compositions may have a hydroxyl value of 20-50 or 25-40.

[0051] The term "Iodine Value" (commonly abbreviated as IV), as used herein, is the mass in grams of iodine consumed by 100 grams of a chemical. Iodine Value is often used to determine the amount of unsaturation in fats, oils, and waxes. In fatty acids, unsaturation occurs primarily as double bonds, which are highly reactive towards halogens, in this case iodine. Thus, the higher the iodine value, the more unsaturation is present in the sample. The iodine value of a material can be determined by the standard well-known Wijs method (AOCSCd1-25).

[0052] Wax formulation The formulations provided herein are useful in the manufacture of wax formulations, such as candle wax or other wax products. The inventors have unexpectedly discovered that wax formulations including natural oil-based petrolatum have many desirable properties, as further described below, and can be used to replace all or part of the petroleum-based petrolatum currently used in wax formulations.

[0053] The present disclosure provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component, the triglyceride component comprises a mixture of triglycerides, the mixture of triglycerides comprises individual triglycerides comprising one or more ester-containing fatty acids, the esters of the ester-containing fatty acids being C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acid esters, and the composition has a drop melting point of 30°C to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.

[0054] The present invention provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component, the triglyceride component comprises a mixture of triglycerides, the mixture of triglycerides comprises individual triglycerides comprising one or more ester-containing fatty acids, the esters of the ester-containing fatty acids being C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acid esters, and the composition contains less than 10% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides.

[0055] The present technology provides a wax formulation comprising about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component, the triglyceride component contains multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, and the multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains are esterified with C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acids, and the natural oil-based petrolatum composition a) contains less than 10% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides, and b) has a drop melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.

[0056] In any embodiment, the wax formulation described herein comprises about 5wt% to about 85wt% of the natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on the total weight of the wax formulation. For example, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may be present in the wax formulation in an amount of about 5wt%, about 10wt%, about 15wt%, about 20wt%, about 25wt%, about 30wt%, about 35wt%, about 40wt%, about 45wt%, about 50wt%, about 55wt%, about 60wt%, about 65wt%, about 70wt%, about 75wt%, about 80wt%, or about 85wt%, or any range of amounts including and / or between any two of the aforementioned values. In any embodiment, the wax formulation may include a natural oil based petrolatum composition in an amount of about 5 wt% to about 85 wt%, 15 wt% to about 85 wt%, about 20 wt% to about 85 wt%, about 20 wt% to about 80 wt%, about 25 wt% to about 75 wt%, about 10 wt% to about 60 wt%, about 15 wt% to about 50 wt%, about 18 wt% to about 28 wt%, or any range including and / or between any two of the foregoing values.

[0057] The triglyceride components of the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may be prepared by those skilled in the art, for example, by epoxidizing a natural oil containing unsaturated fatty acids and ring-opening the epoxide. This chemistry is well known in the oil and fat art. Alternatively, the triglyceride components of the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may naturally contain hydroxy groups. Some natural oils naturally contain hydroxy fatty acids. Castor oil is one such example. Typically, castor oil consists of about 70% to 90% ricinoleic acid fatty acid residues. The triglyceride components of the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may be partially, substantially, or fully hydrogenated. Good quality castor oil has a hydroxyl value of about 160. Fully hydrogenated or hydrogenated castor oil typically has a minimum hydroxyl value of 150.

[0058] The procedure for preparing the natural oil-based petrolatum composition described in the present disclosure is adjusted to minimize the amount of transesterification and intermolecular transesterification occurring during the reaction. Excessive transesterification can result in hydroxystearic acid oligomers and high molecular weight structures as well as undesirable MAG and DAG. In some embodiments, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains less than 10% of a mixture of MAG and DAG. In some embodiments, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains less than 10% of a mixture of MAG and DAG. In some embodiments, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains 0.5% to 10% of a mixture of MAG and DAG. In some embodiments, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains 1% to 8% of a mixture of MAG and DAG. The content of MAG and DAG in the natural oil-based petrolatum composition can be routinely determined by those skilled in the art. Using size exclusion chromatography or GPC as described above, the molecular weight and corresponding fractions of a composition that is a monoglyceride, diglyceride, or triglyceride can be determined. One skilled in the art will understand that a standard curve can be generated and used to calibrate a particular chromatographic device.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, the triglyceride component of the natural oil-based petrolatum composition is hydrogenated. In an optional embodiment, the triglyceride component of the natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises hydrogenated castor oil.

[0060] In an optional embodiment, the reaction mixture (i.e., the pre-esterification mixture) for preparing the natural oil-based petrolatum composition includes additional natural oil or hydrogenated natural oil.

[0061] In an optional aspect, the additional natural oil is hydrogenated soybean oil or hydrogenated palm oil.

[0062] The natural oil-based petrolatum composition may contain a minimum amount of free fatty acid. For example, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may contain less than about 2 wt% of free fatty acid. In any embodiment, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may contain less than about 1 wt%, less than about 2.5 wt% of free fatty acid, or 0.1 wt% to 2.5 wt% of fatty acid.

[0063] The natural oil-based petrolatum composition may contain a minimum amount of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides. For example, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may contain less than about 10 wt% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides. In any embodiment, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may contain less than about 8 wt%, about 6 wt%, about 5 wt%, or less than about 3 wt% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides. In any embodiment, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may contain about 1% to about 10 wt%, or about 1% to about 7 wt%, or about 2% to about 7 wt% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides.

[0064] The iodine value of the natural oil-based petrolatum compositions described herein may be less than about 10.0, less than about 5.0, less than about 3.0, or from about 0.1 to about 3.0. In any embodiment, suitable iodine values ​​described herein may include about 0.1, about 0.5, about 1.0, about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, about 3.0, about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5, about 5.5, about 6.0, about 6.5, about 7.0, about 7.5, about 8.0, about 8.5, about 9.0, about 9.5, about 10.0, or any range including and / or between any two of the foregoing values.

