1. TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

Invention belongs to the field of chemistry and relates to the manufacture of firelighters (solid fuel) from industrial waste of non-mineral origin.

According to International Patents Classification (IPC), it is classified as: ClOLl 1/00, C10L5/48, C10Ll l/04, ClOL5/40.

2. TECHNICAL ISSUE

This invention is a known thermoplastic mass (polymethyl metacrylate - PMMA), organic matter in the solid state of matter previously mechanically treated in a suitable form can be used effectively as a means of kindling fire (firelighter). Also, this mass can be used as an environmentally friendly fuel.

• woodchips in a variety of relationships with impregnated paraffin wax or oil or any other flammable substance based on carbon-hydrogen [4],

• solvents (usually kerosene) or in a gel or paste form with different content of substances such as ethanol or propanol [5],

• kerosene combination with hydrochloric acid and alkylbenzene sulfonic acid [6],

• paraffin combination with urea-formaldehyde (urea-methanal) and hydrochloric acid [7],

• magnesium in combination with aluminum, manganese and zinc [8].

Patent application No. 4165968 (USA) describes jellied alcohol containing expanded perlite for the specific purpose of forming a thin surface coating on the charcoal briquettes to be flammable easily. Such composition of jellied alcohol would not be suitable for using as setting fire in dispersed state, as there would be a sudden burning of large areas for a short period. The purpose of expanded perlite is a coating applied to the rough coal surface, which acts as a wick for easy ignition, flame propagation velocity and thus increase fuel consumption.

solid. Composition as desired may contain flammable liquids such as kerosene, distillate, gas oil, white spirit, the burned oil or oils of vegetable origin and / or oil or fat of animal origin.

Fuel for fire incineration may also consist of inorganic solid substances jellied with flammable liquids, e.g. carbon-hydrogen, such as kerosene and / or animal or vegetable oil. The liquid can be jellied with a suitable thickeners such as metal soaps, including aluminum stearate and octanoate, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, rubber, such as a xantham and arabic rubber, lignosulphates, caseinates, gelatin, complex alcohols, synthetic polymers such as ethylene copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl cellulose, and polyketons and polyester, phenoxy resins, polymeric diols, vinyl acetate, and the like. Agents for gelation were chosen so that the composition should not affect the burning time to a significant extent.

Majority of the previously mentioned firelighters is made of environmentally unacceptable substances except fire lighters based on biomass, which has other shortcomings (poorly durable, small thermal power etc.), and in addition must contain certain binders (adhesives) and have easily flammable impregnation, usually paraffin wax or oil.

In the technological processes of applying PMMA, bigger amounts of waste, mostly by cropping disparate profiles, occurs. Thanks to PMMA property as thermoplastics, this material can be reformed into the desired profile without compromising its structure and physical and chemical properties. Briefly, the process consists of collecting waste cut to acceptable chunks which are then milled (plastic crushing and grinding machines) into pellets of 1 mm - 5 mm suitable for plastic injection and transport in screw conveyors. The material is then heated to a certain temperature (200°C) where it melts without changing the chemical composition. Dissolved PMMA is then spurted in a convenient tool e.g. for fire lighter purposes where is cooled and shaped into desired form and size.

Shaping this material into suitable forms, which are mostly in the form of bars (e.g. length = 90 mm, width = 7 mm, thickness = 3 mm), the same can be effectively used for kindling fire. Its physical and chemical properties make it more practical than most of the famous firelighters, and here we give some (excerpt from the PMMA 4 mm plate thickness testing)

Tested property Analysis method Result

Density (g/cm ³ ) ASTM D 792-86 1,16

• PMMA is not required to avoid contact with skin,

• When burning the minimum amount of smoke is emitted that makes it suitable for use indoors,

• During combustion it reaches temperature of 390°C,

• Waterproof (can be used again after contact with water),

• The raw material can also be obtained from recycled material,

• PMMA is environmentally friendly and non-toxic material.

PMMA toxicity research shows that no impact on the environment is expected based on current knowledge. It represents an inert material and is not dangerous under Annex I to Directive 67/548/EEC. Does not cause intoxication, does not irritate the skin and eyes and is not a carcinogen [11].

The research published in the Journal of Fire Science shows the behavior and mechanism of

In addition, PMMA can be formed in the shape of a cube (e.g. a = 50 mm) or rectangular (e.g. a = 60 mm, width = 20 mm, thickness = 15 mm) that would serve as fuel for heating and cooking or preparing hot beverages after incineration. Duration of the flame i.e. fuel capacity depends on the size developed.

7. METHOD OF APPLICATION

The invention has applications such as fire lighter or fuel for preparing or warming food. As the firelighter it can be used for solid wood fuels (wood, coal, briquettes, pellets) in solid fuel stoves, wood for barbecue (barbecue briquettes), or as a fuels lighter whose ignition temperature does not exceed 350°C.

Special forms of PMMA are used for food heating or cooking, which determine the duration and intensity of combustion, and therefore the time of preparing the proper foods or hot drinks.

Material Safety Data Sheet, Jiffy Firelighters, Pental, Australia, available at:

http://wvm.pentalxom.au/msds/jiffy%20firelighters.pdf, [accessed on 12.03.2012]. Material Safety Data Sheet, Magnesium Fire Starter, COGHLAN"S LTD,

Canada, available at: http://www.coghlans.com/filesl7870-Magnesium-Fire- Starter.pdf, [accessed on 12.03.2012].

Safer Solutions (2012), Firelighters, available at:

http://www.safersolutions.org.aU/a/83-firelighters, [accessed on o 12.03.2012].

Wikipedia (2012), Plastic, available at: http://hrwikipedia.org/wiki/Plastika. [accessed on 14.03.2012].

Material Safety Data Sheet, PMMA, LG, Korea, available at:

http://esales.Igmma.com:2104/upload/product/l 312939837676.pdf.

[accessed onl4.03.2012].

W.R. Zeng et al., Preliminary Studies on Burning Behavior of

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Journal of Fire Sciences, 2002, 20: 297-317