Alum Made in the Manufacture of Candles

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

We learn by the " Comptes Rendus," thai J. Cambaceres, has endeavored to get a useful product in the manufacture of fatty acids' into candles. Tallow in the manufacture ol stea-aric candles, is saponified with .lime, then the lime is separated from the fatty matter by sulphuric acid, which combines with the liiie, forming the sulphate of lime, and setting the fatty stearic acid free, thereby fitting it for bleaching, and being made into beautiful sperm-like candles. Instead of using lime to saponify the tallow, M. Cambasceres employs soda or potash ley, and adds clay. The soap containing an excess of the alkali acts upon the clay so as to dissolve the''alumina in it which combines with the fatty matter form, ing an insoluble aluminous soap. By the addition of sulphuric acid to this, the fatty matter* arc aefe free, and thti'roaticf; is fho'BjS-phate of lime, and when clay can be found, free from iron, and near a candle-factory, this process is worth a trial by some ol our spirited candle makers.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American