Alcohol-containing compositions useful as solid fuels and processes for their manufacture

Abstract

There is provided a composition comprising: (a) from about 60 to about 98% by weight of one or more alcohols; (b) from about 0.5 to about 20% by weight of one or more alkyl cellulose derivatives, wherein each alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more OH, O-alkyl, O-hydroxyalkyl and/or O-alkoxyalkyl; (c) from about 1 to about 25% by weight of one or more carboxylic acid salts; and (d) from 0 to about 30% by weight of water. There is also provided uses, processes for manufacture, methods and products relating to the same.

Claims

1. A composition comprising: (a) from about 60 to about 98% by weight of one or more alcohols consisting of one or more C.sub.1-C.sub.4 linear or branched alkyl moieties substituted with one or two hydroxyl group(s); (b) from about 0.5 to about 20% by weight of one or more alkyl cellulose derivatives, wherein each alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more OH, O-alkyl, O-hydroxyalkyl and/or O-alkoxyalkyl; (c) from about 1 to about 25% by weight of one or more carboxylic acid salts formed from C.sub.10-20 alkyl, C.sub.10-20 alkenyl or C.sub.10-20 alkynyl carboxylic acids; and (d) from 0 to about 30% by weight of water.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein component (a) consists of one or more alcohols selected from the group consisting of: ethanol, methanol and2-propanol; and/or the alcohol component of industrial methylated spirits.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein component (b) consists of one or more O-alkyl cellulose derivatives and/or O-hydroxyalkyl cellulose derivatives.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein component (b) consists of one or more cellulose derivatives selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein component (c) consists of one or more carboxylic acid salts having a counter ion selected from the group consisting of Ca.sup.2+, Li.sup.+, K.sup.+and Na.sup.+.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein component (c) consists of one or two carboxylic acid salts selected from the group consisting of sodium palmitate and sodium stearate.

7. A process for preparing a composition as defined claim 1, wherein the process comprises forming a homogenous mixture of: (a) from about 60 to about 98% by weight of one or more organic alcohols consisting of one or more C.sub.1-C.sub.4 linear or branched alkyl moieties substituted with one or two hydroxyl group(s); (b) from about 0.5 to about 20% by weight of one or more alkyl cellulose derivatives, wherein each alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more OH, O-alkyl, O-hydroxyalkyl and/or O-alkoxyalkyl; (c) from about 1 to about 25% by weight of one or more carboxylic acid salts formed from C.sub.10-20 alkyl, C.sub.10-20 alkenyl or C.sub.10-20 alkynyl carboxylic acids; and (d) from 0 to about 30% by weight of water.

8. A method of generating heat comprising the step of igniting (or causing to be ignited) a composition as defined in claim 1.

9. A method of sanitizing a surface comprising the step of applying to that surface a composition as defined in claim 1.

10. A product comprising: (I)a composition as defined in claim 1; and (II) a packaging material, wherein the composition (I) is at least partially contained within the packing material (II).

11. A kit-of-parts comprising: (A) a composition as defined in claim 1, or a product comprising the composition as defined in claim 1 and a packaging material, wherein the composition is at least partially contained within the packing material; and (B) a cooking apparatus, wherein component (A) is configured for use with the cooking apparatus (B).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows the results of the experiment described as Example G.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the results of the experiment described as Example H.

EXAMPLES

(3) In each example referred to below, the sodium palmitate/stearate mixture was obtained from Acros Organics (identified in the relevant Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) as Stearic acid, sodium salt, mixture of stearic and palmitic fatty chain, Cat No. 269880000; 269880010, Synonyms: Octadecanoic acid, sodium salt; Sodium stearate).

Example A

(4) Hydroxypropyl cellulose (4.00 g, 150-400 mPa.Math.s, obtained from TCI UK) was slowly added to a stirring mixture of ethanol (180 mL) and distilled water (20 mL) at room temperature. When the mixture was homogeneous it was heated (65 C.) and sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (14.00 g, obtained from Acros) was slowly added and stirring continued until the mixture was homogeneous. Further aliquots of ethanol (180 mL) and 2-propanol (20 mL) were added with continuous heating and stirring and then the mixture was cast into small blocks and allowed to cool, upon which the mixture solidified into an opaque/colourless solid.

Example B

(5) (Hydroxypropyl)methylcellulose (2.00 g, 40-60 mPa.Math.s, obtained from Alfa Aesar) was slowly added to a stirring mixture of Ethanol/2-propanol (50 mL of a 95:5 v/v mixture), distilled water (10 mL) and then heated (65 C.) until homogeneous. Sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (7.50 g, obtained from Acros) was slowly added and stirring continued until the mixture was homogeneous. A further aliquot of Ethanol/2-propanol (150 mL of a 95:5 v/v mixture) was added with continuous heating and stirring. The mixture was cast into small blocks and allowed to cool, upon which the mixture solidified into an opaque/colourless solid.

