ISSN: 2277-3754
ISO 9001:2008 Certified
International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT)
Volume 2, Issue 10, April 2013
Preliminary Studies on Properties of Shoe Polish
Formulated From Wax Produced From Waste
Water Sachets
Ademiluyi F.Taiwo, Charles Ugbede Ameh
Shoe polish typically has a specific gravity of 0.8, is
negligibly soluble in water, and is made of between 65
and 77% volatile substances usually naphtha. The high
amount of volatile substances means that the shoe polish
will dry out and harden after application, while retaining
its shine [2]. In the manufacture of shoe polish, wax is
reacted with resins which provide the thin film on the
shoe after polish has been applied and shined. Volatile
solvents are also used to give it a quick drying effect.
Water acts as a solvent while different dyes can be used
to give it the coloration [3]. Both natural and
manufactured waxes are finding application in the
manufacture of polish. Natural waxes which have general
importance in this field are paraffin and microcrystalline
waxes, waxes of vegetable oil origin such as carnauba
and waxes of animal origin such as spermaceti [4] can
also be used. The objective of this project is to convert
waste water sachets to useful product such as wax and use
the wax to formulate solid Shoe Polish The properties of
the shoe polish produced would also be studied and
compared with standard commercial polishes.
Abstract: - a Preliminary study on conversion of Waste
Water Sachets to Shoe Polish was investigated. Wastewater
sachets were pyrolyzed at various temperatures to obtain wax.
Quality polyethylene wax with good penetration degree was
produced between 130˚C and 150˚C and used to produce the
polish. Three different formulations of polishes were prepared
from the waste polyethylene wax and the properties of the
three samples were compared with the two standard polishes
(Kiwi and Lude). The melting point, pour point (°C), density
and viscosity of the polish formulated using 12% waste
polyethylene wax, compared favorably with standard
commercial polish. The conversion of the waste sachets to wax
in formulating polish will not only be commercially viable but
will reduce environmental pollution.
Keywords: Waste Water Sachets, Polyethylene Wax,
Pyrolysis, Shoe Polish.
I. INTRODUCTION
All over big cities in Nigeria and even in the
rural communities, it is a common sight that
polyethylene films, shopping bags, plastics, water
sachets littering and polluting the environment. The
increase of plastic waste and its harm in Nigerian
environment has attracted the concern of the political
and technological circles. The waste polyethylene
(often called pure water sachets ) is known to cause
blockage of drainage systems in the cities and in rural
areas since these waste films are non biodegradable
These has resulted in the flooding of our
communities whenever it rains and subsequent
destruction of houses and farmlands. Presently the
most common method of disposing these wastes is by
incineration in open air, which has harmful impact on the
environment as it releases CO, CO2, SO2, etc, into the
atmosphere. CO2 and SO2 dissolve in the atmosphere and
form weak acids that fall back to the earth as acid rain.
Carbon monoxide causes heart diseases and also affects
man’s central nervous system leading to death. It is
therefore necessary to convert these huge wastes to useful
raw material. Shoe polish consists of a waxy colloidal
emulsion, a substance composed of a number of partially
immiscible liquids and solids mixed together. It is usually
made from ingredients including some or all of naphtha,
lanolin, turpentine, wax (often called Carnauba wax),
gum Arabic, ethylene glycol, and if required a colourant,
such as carbon black or an azo dye (such as aniline
yellow). Wax comes from a substance between resins and
fats. Chemically it is defined as “an ester of a long chain
aliphatic acid with a long chain aliphatic alcohol [1].
II. MATERIALS AND METHOD
Materials
Batch reactor, temperature controller, waste low
density polyethylene films (pure water sachet), electric
heater, thermocouple, lagging materials, beaker to
received the wax and weighing balance. Polyethylene
waste water sachet around the streets/ road sides of
the university were gathered, washed with water to
remove sand and other impurities, then dried. These
waste pure water sachets were cut into pieces of
about 1cm size to create higher surface area for
pyrolysis as shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus consists of a
fabricated batch reactor, with lagging for effective heat
transfer, thermocouple, electric heater.
A
Fig 1Clean and dry waste pure water sachets cut into pieces
120
ISSN: 2277-3754
ISO 9001:2008 Certified
International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT)
Volume 2, Issue 10, April 2013
B
Method
Waste water sachets were collected, washed and dried
to make them clean. They were weighed into samples of
100g each. Each of these samples was charged into a
batch pyrolytic reactor. The reactor was placed on a heat
source. For each sample, the temperature and reaction
time was noted, to enable the determination of
temperature and time at which highest yield of wax was
obtained. Paraffin wax was melted along with the wax
obtained from waste water sachets. The two waxes were
properly mixed and then stearic acid was added and
stirred as shown in Fig 2. Thereafter, turpentine was
introduced while still stirring to ensure a proper mix The
mixture was allowed to cool to 41°C and poured into a
container for storage. The polish was allowed to set.