[0065] The natural oil-based petrolatum composition, as described herein in any embodiment, may include one or more of the following: (i) an acid value of less than about 20.0, (ii) a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides of about 2% to about 7 wt %, or (iii) an iodine value of less than about 3.0. In any embodiment, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition may have two or all three of the aforementioned characteristics.

[0066] Unlike waxes or hard fats, the natural oil-based petrolatum compositions described herein can be semi-solid materials that can hold their own shape but flex under pressure, more similar to grease or shortening. Resistance to flexing under pressure can be determined by using a cone penetration test. Cone penetration can be measured by using standard method ASTM D217-2.

[0067] Natural oil-based petrolatum compositions exhibit a combination of rheological properties that provide comparable spreading and adhesion to petroleum-based petrolatums. In any embodiment disclosed herein, the natural oil-based petrolatum has a melt drop point of about 35° C. to about 70° C., a cone penetration of greater than 20 or about 20 to about 100 or about 60 to about 90 (Dmm (1 / 10 of a mm)) at 25° C., and a cone penetration of about 5 mm at 100° C. 2 / sec ~ approx. 35mm 2 10 / sec, a freezing point of about 25° C. to about 45° C., or a combination thereof.

[0068] The natural oil-based petrolatum composition may be prepared according to a method of making the petrolatum composition, comprising: mixing fatty acids with a triglyceride component containing one or more hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains and optionally hydrogenated natural oil; heating the mixture (optionally in the presence of an acid catalyst) to an elevated temperature; exposing the heated mixture to a pressure less than ambient pressure to obtain a product in which the multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains are esterified with C8-C22 branched or linear fatty acids, and the triglyceride component a) contains less than 10% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides, and b) has a drop melting point of 35°C to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80; and isolating the natural oil-based petrolatum composition.

[0069] The reaction may be monitored in a number of different ways depending on the properties desired. If the reaction is allowed to proceed, a certain steady state point is reached where an equilibrium form is achieved. At this point, the product parameters do not change significantly and continued reaction time will accelerate degradation, affecting product quality. Alternatively, the reaction may be allowed to proceed to a particular set point such as acid number, hydroxyl number, or until a particular drop melting point is reached. This is at the discretion of the operator. In some embodiments, the reaction is allowed to proceed until the reaction mixture reaches an acid number of less than 20.0, or less than 10, or less than 5, or until the reaction mixture reaches an acid number of less than 4.0 to provide a natural oil-based petrolatum composition. In some embodiments, the reaction mixture reaches an acid number of 0.5 to 20.0. In some embodiments, the reaction mixture reaches an acid number of 0.5 to 10.

[0070] The reaction mixture has the natural oil-based petrolatum composition described herein, but the mixture is treated to induce chemical or enzymatic esterification by methods well known in the art. The procedure of the present disclosure includes the use of vacuum and limited catalyst, and is adjusted to minimize the amount of transesterification and intermolecular transesterification that occurs during the reaction. Excessive transesterification can produce hydroxystearic acid oligomers and high molecular weight structures, as well as undesirable MAG and DAG.

[0071] To carry out the chemical esterification, a catalyst may be added to the reaction mixture of components in an amount of about 0.1 wt%. Exemplary catalysts may be acids such as methanesulfonic acid, or bases such as sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide, or metal catalysts. In any embodiment, methanesulfonic acid is the catalyst. Optionally, hypophosphorous acid may be added to the reaction mixture to prevent off-color formation. The reaction temperature may then be increased to about 140-250°C. Typically, a reaction temperature of 160°C is utilized. This reaction temperature is maintained for a period of time and the reaction vessel is subjected to a vacuum of 20-50 torr until a desired end point or steady state is reached. In any embodiment, an acid number of less than 15, or less than 10, or less than 5 is achieved, or a polydispersity index of greater than 1.3 is obtained. A base, for example, a mineral base such as sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide, may be added in an amount of about 0.2 wt% to neutralize the slight excess of catalyst. The reaction mixture may then be cooled to a temperature in the range of about 60-80°C. For example, a filter medium, such as B80 neutral or an acid-activated gravel clay, such as Trisyl® silica, may be added to the reaction mixture in an amount of about 2 wt% or less to the reaction mixture to remove impurities. The final product, i.e., the natural oil-based petrolatum composition, is then filtered to remove salts, silica, and clay mixtures. In some embodiments, the catalyst for preparing the natural oil-based petrolatum composition is selected from the group consisting of a base, an acid, a metal, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the catalyst for preparing the natural oil-based petrolatum composition is an acid catalyst or a combination of acid catalysts.

[0072] Alternatively, an enzyme catalyst may be added in an amount of 2 wt% to the reaction mixture to carry out enzymatic transesterification. An exemplary enzyme catalyst may be Lipase Novozyme 435. When the reaction is carried out, a vacuum of about 50 torr may be used to remove water. The reaction temperature is maintained in the range of about 60-80°C until an acid value of less than 5.0 is achieved or a polydispersity index of more than 1.3 is obtained. The enzyme catalyst may then be filtered using a suitable filter device to obtain the final product, i.e., the natural oil-based petrolatum composition.

[0073] Alternatively, the esterification can be carried out without a catalyst. A reaction mixture of C8-C22 branched or linear fatty acids and hydrogenated natural oil such as castor oil is pre-melted and heated to a temperature in the range of 60-80°C, then added to the reaction vessel with a nitrogen sparge to prevent oxidation. A vacuum of 20-50 torr is applied to the reaction vessel and the temperature is increased to 180-250°C. The acid value of the reaction is monitored and the reaction temperature and vacuum are maintained until an acid value of less than 20 is achieved. The reaction mixture is cooled to 60-80°C and the product is isolated after filtering (such as through a sock filter) to remove particulates.