Example C

(6) Methylcellulose (2.50 g, 4000 mPa.Math.s, obtained from Alfa Aesar) was slowly added to a stirring mixture of IMS (50 mL), distilled water (10 mL) and then heated (65 C.) until homogeneous. A further aliquot of IMS (50 mL) was added along with sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (7.50 g, obtained from Acros) and the stirring was continued until the mixture was homogeneous. A final aliquot of IMS (100 mL) was added with continuous heating and stirring. The mixture was cast into small blocks and allowed to cool, upon which the mixture solidified into an opaque/colourless solid.

Example D

(7) Methylcellulose (5.00 g, 1600 mPa.Math.s, obtained from Alfa Aesar) was slowly added to a stirring mixture of IMS (200 mL), distilled water (30 mL) and then heated (65 C.) until homogeneous. Sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (7.50 g, obtained from Acros) was slowly added and stirring continued until the mixture was homogeneous. The mixture was cast into small blocks and allowed to cool, upon which the mixture solidified into an opaque/colourless solid.

Example E

(8) Methylcellulose (2.50 g, 4000 mPa.Math.s, obtained from Alfa Aesar) was slowly added to a stirring mixture of ethanol (45 mL), distilled water (20 mL) and stirred at room temperature for 24 h, until homogeneous. A further aliquot of ethanol (45 mL) was added and the mixture was heated to 65 C. and stirred vigorously. Sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (7.50 g, obtained from Acros) and was slowly added and stirring continued for 1 h. Ethanol (90 mL) and 2-propanol (20 mL) was added with continuous heating and stirring. The mixture was cast into small blocks and allowed to cool, upon which the mixture solidified into an opaque/colourless solid.

Example F

(9) Ethylcellulose (2.00 g, Sigma Aldrich) was slowly added to a stirring mixture of Ethanol/2-propanol (50 mL of a 95:5 v/v mixture), distilled water (10 mL) and then heated (65 C.) until homogeneous. Sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (7.50 g, obtained from Acros) was slowly added and stirring continued until the mixture was homogeneous. A further aliquot of ethanol/2-propanol (150 mL of a 95:5 v/v mixture) was added with continuous heating and stirring. The mixture was cast into small blocks and allowed to cool, upon which the mixture solidified into an opaque/colourless solid.

Example G

Burn Test

(10) Water (500 mL) at 15 C. was placed into a standard issue stainless steel mug (Model CN540 with lid attached). 60 grams of each compositions of Examples A to E were placed into a variant of BCB International's Crusader Cooker (Model RP006, modified with 230 holes of 5 mm diameter) and this was ignited and the mug was placed on top immediately. The end point of the test was determined by a constant roiling boil of the water. All tests were carried out in identical atmospheric conditions in the same apparatus and performed by one individual for reproducibility of the data. The results are shown in Table 1 (below) and in FIG. 1.

(11) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example Time to Rolling Boil (Seconds) A 265 B 275 C 286 D 289 E 301 F 295

Example H

Penetration Test

(12) Tests were conducted in respect of each of Examples A to E. In each case, a probe (6 mm diameter) was lowered onto the sample at 0.05 mm/second. The distances moved by the probe into the sample (the degree of penetration) was measured in comparison to the degree of force required to sustain the speed of movement. The results are shown in FIG. 2A. An inflexion (e.g. a sudden decrease) in the force required to move further indicates the yield point of the sample. The yield point of each sample is shown in FIG. 2B.

Example I

(13) Ethanol (182 mL), water (8 mL), and isopropanol (10 mL) were heated to 70 C. To this was added hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (2.00 g; 40-60 mPa.Math.s, obtained from Alfa Aesar), and stirred for 30 minutes. Sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (7.50 g; obtained from Acros) was added and the solution stirred until all solids had dissolved (30 minutes). To this was added activated charcoal powder (2.00 g), and the mixture stirred for 10 minutes. The liquid was cast into small blocks and upon cooling solidified into a black solid.

(14) Similar compositions have been prepared using up to 4.00 g activated charcoal powder.

Example J

(15) Compositions were prepared in accordance with the methods used in Example B using the following components: ethanol TSDA 7 (1000 mL) (consisting of IPA (50 mL), water (38.4 mL) and ethanol (911.6 mL)); hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (10 g; 40-60 mPa.Math.s, obtained from Alfa Aesar); and sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (37.5 g; obtained from Acros).

(16) Similar compositions may be prepared wherein 0.08% of the ethanol TSDA 7 is replaced with a 0.256% solution of denatonium benzoate (Bitrex).

Example K

(17) Compositions were prepared in accordance with the methods used in Example B using the following components: completely denatured alcohol (CDA) (1000 mL) (consisting of IPA (28 mL), butanone (28 mL) and ethanol (942 mL)); hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (10 g; 40-60 mPa.Math.s, obtained from Alfa Aesar); and sodium palmitate/stearate mixture (37.5 g; obtained from Acros).

(18) Similar compositions may be prepared wherein small amounts of denatonium benzoate (Bitrex) and/or methyl violet are present in the CDA.