Solid Firelighters

Abstract

A firelighter comprising a solidified emulsion of a liquid hydrocarbon encapsulated in polymerised aqueous resin, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is present in an amount of 30 to 75% by weight of the firelighter, and wherein the firelighter also contains petroleum coke in particulate form.

1 . A firelighter comprising a solidified emulsion of a liquid hydrocarbon encapsulated in polymerised aqueous resin, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is present in an amount of 30 to 75% by weight of the firelighter, and wherein the firelighter also contains up to 50% by weight petroleum coke in particulate form wherein the particle size is up to 5 mm. 
     
     
         2 . A firelighter according to  claim 1 , in which the concentration of liquid hydrocarbon is from 40 to 60% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         3 . A firelighter according to  claim 1 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is at least 1% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         4 . A firelighter according to  claim 1 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is 10 to 50% by weight. 
     
     
         5 . A firelighter according to  claim 1 , in which the concentration of the aqueous resin is from 10 to 30% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         6 . A firelighter according to  claim 1 , in which petroleum coke is used as particles having a particle size in the range 2 to 4 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a firelighter according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 forming an emulsion of a liquid hydrocarbon in an aqueous resin, wherein the emulsion additionally comprises up to 50% by weight petroleum coke in particulate form wherein the particle size is up to 5 mm; and   polymerising the aqueous resin by acid catalyst to generate a solidified emulsion to form a firelighter, wherein the firelighter comprises 30 to 75% by weight liquid hydrocarbon.   
     
     
         8 . The use of a firelighter according to  claim 1 , to initiate combustion of the primary fuel in a barbecue, domestic wood fire or domestic coal fire. 
     
     
         9 . A firelighter according to  claim 3 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is at least 5% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         10 . A firelighter according to  claim 2 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is at least 1% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         11 . A firelighter according to  claim 10 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is at least 5% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         12 . A firelighter according to  claim 4 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is 20 to 40% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . A firelighter according to  claim 2 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is 10 to 50% by weight. 
     
     
         14 . A firelighter according to  claim 13 , in which the concentration of the petroleum coke is 20 to 40% by weight. 
     
     
         15 . A firelighter according to  claim 5 , in which the concentration of the aqueous resin is from 12 to 25% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         16 . A firelighter according to  claim 2 , in which the concentration of the aqueous resin is from 10 to 30% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         17 . A firelighter according to  claim 16 , in which the concentration of the aqueous resin is from 12 to 25% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         18 . A firelighter according to  claim 3 , in which the concentration of the aqueous resin is from 10 to 30% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         19 . A firelighter according to  claim 18 , in which the concentration of the aqueous resin is from 12 to 25% by weight of the firelighter. 
     
     
         20 . A firelighter according to  claim 4 , in which the concentration of the aqueous resin is from 10 to 30% by weight of the firelighter.