Green chemistry is a chemical concept that aims to reduce or eliminate the generation and application of environmentally harmful chemicals. In this context, developing green solvents has become increasingly important due to the global awareness of health and wellness that prioritizes sustainable and efficient solutions. Green solvent selection should meet three criteria: natural content, sustainability, and performance. Such criteria promote essential discussions as to what a green solvent is and how green is green enough, as well as other issues such as: Is a solvent green if it is 100% biobased yet presents toxicity to humans and the environment? Should the odor be accounted as one checking point for green solvent?
The development of Augeo® solvent is the outcome of the all-around evaluation of these three criteria:
Augeo® is a non-toxic, readily biodegradable, LVP-VOC, colorless, odorless, transparent liquid with high solvency power. Augeo® is fully available to our customers worldwide and provides a competitive cost compared to petrochemical-based solvents.
As a global provider of high-performance and sustainable solutions, Solvay is proud to have invested time and resources to guarantee a 1.6 kgCO2e/kg net footprint (2.6 kgCO2e/kg as GWP and 1.0 kgCO2e/kg as biogenic content) for Augeo®. Also, a carbon-neutral version of Augeo® is under development to create sustainable shared value for suppliers, customers, and stakeholders.
Like the main air care applications, choosing the correct candle solvent is a key challenge to meeting the proper equilibrium between several desirable characteristics. One of the challenges for candle production is gourmand fragrance solubilization, as these compounds are generally crystalline and highly hydrophilic.
Augeo®‘s polarity is established between benzyl benzoate (BB) and dipropylene glycol (DPG). Thus, special attributes include higher polar fragrance solubilization and adequate compatibility with paraffin/soy waxes.
Some gourmand fragrances are more susceptible to oxidation processes or color changes after solubilization. For this challenging requirement, Augeo® provides a lower yellowing after solubilization, keeping a lighter and more transparent solution. Color measurements show that Augeo® is capable of retaining initial wax color conditions after incorporating the fragrance and solvent into the wax. Conversely, BB solvent leads to a visually noticeable darker wax coloring.
Another challenge in candle formulation is obtaining an adequate olfactory profile. The solvent should have suitable volatility and other properties that bring the aroma out of the candle during the burn process or even before its usage as a scented wax. As the evaporation rate of Augeo® is higher than that of BB and isopropyl myristate (IPM), its application as a carrier can boost the fragrance blooming of the candle. Also, due to its low odor, Augeo® promotes the fragrance notes properly.
The burning of a candle raises extra concerns in terms of safety and appearance. Solvents containing aromatic rings, such as BB, may increase benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) emissions, introducing more toxic compounds into the indoor environment. As a non-aromatic solvent, Augeo® shall not produce such substances, promoting safer indoor air quality. Compared with conventional solvents, Augeo® screening tests show a reduction in soot generation, a source of indoor PM 2.5 with a potentially hazardous impact on human health, thus indicating an improvement in candle burning efficiency.
In addition to requiring safer gas emissions, desirable appearance qualities must also have special attention. A good candle should present a smooth surface, free of ashes, cracking, and reduced yellowing before, during, and after burning. Augeo® exhibits an adequate balance for all these characteristics compared to other petrochemical solvents.
Augeo® is an innovative solution for the solvents used in the candle industry, allowing a more sustainable profile and tackling challenges such as inefficient burning, inadequate flames, poor scent, soot generation, and toxic gas emissions. Augeo®, as a green solvent, has been demonstrated to be a green solution for candles, showcasing how innovation can drive green chemistry into the real world to solve the challenges of different industries.
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