[0074] In any embodiment, the wax formulations described herein comprise about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of the wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation. For example, the wax material may be present in the wax formulation in an amount of about 1 wt%, about 2.5 wt%, about 5 wt%, about 10 wt%, about 15 wt%, about 20 wt%, about 25 wt%, about 30 wt%, about 35 wt%, about 40 wt%, about 45 wt%, about 50 wt%, about 55 wt%, about 60 wt%, about 65 wt%, about 70 wt%, about 75 wt%, about 80 wt%, about 85 wt%, about 90 wt%, about 95 wt%, or any range including and / or between any two of the foregoing values. In any embodiment, the wax formulation may include the wax material in an amount of about 2.5 wt% to about 90 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 80 wt%, about 10 wt% to about 65 wt%, about 15 wt% to about 55 wt%, about 25 wt% to about 95 wt%, about 35 wt% to about 90 wt%, or about 50 wt% to about 85 wt%.

[0075] The wax material may be any conventional wax known to those skilled in the art. For example, suitable wax materials include, but are not limited to, biological waxes (such as beeswax), petroleum-based waxes (such as paraffin wax), vegetable waxes, natural oil-based waxes, or mixtures thereof. In any embodiment, the wax material may include beeswax, paraffin wax, natural oil-based wax, or mixtures thereof. In any embodiment, the wax material may be a natural oil-based wax. The natural oil-based wax may be a soft wax composition. In any embodiment, the wax material may be a soft wax, which includes about 20 wt% to about 45 wt% monoacylglycerides, about 28 wt% to about 40 wt% diacylglycerides, and about 10 wt% to about 45 wt% acylglyceride polymers, which are compounds containing one or more dimerized fatty acid residues and multiple glycerol moieties. In an optional embodiment, the soft wax composition may comprise about 40 wt% to about 75 wt% of monoacylglycerides and diacylglycerides having a weight average molecular weight of about 200 Da to about 580 Da, and at least 10 wt% of acylglycerides having a weight average molecular weight of about 900 Da to about 3000 Da. Soft wax compositions suitable for use in the present wax formulations are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0062003, filed January 14, 2019, entitled "FLEXIBLE WAX AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Natural oil based waxes suitable for use in the present wax formulations are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,217,301, entitled "TRIACYLGLYCEROL-BASED ALTERNATIVE TO PARAFFIN WAX," filed Sep. 5, 2003, and U.S. Pat. No. 11,008,532, entitled "WAX COMPOSITIONS AND THE EFFECT OF METALS ON BURN RATES," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0076] The waxy materials may further include biological waxes such as lanolin, shellac wax, Chinese insect wax, and spermaceti; various types of vegetable waxes such as carnauba, candelilla, Japan wax, auricuri wax, rice bran wax, jojoba wax, castor wax, bayberry wax, sugar cane wax, and corn wax; and synthetic waxes such as polyethylene waxes, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, chlorinated naphthalene waxes, chemically modified waxes, substituted waxes, montan waxes, alpha olefin waxes, and polymerized olefin waxes.

[0077] The wax formulations of the present technology exhibit a melting point ranging from about 100°F (about 37.8°C) to about 150°F (about 65.6°C), or preferably, from about 110°F (about 43.3°C) to about 140°F (60°C). For example, the wax formulation may exhibit a melting point of about 100°F (about 37.8°C), about 105°F (about 40.6°C), about 110°F (about 43.3°C), about 115°F (about 46.1°C), about 120°F (about 48.9°C), about 125°F (about 51.7°C), about 130°F (about 54.4°C), about 135°F (about 57.2°C), about 140°F (60°C), about 145°F (about 62.8°C), about 150°F (about 65.6°C), or any range including and / or between any two of the foregoing values.

[0078] The wax formulation may further comprise a natural oil as described herein. For example, the wax formulation may comprise about 0 wt% to about 85 wt% of natural oil based on the total weight of the wax formulation. Suitable amounts of natural oil may include about 5 wt% to about 85 wt%, about 20 wt% to about 80 wt%, about 25 wt% to about 75 wt%, about 25 wt% to about 55 wt%, or any range including and / or between any two of the foregoing values. In any embodiment, the natural oil present in the wax formulation may be an intermolecularly transesterified natural oil, a hydrogenated natural oil, or a combination thereof. In any embodiment, the natural oil present in the wax formulation may be an intermolecularly transesterified natural oil (e.g., intermolecularly transesterified coconut oil, intermolecularly transesterified soybean oil, intermolecularly transesterified canola oil, intermolecularly transesterified palm oil, intermolecularly transesterified rapeseed oil, etc.).

[0079] The wax formulation is highly suitable for use as a candle wax, especially as a container candle. The wax formulation surprisingly exhibits improved fragrance throw when formulated for use in candle wax or other wax products containing fragrances. As used herein, the term "fragrance throw" or "scent throw" refers to the release of fragrance from a wax product (e.g., a candle) containing fragrances. In general, the term "fragrance throw" or "scent throw" encompasses both hot throw (i.e., the release of fragrance when the candle is burning) and cold throw (i.e., the release of fragrance when the candle is not lit or heated).

[0080] The wax formulation also has suitable surface adhesion properties when formulated for use in candle wax or other wax products, so that the wax does not peel off from the container when cooled. The wax formulation may also exhibit reduced or no cracking when formulated for use in candle wax or other wax products. Furthermore, the wax formulation of the present invention, when resolidified, can provide a consistent and uniform appearance and does not exhibit undesirable mottle in the candle resulting from non-uniform wax crystallization.

[0081] In one aspect, the present disclosure also provides a method for preparing a wax formulation as described herein in any aspect, the method comprising: heating the wax material to a temperature at which the wax material is in a molten state; mixing said wax material in a molten state with a natural oil based petrolatum composition; The natural oil based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component in any embodiment described herein.

[0082] In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a wax formulation prepared according to the methods described herein.

[0083] composition The wax formulations of the present disclosure may be utilized in preparing a variety of compositions, such as candle wax or other wax products.