C
Shoe Polish Formulations
Three different formulations of polish were prepared
and labeled samples A, B and C. the three samples were
also compared with the two standard polishes labeled D
(Kiwi) and E (Lude). In Table 1, sample B had the
highest percentage of waste polyethylene wax from the
waste water sachets followed by sample C, and then
sample A. The densities, melting points and viscosities of
shoe polishes produced and that of control (Kiwi and
Lude) polishes were determined using ASTM standard
methods.
Table 1 Showing Shoe Polish Formulations
Ingredients
A (%)
B (%)
Waste Sachet
11.9
33.3
wax
Paraffin wax
21.4
Stearic acid
12,1
12.1
Turpentine
54.5
54.5
Fig. 2 The Flow Diagram of Polish Production
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A Yield of polyethylene wax obtained at different
pyrolysis time and temperature
The effect of pyrolysis temperature and time on the
yield of polyethylene wax is shown in Fig 3. It was
observed that, at the same pyrolysis temperature, the
yield decreases with the increase of pyrolysis time.
At high pyrolysis temperature, the decrease in wax yield
was very obvious. It can be seen from Fig 3 that , the
yield was
95.31– 50.44 % at the pyrolysis
temperature range of 110˚C – 150˚C when the
polyethylene
waste sachets
was
pyrolysed to
polyethylene wax.
C (%)
21.4
11.9
12.1
54.5
D
Standard Test Method for Needle Penetration
of Petroleum Wax (ASTM D 1321-97)
This test method covers the empirical estimation of
the consistency of waxes derived from petroleum by
measurement of the extent of penetration of a
standard needle. This test method is applicable to wax
having a penetration of not greater than 250mm. The
samples were melted, heated to 17oC above its
congealing point, poured into a container and then air
cooled under controlled condition. The samples were
then conditioned at test temperature in a water bath.
Penetration is measured with a Penetrometer, which
applies a standard needle to the sample for 5s under
a load of 100g .
E
Determination of Melting Point
Waxes are traded on the basis of melting point
range . Therefore standard test method defined by ASTM
(D 127-87) for drop melting point of Petroleum wax
including petrolatum was used. Penetration and drop
melting point test of the wax were carried out at the
Nigeria National petroleum corporation’s refinery
laboratory at Kaduna, Nigeria. The average of the two
determinations was taken as the drop melting point of
the sample under test.
Fig 3 Yield of Polyethylene Wax Obtained At Different
Pyrolysis Time and Temperature
At a low pyrolysis temperature (110˚C to 130˚C),
from Fig 3 the yield of wax and reaction time has a
low slope. When the temperature was increased to
150˚C, the yield decreases significantly and the slope
increases as shown in Fig 3. There are two reasons for
the decrease in yield, one is the pyrolysis of wax to
more gaseous products as the temperature increases; the
other reason is the vaporization of wax when pouring
from the reactor into the mould. On the other hand,
at very low temperature (110˚C to 120˚C) and short
reaction time this is not feasible, because under this
condition the polyethylene wax obtained showed
some of the properties of the unpyrolysed waste
sachets. Similar trend was observed by Jixing et al., [5]
while pyrolysing waste plastics to produce polyethylene
wax. Therefore 130˚C and 150˚C are the optimal
temperatures in other to produce wax with high yield i.e
over 90%. .The yield of wax increased with pyrolysis
time but above 150oC rapid melting of wax was observed,
which shows that quality wax from waste water sachets
can only be obtained between 130-150 oC, above 150oC
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ISSN: 2277-3754
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Volume 2, Issue 10, April 2013
Table 4. Showing Melting Point, Pour Point (°C) and
the wax melted to fuel oil. Ademiluyi et al., [6] observed
Density of Polishes
also that waste sachets begin to melt to fuel oil at
Parameters
Formulated and control polish
temperature above 150oC, during the production of fuel
A
B
C
D
E
oil from waste water sachets. Similar trend was observed
Melting point
28
>60
>60
32
39
by Jixing et al., [5] while pyrolysing waste plastics to
(°C)
produce polyethylene wax.
