Soy wax
Soybeans ( Glycine max ) - ripe pods - produce soybean oil through pressing and extraction , the hydrogenation of which leads to soy wax.
Soy wax is a wax based on soy oil .
It is made by hydrogenation . Under high pressure of approx. 200 bar and at a high temperature of 200 to 300 ° C, soybean oil is reacted with ultrapure hydrogen in the presence of a metallic catalyst , usually nickel , to form a wax-like mass with a high proportion of stearic acid.
The principle of hydrogenation, analogous to margarine production, has been known for a long time, but its use for the production of soy wax is relatively new. The disadvantage is that it has so far been almost impossible to make drip-free soy candles; the wax is usually only used for tea lights or glass candles.