[0084] In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a candle wax composition comprising a wax formulation as described herein in any embodiment, the wax formulation comprising from about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition as described herein in any embodiment based on the total weight of the wax formulation, and from about 1 wt% to about 95 wt% of a wax material based on the total weight of the wax formulation.

[0085] The candle wax composition may contain about 1 wt% to 100 wt% of the wax formulation based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. Preferably, the candle wax composition may contain about 5 to 70 wt%, about 50 to 99%, about 75 to 95%, about 20 to 90%, about 20 to 80%, about 1 to 30%, about 2 to 20%, or about 1 to 15% of the wax formulation based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. A suitable amount of the wax blend present in the candle wax composition may include about 1 wt%, about 5 wt%, about 10 wt%, about 15 wt%, about 20 wt%, about 25 wt%, about 30 wt%, about 35 wt%, about 40 wt%, about 45 wt%, about 50 wt%, about 55 wt%, about 60 wt%, about 65 wt%, about 70 wt%, about 75 wt%, about 80 wt%, about 85 wt%, about 90 wt%, about 95 wt%, about 99 wt%, about 100 wt%, or any range inclusive and / or between any two of the foregoing values.

[0086] Candle wax compositions containing the wax formulations of the present disclosure may optionally contain additional ingredients to tailor the needs of a particular application. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize the range of additives available suitable for this purpose, including, but not limited to, the following: wax fusion enhancing additives, colorants, flavorings, migration inhibitors, free fatty acids, surfactants, co-surfactants, emulsifiers, additional optional wax components, monoglycerides, diglycerides, distilled monoglycerides, or mixtures thereof.

[0087] Those skilled in the art will understand that one or more additives described herein may be present in various concentrations depending on the needs of a particular candle wax composition. In any embodiment, the candle wax composition may include about 0.1 wt% to about 30 wt% of one or more additives based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. For example, one or more additives may be included in the candle wax composition in an amount of about 0.1 wt%, about 0.5 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 5 wt%, about 10 wt%, about 15 wt%, about 20 wt%, about 25 wt%, about 30 wt%, or any range including and / or between any two of the foregoing values.

[0088] Suitable wax fusion enhancing additives include, but are not limited to, benzyl benzoate, dimethyl phthalate, dimethyl adipate, isobornyl acetate, cellulose acetate, glucose pentaacetate, pentaerythritol tetraacetate, trimethyl-s-trioxane, N-methylpyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol.Typically, the candle wax composition may contain about 0.1 wt% to about 5 wt% of the wax fusion enhancing additive, based on the total weight of the candle wax composition.

[0089] Suitable colorants (i.e., dyes or pigments) may be included in the candle wax composition in an amount of about 0.001 wt% to about 2 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition. For example, the colorant may be present in an amount of about 0.001 wt%, about 0.1 wt%, about 0.2 wt%, about 0.3 wt%, about 0.4 wt%, about 0.5 wt%, about 0.6 wt%, about 0.7 wt%, about 0.8 wt%, about 0.9 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 1.1 wt%, about 1.2 wt%, about 1.3 wt%, about 1.4 wt%, about 1.5 wt%, about 1.6 wt%, about 1.7 wt%, about 1.8 wt%, about 1.9 wt%, about 2 wt%, or any range of amounts including and / or between any two of the foregoing values. A colorant may be added to the candle wax composition to give the composition a desired hue. When a pigment is used as the colorant, it is typically an organic toner in the form of a fine powder suspended in a liquid medium, such as mineral oil. It may be advantageous to use a pigment in the form of a particulate suspended in the natural oil described herein. Colorants suitable for use in candle wax compositions are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, various pigments and dyes suitable for use in the candle wax compositions of the present technology are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,625, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In any embodiment, the carrier for use with organic dyes is an organic solvent, such as a relatively low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., toluene and xylene).

[0090] Suitable fragrance additives may include one or more fragrances, fragrances, essences, or other fragrance oils that may be added to provide the desired fragrance or odor to the candle wax composition. For example, fragrances may include, but are not limited to, air fresheners, insect repellents, or mixtures thereof. In any embodiment, the air freshener may be a liquid fragrance containing one or more volatile organic compounds, including those commercially available from fragrance suppliers such as International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), Firmenich Inc., Takasago Inc., Belmay, Symrise Inc., Noville Inc., Quest Co., and Givaudan-Roure Corp. Most traditional fragrance materials are volatile essential oils. The fragrance may be a synthetically formed material or a naturally derived oil, such as oils of bergamot, orange, lemon, mandarin, caraway, cedar leaf, clove leaf, cedar wood, geranium, lavender, orange, origanum, petitgrain, white cedar, patchouli, lavandin, neroli, rose, etc. The fragrance may also be a liquid formulation containing an insect repellent, such as citronellal, or a therapeutic agent, such as eucalyptus or methylparaben.

[0091] Additionally or alternatively, in any aspect described herein, the fragrance may be selected from a wide variety of chemicals, including, but not limited to, aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols, terpenes, and the like. The fragrance may be relatively simple in composition, or may be a complex mixture of natural and synthetic chemical components. The fragrance may include a fragrance oil. Typical fragrance oils may include woody / earthy, containing exotic ingredients, such as sandalwood oil, civet oil, patchouli oil, and the like. The fragrance oil may have a light floral fragrance, such as rose extract or violet extract. The fragrance oil may also be formulated to provide a desirable fruity scent, such as lime, lemon, or orange.

[0092] The fragrance may include synthetic type fragrance compositions, either alone or in combination with natural oils, such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,314,915, 4,411,829, and 4,434,306, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable fragrances may include artificial liquid fragrances, including, but not limited to, geraniol, geranyl acetate, eugenol, isoeugenol, linalool, linalyl acetate, phenethyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl ionone, isobornyl acetate, and the like.

[0093] In any aspect, the candle wax compositions of the present technology containing fragrance agents as described herein may further exhibit improved fragrance throw.