Pour point
-8
-18
-12
-7
-5
B
Properties of Wax after Pyrolysis
(°C)
The properties of the wax produced from waste sachets
Density (g/ml) 0.63
Too
0.68
0.62
0.62
hard
before it was used to formulate polish after pyrolysis is
E. Viscosity of Polishes at Different Temperatures
shown in Table 3. These parameters were measure before
Table 5 shows the viscosity of shoe polishes
additives (like turpentine, stearic acids etc) were added to
formulated A, B, C & the control polishes D & E at
the polish. The wax produced at pyrolysis temperature of
different temperatures. Table 5 shows that increase in
150°C was used to produce the polish. The melting point
temperature affects the viscosity of the samples. Viscosity
of the wax was 76oC. While the density was 0.754g/ml
value decreased with increase in temperature for all
with a needle penetration degree of 30-40mm.
samples Table 5 shows that polishes labeled sample B
formulated using 33.3% water sachets was hard and
Table 3 Shows The Properties Of The Wax Produced From
Waste Water Sachets Used To Formulate Polish After
difficult to melt at 40-60oc and so viscosity of the two
Pyrolysis
polishes B and D could not be measured. . Sample B was
Parameters
Values
too hard to melt. This could be attributed to the fact that
Pyrolysis temperature
150°C
the polish was formulated with 33% of the waste water
Melting point
76°C
sachet wax. Generally viscosity of the polishes decreases
Density @ room temperature
0.754 g/ml
with temperature except for sample B which is too hard
Needle penetration
30 - 40mm
and sample D (Lude polish) which is too viscous at
higher temperatures. Viscosity of polish produced using
C
Thermo physical Properties of new Polish
sample A compares favorably with control polish sample
Table 4 shows the thermo physical properties of
E than sample C at 50 oC.
polishes produced from waste water sachet wax and other
known standard polish. Samples A, B and C were
Table 5 Viscosity (secs) of polishes at different
prepared using the formulation as discussed earlier while
temperature
samples D and E are the control samples which are Kiwi
Temperat
Viscosity (secs) of Formulated and
and Lude polishes, respectively. Table 4 shows that the
ure (°C)
control polish
melting point of sample E which is Lude a control polish
A
B
C
D
E
was the highest followed by Kiwi polish and then sample
40
2.39
Too hard
0.57
Too
8.24
A which contains only 12% wax produced from waste
viscous
sachets. In the analysis, sample E (Lude polish) had the
50
2.03
Too hard
0.33
Too
3.67
highest melting point followed by D (Kiwi polish), A and
viscous
60
0.35
Too hard
0.19
0.69
3.14
then B, C which had the same melting point.. Sample B &
C has the lowest melting point and contains more waste
polyethylene sachet wax of about 33.3 and 21.4%
IV. CONCLUSION
respectively sample A. This shows that the percentage of
Preliminary studies on properties of Shoe Polish
waste sachet wax required for formulation of polish
formulated from wax produced from Waste Water Sachet
should not exceed 12%. There are significant differences
were studied. Pyrolysis temperatures between 130˚C and
in the pour point of all samples. The pour point of sample
150˚C will be required to produced polyethylene wax
A was -8oC which compares well with the pour point of
from waste sachets for formulation of polish. The melting
control samples D and E which has pour point of - 7 and
point, pour point (°C), density and viscosity of one of the
– 5 respectively. Sample B and C had high pour points;
polish formulated using 12% waste polyethylene wax
this was expected because sample B and C contains high
compares favorably with standard commercial polish.
percentage of waste sachet as shown in the polish
One of the economic advantages of this project is in the
formulation in Table 1. There are also differences in the
use of 12% waste sachet wax which is a waste product in
densities of the polishes produced with exception of
addition to paraffin wax to produce the shoe polish. The
sample B which was too hard to melt even at 60°C. The
other economic advantage of this project is that wealth
density of shoe polish sample A compared favorably with
generation and employment opportunity can be created.
that of samples D & E (control polishes) than samples B
Work continues to improve the melting point and
& C. The polished produced using formulation sample B
viscosity of polish produced from these waste sachet wax.
was hard & irregular in shape to determine the density.
Future work will also look at possibility of using waste
sachet wax higher than 12% in the formulation of the
polish.
122
ISSN: 2277-3754
ISO 9001:2008 Certified
International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT)
Volume 2, Issue 10, April 2013
REFERENCES
[1] L. Chalmers,” Household and Industrial Chemical
pecialties ". Chemical Publishing Co. Inc., New York, NY,
USA, 1979.
[2] Kiwi shoe polish, “Material safety data sheet" . Health and
Environment Resource Center. Accessed November 27,
2012.
[3] J.H De Bussy,. :"Materials and Technology -Natural
Organic Materials Related Synthetic Products ". Longman,
London, UK, vol. v, pp 317-381, 1976.
[4] R.H. Perry,; and C.H Chilton,” Chemical Engineers
Handbook ", McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, USA, 2008.
[5] L . Jixing Shuyuan, Xuan Wang and L Xian yang. Study
on the Conversion Technology of waste Polyethylene
Plastic to Polyethylene Wax, Energy Sources vol 25, pp 77
-83. 2003.
[6] T. Ademiluyi and C . Akpan Preliminary
estimation of
fuel oil from pyrolysis of low
density
polyethylene
water sachets wastes
Journal of Applied Sciences &
Environmental management. 11(3) 15 - 19, 2007.
123