How to Make Soy Wax | Soybean to Candle
How to Make Soy Wax
Soy wax is a natural wax derived from the sustainable soybean plant. Today we want to discuss how soy wax is made. From the soybean to soy wax to soy candles.
Soybean or soya bean plants are legume plants native to Asia. China has been using the plant for food and medicine for over 5,000 years. Soy contains essential amino acids and is a good source of protein and is often used as a dairy substitute. Soybean oil is a large source of “vegetable oil” worldwide. The main countries in the world that now grow soybean plants are the US, China, India, Brazil and Argentina.
Soybeans come in many sizes and colors including black, brown, yellow, gray and green. Soybeans are used for many foods and are a large part of many Asians diet with foods such as Tofu, soybean paste and seasonings. The soybean oil can be used to make a variety of things such as soaps, cosmetics, inks etc. The soy plant is a hearty plant that grows well in climates with hot summers and can grow in a wide variety of soil types. This plant is 100% sustainable and can grow on almost every continent.
Soybeans to Soy Wax
Before soywax is made we need soybean oil. The most common method of obtaining soy oil and subsequent soy flour is through a method of oil extraction involving rolling the clean dehulled soybeans into flakes and the oil is extracted and refined leaving the soybeans to be made into flour or meal. The oil is then hydrogenated which turns the oil into a wax. Hydrogenation is basically where poly and mono-saturated oils are solidified by temporarily mixing hydrogen with the soy oil at an elevated temperature through a special proprietary process. Once hydrogenated the soy oil is now soy wax. Pure soy wax is white or slightly off-white. 100% soy wax is even safe for consumption, although not recommended.
Soy Wax to Candles
The soy wax can then be used to make all natural clean burning soy candles.
So, that is the process…soybean to soy candle…isn’t it wonderful!
Tags: how to make soy wax, soybeans
April 21st, 2009 at 8:30 am
Indeed, the creation of anything from raw materials is amazing and wonderful. And with how you have successfully described how soy candles are made is a piece of art. Thanks.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:58 am
I wanted to ask about the part “…the oil is then hydrogenated….” How is this hydrogenation done? What do you need to add to the oil?
July 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
This is wonderful. I always wondered how this process happens!
January 7th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Dear Folks,
The hydrogenation of soy bean oil can be made increasing the quantity of Hidrogen (H) on severals oils that compose the soy bean oil. Using for example an Parr Reactor, the oil is heated in a presence of hydrongen, adding some catalysts such as (ZnO2) the double links between the carbons and the Hidrogens of the Linoleic oil, one of oils tha composes the soy bean oil, is broken and the hydrogen previously added in the reactor join to the carbons, now separated and available for new links. the consequence for this reaction is as soom as more hydrogens links to the free Carbons, more solid the soy bean oil will become in the ambient temperature. So here is the soy bean wax.
July 4th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Thank you. I would like to know details about hydrogenaton. This article is very useful