[0094] In an optional embodiment, a "migration inhibitor" additive may be included in the candle wax composition to reduce the tendency of the colorant, fragrance, and / or other components of the candle wax composition to migrate to the outer surface of the candle. For example, the migration inhibitor may be a polymerized alpha olefin. In an optional embodiment, the polymerized alpha olefin has at least 10 carbon atoms. In an optional embodiment, the polymerized alpha olefin may have 10 to 25 carbon atoms. For example, one suitable polymer is a highly branched alpha olefin polymer sold under the trade name Vybar® 103 polymer (mp 168°F, approximately 76°C). (Commercially available from Baker-Petrolite, Sugar Land, Texas, USA).

[0095] Other suitable migration inhibitor additives may include sorbitan triesters such as sorbitan tristearate and / or sorbitan tripalmitate, and related sorbitan triesters formed from mixtures of fully hydrogenated fatty acids, and / or polysorbate triesters or monoesters such as polysorbate tristearate and / or polysorbate tripalmitate, and related polysorbates formed from mixtures of fully hydrogenated fatty acids in the candle wax composition may also reduce the chance of cracking during the cooling process that occurs in candle formation and after the burning candle is extinguished.

[0096] In an optional embodiment, the candle wax composition may include about 0.1 wt% to about 5 wt% of the migration inhibitor, based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. Preferably, the migration inhibitor additive may be present in an amount of about 0.1 wt% to about 2 wt%.

[0097] In an optional embodiment, the candle wax composition may include additional optional wax components, including, but not limited to, biological waxes such as beeswax, lanolin, shellac wax, Chinese insect wax, and spermaceti, various types of vegetable waxes such as carnauba, candelilla, Japan wax, auricuri wax, rice bran wax, jojoba wax, castor wax, bayberry wax, sugarcane wax, and corn wax, and synthetic waxes such as polyethylene wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, chlorinated naphthalene wax, chemically modified wax, substituted wax, montan wax, alpha olefin wax, and polymerized olefin wax. In an optional embodiment, the candle wax composition may include from about 1 wt % to about 25 wt %, or preferably from 1 wt % to about 10 wt %, of the optional wax component additive.

[0098] In any embodiment, the candle wax composition may comprise about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the flavoring agent based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. For example, the flavoring agent may be present in an amount of about 1 wt%, about 2 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 5 wt%, about 6 wt%, about 7 wt%, about 8 wt%, about 9 wt%, about 10 wt%, about 11 wt%, about 12 wt%, about 13 wt%, about 14 wt%, about 15 wt%, or any range including and / or between any two of the aforementioned values. The coloring and flavoring agents may also comprise a liquid carrier, which generally varies depending on the type of color or scent imparting ingredient used. In any embodiment, the use of a liquid organic carrier with the coloring and flavoring agents is preferred because such carriers are compatible with petroleum-based waxes and related organic materials. As a result, such colorants and fragrances tend to be readily absorbed into the candle wax composition.

[0099] The candle wax composition may include a surfactant. In any embodiment, the candle wax composition may include from about 1 wt % to about 25 wt %, or preferably from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt %, of a surfactant based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. Suitable surfactants for use in the candle wax composition include polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleates, such as Tween 85 available from Acros Organics; polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleates, such as Tween 80 available from Acros Organics and Uniqema; sorbitan tristearates, such as DurTan 65 available from Loders Croklann, Grindsted STS 30 K available from Danisco, and Tween 65 available from Acros Organics and Uniqema; sorbitan monostearates, such as Tween 60 available from Acros Organics and Uniqema, and DurTan 60 available from Danisco; and Tween 80 available from Acros Organics and Uniqema. Examples of suitable polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitates include, but are not limited to, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitates, such as Tween 40, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurates, such as Tween 20, available from Acros Organix and Uniqema.

[0100] Additionally, the candle wax composition may include a co-surfactant, which may be added, for example, to improve the microstructure (texture) and / or stability (shelf life) of the emulsified wax composition. In any embodiment, the candle wax composition may include about 0.1 wt% to about 5 wt% of the co-surfactant, based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. The candle wax composition may optionally include an emulsifier. Emulsifiers for wax are typically synthesized using a base-catalyzed process, after which the emulsifier may be neutralized. In any embodiment, the emulsifier may be neutralized by adding an organic acid, an inorganic acid, or a combination thereof to the emulsifier. Non-limiting examples of organic or inorganic acids include citric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, carboxylic acids, and other phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, chlorides, iodides, nitrides, and combinations thereof.

[0101] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a candle comprising a wick in the candle wax composition described herein. The candle may be of any desired shape. Depending on the type of candle produced, the candle may be removed from the mold or may be used as a candle while still in the mold. Examples of the latter include votive candles and decorative candles, such as those designed to burn in a clear glass container. The candle may optionally include one or more additives, as described herein.

[0102] Candles can be made from the candle wax composition using many methods. In one common process, the candle wax composition is heated to a molten state. If additives described herein (e.g., colorants and / or fragrances) are included in the candle formulation, they may be added to the molten candle wax composition or may be mixed with the wax formulation before heating. The molten candle wax composition is then typically solidified around a wick. When the candle wax composition of the present technology is used as a candle, the same standard wick used with other waxes can be utilized. For example, the molten candle wax composition can be poured into a mold that includes a wick disposed therein. The molten candle wax composition is then cooled to solidify the wax into the shape of the mold. Depending on the type of candle to be made, the candle may be removed from the mold or may be used as a candle while still in the mold. Other methods for making candles are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, a suitable method for making the candles of the present technology is described in U.S. Pat. No. 11,008,532, entitled "WAX COMPOSITIONS AND THE EFFECT OF METALS ON BURN RATES," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0103] The invention thus generally described will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention. EXAMPLES

[0104] [Table 2]

[0105] [Table 3] *Amounts of HCO, stearic acid, and HSO are in wt% of the reaction mixture.

