Firelighter Fluid

Abstract

A barbecue firelighter fluid comprises biodiesel and a biodiesel soluble natural emulsifying agent as a fuel. Natural emulsifiers include acacia, gelatine, cholesterol and lecithin. The fluid has an increased burn time compared with conventional fluids based on hydrocarbons, for example.

1 . A firelighter fluid comprising biodiesel and a biodiesel soluble natural emulsifying agent as the fuel. 
     
     
         2 . A firelighter fluid according to  claim 1 , in which the natural emulsifying agent comprises acacia, gelatin, cholesterol and/or lecithin. 
     
     
         3 . A firelighter fluid according to  claim 2 , in which lecithin is the emulsifying agent and is modified by fractionation to yield a fraction rich in phosphatidylcholine. 
     
     
         4 . A firelighter fluid according to  claim 1 , in which the biodiesel is formed from vegetable oils derived from oilseed rape, palm oil and soy bean oil, or is formed from a biomass-to-liquid process. 
     
     
         5 . A firelighter fluid according to  claim 4 , in which the vegetable oil comprises oilseed rape. 
     
     
         6 . A firelighter fluid according to  claim 1 , in which the natural emulsifying agent is used at a concentration in the range 0.1 to 75% by weight of the total fuel. 
     
     
         7 . A firelighter fluid according to  claim 6 , in which the concentration of the emulsifying agent is from 5 to 35% by weight of the total fuel. 
     
     
         8 . A method of igniting charcoal for a barbecue, the method comprising providing cellulose-containing kindling in a barbecue container, applying a firelighter fluid having a flashpoint of 120° C. or above to the kindling and allowing the kindling to absorb the fluid, applying barbecue fuel to the kindling and igniting the kindling. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , in which the firelighter fluid comprises a biodiesel and a biodiesel soluble natural emulsifying agent as the fuel. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , in which the cellulose-containing kindling comprises newspaper. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , in which the newspaper is folded and twisted to form semi-rigid sticks, a plurality of such sticks being arranged in the container to form a criss-crossed array around and through which air can circulate.