[0106] Example 1 (Preparation of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition): The following chemical esterification method was carried out to make Example 1A and Example 1B. All components or oils listed in Table 2 were pre-melted and heated to 80°C before being added to the reaction vessel under nitrogen sparge. The agitator was turned on to mix the contents. Hypophosphorous acid, when used, was added at a dosage of 0.2% and methanesulfonic acid was added at a dosage of 0.1%. All components were added, mixed thoroughly and the temperature was raised to about 160°C. The acid number was monitored throughout the reaction and when the AV was less than (<) 20 or the AV was changing less than 1 unit per hour, a vacuum was applied to the reaction vessel to achieve a pressure of about 30 Torr. The reaction temperature was maintained until an acid number of 5 or less was achieved. The reaction was then cooled to about 85°C and calcium hydroxide solution was added to neutralize the slight excess catalyst. The mixture was cooled to 70°C and Trisyl® silica was added to the reaction at 1% to absorb salts from the catalyst. The product was then filtered to remove salt and clay mixtures and other impurities.

[0107] To intentionally limit transesterification, the following chemical esterification method was carried out to prepare Examples 2A-2D. All components or oils listed in Table 2 were pre-melted and heated to about 80° C. before being added to the reaction vessel under nitrogen sparge to prevent oxidation of the product during the reaction. The agitator was turned on to mix the contents. Hypophosphorous acid was added at a dosage of 0.2%. Once all components were added and thoroughly mixed, the temperature was increased to about 180° C. and a vacuum of about 20-30 Torr was applied to the reaction vessel. The acid number was monitored throughout the reaction. The reaction temperature and vacuum were maintained until an acid number of 20 or less was achieved. The reaction was then cooled to about 85° C. and filtered through a sock filter to remove any particulates.

[0108] Example 2 (Preparation of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition): To purposefully limit transesterification in the preparation of Examples 2A-2D, the following chemical esterification method was performed. All components or oils listed in Table 2 were pre-melted and heated to about 80° C. before being added to the reaction vessel under nitrogen sparge to prevent oxidation of the product during the reaction. The agitator was turned on to mix the contents. Hypophosphorous acid, if used, was added at a dosage of 0.2%. Once all components were added and thoroughly mixed, the temperature was increased to about 180° C. and a vacuum was applied to the reaction vessel to achieve a pressure of about 20-30 Torr. The acid number was monitored throughout the reaction. This reaction temperature and vacuum were maintained until an acid number of 20 or less was achieved. The reaction was then cooled to about 85° C. and filtered through a sock filter to remove any particulates.

[0109] Example 3 (Natural Oil-Based Petrolatum Composition):

[0110] [Table 4] * Amounts of HCO and stearic acid are in wt% of the reaction mixture. ** The reaction is carried out until it is substantially complete or until an equilibrium is reached where the value does not change dramatically. *** Reactions are performed until a particular AV is achieved.

[0111] Examples 3A-3M were prepared as shown in Table 3. They were run at different scales, for different times, and utilized either no catalyst or an acid catalyst system as described in Examples 1 and 2. The reactions were allowed to continue until a steady state equilibrium was reached or an acid number of less than 18 was reached.

[0112] Example 4 (Natural Oil-Based Petrolatum Composition):

[0113] [Table 5] *Amounts of HCO and stearic acid are in wt% of the reaction mixture.

[0114] Examples 4A-4F were prepared as shown in Table 4. They were run at different scales, for different times, and utilized either no catalyst or acid catalyst systems as described in Examples 1 and 2. Additionally, the degree and timing of vacuum were varied. Reactions were typically allowed to continue until a steady state equilibrium was reached, or for an additional period of time. By varying the reaction conditions as shown, one skilled in the art can manage the preference for esterification of hydroxy fatty acids versus transesterification of triglycerides.

[0115] Example 5 (Wax-blended composition):

[0116] [Table 6] † Reverse cooling (ambient temperature, approx. 15 to 25°C) * 1 (10% adhesion)-5 (full adhesion / peel off) ** 1 (unacceptable)-5 ("clean") *** 1 (unacceptable)-5 ("clean") ~ 1 (unacceptable)-5 ("clean") ≒ 1 (excessive cracking)-5 (no cracking) ‡ 1 (very soft)-5 (very hard)

[0117] First, the wax formulations in Table 5 of Examples 5A to 5K were prepared by heating soft natural oil-based wax (as described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0062003), intermolecularly interesterified natural oil (i.e., intermolecularly interesterified soybean oil / intermolecularly interesterified coconut oil), and / or HSO until a molten mixture was obtained. The natural oil-based petrolatum prepared according to Examples 1 to 4 was mixed into the molten wax mixture to obtain the wax formulation. Each wax formulation was back-cooled and evaluated for its performance in container candle applications. As shown in Table 5, Examples 5A to 5K showed acceptable performance across the board, and Examples 5C to 5G and Examples 5I to 5K showed performance scores of 25 or more out of a possible 30. Thus, this example demonstrates wax formulations with acceptable performance in container candle applications.

[0118] Exemplary Aspects The following illustrative aspects are provided, the numbering of which should not be construed as designating a level of importance.

[0119] Paragraph A: A wax formulation comprising: about 5 weight percent (wt%) to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition, based on the total weight of the wax formulation; about 25 wt.% to about 95 wt.% of a wax material, based on the total weight of the wax formulation; The natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component, Where: the triglyceride component contains multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains; the plurality of hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains are esterified with a C8-C22 branched or linear fatty acid; A wax formulation, wherein the natural oil based petrolatum composition has a drop melting point of 35-70°C as measured by The American Oil Chemist's Society (AOCS) standard procedure Cc18-80. Paragraph B: The wax formulation of paragraph A, wherein the natural oil based petrolatum composition contains 0.5% to 10% of a mixture of monoglycerides and diglycerides. Paragraph C: A wax blend described in paragraph A or paragraph B, wherein some of the individual triglycerides present in the natural oil based petrolatum composition contain two or more esters containing fatty acids. Paragraph D: A wax formulation according to any one of paragraphs A to C, wherein the mixture of triglycerides present in the natural oil based petrolatum composition contains 20% to 70% ester-containing fatty acids. Paragraph E: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A to D, wherein the C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acid esters include stearic acid and palmitic acid. Paragraph F: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-E, wherein the C8 to C22 branched or linear fatty acid esters consist essentially of stearic acid and palmitic acid. Paragraph G: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-F, wherein the natural oil based petrolatum composition comprises from 50 weight percent to 100 weight percent of the triglyceride component. Paragraph H: The wax formulation according to any one of paragraphs A to G, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition has an acid value of 0.5 to 20. Paragraph I: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-H, wherein the natural oil based petrolatum composition has a hydroxyl number of 10-90. Paragraph J: The wax formulation according to any one of Paragraphs A-I, wherein the natural oil based petrolatum has an acid value of 0.5-5. Paragraph K: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-J, wherein the natural oil based petrolatum has an iodine value of less than about 3.0. Paragraph L: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-K, wherein the wax formulation comprises from about 15 wt% to about 85 wt% of the natural oil-based petrolatum composition. Paragraph M: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-L, wherein the wax formulation comprises from about 10 wt% to about 65 wt% of the wax material. Paragraph N: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-M, wherein the wax material comprises beeswax, paraffin wax, vegetable-based wax, natural oil-based wax, or mixtures thereof. Paragraph O: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-N, wherein the wax material comprises a natural oil based wax. Paragraph P: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-O, wherein the wax formulation further comprises from 0 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil, based on the total weight of the wax formulation. Paragraph Q: The wax formulation of any one of paragraphs A-P, wherein the wax formulation further comprises about 20 wt% to about 80 wt% of a natural oil, based on the total weight of the wax formulation. Paragraph R: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-Q, wherein the natural oil comprises an interesterified natural oil, a hydrogenated natural oil, or a combination thereof, preferably an interesterified soybean oil, an interesterified palm oil, a hydrogenated soybean oil, or a combination of two or more thereof. Paragraph S: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-R, wherein the wax formulation has a melting point in the range of about 100°F to about 150°F, preferably in the range of about 110°F to about 140°F. Paragraph T: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-S, wherein the wax formulation exhibits improved fragrance throw. Paragraph U: The wax formulation of any one of Paragraphs A-T, wherein the wax formulation exhibits improved performance based on one or more of cracking, surface appearance, peeling, hardness, filming, or fat bloom when formulated for use in a candle wax application. Paragraph V: A candle wax composition comprising the wax formulation according to any one of Paragraphs A-U. Paragraph W: The candle wax composition of Paragraph V, wherein the composition comprises from about 1 wt.% to about 100 wt.%, preferably from about 5 wt.% to about 70 wt.%, of the wax blend based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. Paragraph X: The candle wax composition of Paragraph V or Paragraph W, further comprising additives including a wax fusion enhancing additive, a colorant, a flavoring agent, a migration inhibitor, a free fatty acid, a surfactant, a co-surfactant, an emulsifier, additional optional wax components, a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, a distilled monoglyceride, or mixtures thereof. Paragraph Y: The candle wax composition of any one of Paragraphs V through X, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the at least one additive, based on the total weight of the candle wax composition. Paragraph Z: The candle wax composition of any one of Paragraphs V-Y, wherein said candle wax composition exhibits an improved fragrance throw. Paragraph AA: The candle wax composition of any one of Paragraphs V-Z, wherein the candle wax composition exhibits improved performance based on one or more of cracking, surface appearance, peeling, hardness, filming, or fat bloom. Paragraph AB: A candle comprising a wick in a candle wax composition, the candle wax composition comprising: A wax formulation comprising about 5 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil-based petrolatum composition based on a total weight of the wax formulation; about 1 wt % to about 95 wt % of a wax material, based on the total weight of the wax formulation; The natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises an esterification product of a pre-esterification mixture that includes a triglyceride component, Where: the triglyceride component contains multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains; the plurality of hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains are esterified with a C8-C22 branched or linear fatty acid; A candle comprising a wick in a candle wax composition, the natural oil-based petrolatum composition having a drop melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80. Paragraph AC: The candle of Paragraph AB, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum has an iodine value of about 0.1 to about 3.0. Paragraph AD: The candle of Paragraph AB or Paragraph AC, wherein the wax formulation comprises about 15 wt% to about 85 wt% of the natural oil based petrolatum composition. Paragraph AE: The candle of any one of Paragraphs AB-AD, wherein the wax formulation comprises from about 10 wt% to about 65 wt% of the wax material. Paragraph AF: The candle of any one of paragraphs AB-AE, wherein the wax material comprises beeswax, paraffin-based wax, vegetable-based wax, natural oil-based wax, or mixtures thereof. Paragraph AG: The candle of any one of Paragraphs AB through AF, wherein the wax material comprises a natural oil based wax, preferably a soft natural oil based wax. Paragraph AH: The candle of any one of paragraphs AB through AG, wherein the wax formulation has a melting point in the range of about 100°F to about 150°F, preferably in the range of about 110°F to about 140°F. Paragraph AI: The candle of any one of paragraphs AB through AH, wherein the wax formulation further comprises from 0 wt% to about 85 wt% of a natural oil, based on the total weight of the wax formulation. Paragraph AJ: The candle of any one of paragraphs AB through AI, wherein the wax formulation further comprises about 20 wt% to about 80 wt% of a natural oil, based on the total weight of the wax formulation. Paragraph AK: The candle of any one of paragraphs AB-AJ, wherein the natural oil comprises an interesterified natural oil, a hydrogenated natural oil, or a combination thereof, preferably an interesterified soybean oil, an interesterified palm oil, a hydrogenated soybean oil, or a combination of two or more thereof. Paragraph AL: The candle of any one of Paragraphs AB through AK, wherein the candle wax composition comprises about 1 wt% to 100 wt% of the wax formulation. Paragraph AM: The candle of any one of paragraphs AB-AL, further comprising additives including a wax fusion enhancing additive, a colorant, a flavoring agent, a migration inhibitor, a free fatty acid, a surfactant, a co-surfactant, an emulsifier, additional optional wax components, or mixtures thereof. Paragraph AN: A candle described in any one of paragraphs AB-AM, wherein the candle exhibits improved fragrance throw and the candle wax composition exhibits improved performance based on one or more of cracking, surface appearance, peeling, hardness, filming, or fat bloom. Paragraph AO: The candle of any one of paragraphs AB-AN, wherein the candle wax composition exhibits improved performance based on one or more of cracking, surface appearance, peeling, hardness, filming, or fat bloom. Paragraph AP: A method for preparing the wax formulation of any one of paragraphs A-U, the method comprising: heating the wax material to a temperature at which the wax material is in a molten state; mixing said wax material in a molten state with a natural oil based petrolatum composition; The natural oil-based petrolatum composition comprises a triglyceride component, Where: the triglyceride component contains multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains; the plurality of hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains are esterified with a C8-C22 branched or linear fatty acid; The method, wherein the natural oil based petrolatum composition has a drop melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.

[0120] Each of the above non-limiting aspects may stand alone or may be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other aspects or other subject matter described in this document. Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in certain aspects, those skilled in the art may, after reading the foregoing specification, make modifications, equivalent substitutions, and other types of alterations to the technology described herein. Each of the above aspects may also include or incorporate variations or aspects as disclosed with respect to any or all of the other aspects.

[0121] The present technology should also not be limited with respect to the specific embodiments described herein, which are intended as single examples. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the foregoing description, many modifications and variations of the present technology can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is to be understood that the present technology is not limited to specific methods, reagents, compounds, or compositions, which may of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and are not intended to be limiting. Thus, it is intended that the specification be considered only as exemplary, with the breadth, scope, and spirit of the present technology being indicated only by the appended claims, the definitions therein, and any equivalents thereof.

[0122] The embodiments illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element(s), limitation(s) not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," etc. shall be read expansively and without limitation. Furthermore, the terms and expressions used herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and in using such terms and expressions, there is no intention to exclude the features shown and described or equivalents of portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology. Furthermore, the phrase "consisting essentially of" is understood to include the elements specifically recited and additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase "consisting of" excludes any elements not specified.

[0123] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of a Markush group, one of skill in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual members or subgroups of members of the Markush group. Each of the narrower species and subgeneric groupings falling within the generic disclosure also form part of the invention. This includes generic descriptions of the invention with provisos or negative limitations that remove any subject matter from the genus, whether or not the material removed is specific.

Claims

1. A wax-containing product, Based on the total weight of the aforementioned wax formulation, a natural oil-based petrolatum composition is present in approximately 5 wt% to approximately 85 wt% by weight, Based on the total weight of the aforementioned wax formulation, it includes approximately 25 wt% to approximately 95 wt% of wax material, The aforementioned natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains triglyceride components, Here, The aforementioned triglyceride component contains multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, The plurality of hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains are esterified with C8-C22 branched fatty acids or linear fatty acids. The aforementioned natural oil-based petrolatum composition is a wax formulation having a dropping melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by the American Oil Chemist's Society (AOCS) standard procedure Cc18-80.

2. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains a mixture of 0.5% to 10% monoglycerides and diglycerides.

3. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein some of the individual triglycerides present in the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contain two or more esters containing fatty acids.

4. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the mixture of triglycerides present in the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains 20% to 70% ester-containing fatty acids.

5. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the C8-C22 branched fatty acid ester or linear fatty acid ester comprises stearic acid and palmitic acid.

6. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the C8-C22 branched fatty acid ester or linear fatty acid ester essentially consists of stearic acid and palmitic acid.

7. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains 50% to 100% by weight of the triglyceride component.

8. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition has an acid value of 0.5 to 20.

9. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition has a hydroxyl value of 10 to 90.

10. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum has an acid value of 0.5 to 5.

11. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum has an iodine value of less than approximately 3.

0.

12. The wax compound according to claim 1, wherein the wax material includes a natural oil-based wax.

13. The wax formulation according to claim 1, wherein the wax formulation further comprises 0 wt% to about 85 wt% of natural oil based on the total weight of the wax formulation.

14. The wax compound according to claim 12, wherein the natural oil comprises a transesterified natural oil, a hydrogenated natural oil, or a combination thereof.

15. The wax compound according to claim 1, wherein the wax compound has a melting point in the range of about 100°F to about 150°F.

16. A wax composition for candles comprising the wax compound described in claim 1.

17. The candle wax composition according to claim 16, wherein the composition comprises about 1 wt% to 100 wt% of the wax compound based on the total weight of the candle wax composition.

18. The candle wax composition according to claim 16, further comprising additives including wax fusion promoting additives, colorants, fragrances, migration inhibitors, free fatty acids, surfactants, co-surfactants, emulsifiers, additional optimal wax components, monoglycerides, diglycerides, distilled monoglycerides, or mixtures thereof.

19. The candle wax composition according to claim 18, wherein the composition comprises at least one additive in an amount of about 0.1 wt% to about 30 wt% based on the total weight of the candle wax composition.

20. A candle containing a wick in a candle wax composition, wherein the candle wax composition is A candle comprising a wick in a wax composition for candles, the wax composition comprising the wax formulation described in claim 1.

21. A method for preparing the wax compound described in claim 1, wherein the method is The wax material is heated to a temperature at which it is in a molten state. This includes mixing the molten wax material with a natural oil-based petrolatum composition, The aforementioned natural oil-based petrolatum composition contains triglyceride components, Here, The aforementioned triglyceride component contains multiple hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains, The plurality of hydroxyl-containing fatty acid chains are esterified with C8-C22 branched fatty acids or linear fatty acids. A method wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum composition has a dropwise melting point of 35 to 70°C as measured by the AOCS standard procedure Cc18-80.