Paraffin wax

Distillation separates fractions. This principle—heating petroleum to different temperatures to isolate compounds by boiling point—explains why paraffin wax emerged when chemical conditions converged: Carl Reichenbach's 1830 petroleum distillation experiments separated waxy residues from lighter fractions, candle makers needed materials that burned cleaner than tallow and cheaper than beeswax, and petroleum refining operations generated waxy by-products requiring commercial applications.

Paraffin wax consists of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) with 20-40 carbon atoms, solid at room temperature but melting at 46-68°C. Reichenbach isolated these compounds by fractional distillation—heating petroleum until lighter components vaporized, leaving heavier waxes behind. The material burned cleanly with minimal smoke and odor, unlike animal tallow that produced acrid fumes. Reichenbach called it 'paraffin' from Latin parum (little) plus affinis (affinity), noting its chemical inertness.

The material required preceding petroleum chemistry knowledge. Distillation techniques, refined since medieval times for alcohol production, provided methods for separating mixtures by volatility. Chemical understanding of hydrocarbons, developed in early 19th century, explained why petroleum contained compounds with different boiling points. What Reichenbach contributed was recognizing that petroleum's waxy residues could replace traditional candle materials.

Commercial production lagged behind discovery. The first petroleum well wasn't drilled until 1859 in Pennsylvania, providing reliable petroleum supplies for industrial refining. Paraffin wax entered commercial manufacture in 1867, once refiners had sufficient petroleum feedstock and markets for the lighter kerosene and gasoline fractions. Initially, paraffin's low melting point caused candles to deform in warm weather until adding stearic acid raised the melting point.

The geographic context mattered. Germany in the 1830s combined advanced chemistry with traditional candle-making industries seeking tallow alternatives. Reichenbach worked in Blansko (then Austria, now Czech Republic) where coal tar distillation operations provided experience with separating complex hydrocarbon mixtures. The convergence occurred where chemical expertise met consumer demand for better lighting materials.

Paraffin didn't merely replace tallow; it transformed lighting economics. Tallow candles required animal fat from slaughterhouses, linking candle supply to meat production. Beeswax candles burned cleanly but cost too much for ordinary households. Paraffin provided clean-burning illumination at prices lower than tallow, democratizing quality lighting. This enabled longer working hours and literacy growth among populations previously dependent on dim, smoky tallow candles.

By the 1870s, paraffin wax applications extended beyond candles. Waterproofing paper and fabric, food packaging seals, and electrical insulation exploited paraffin's water resistance and low electrical conductivity. The petroleum industry welcomed markets for refinery by-products—selling paraffin wax improved refinery economics even when primary products were kerosene and lubricants.

The technology's path-dependence shaped modern candle industries. Once paraffin candles dominated markets, the infrastructure for producing, distributing, and using them became standardized. Candle molds, wicks, and consumer expectations all optimized for paraffin's specific melting point and burning characteristics. When electric lighting displaced candles for illumination, paraffin transitioned to decorative and aromatic applications rather than disappearing.

The downstream effects included medical applications. Histology adopted paraffin wax embedding—infiltrating tissue samples with molten wax that solidifies for thin-section cutting. This enabled microscopic examination of cellular structures, advancing pathology and medical research. The technique, developed in the 1860s, remains standard practice in 2026.

The true innovation was recognizing that petroleum's complexity offered opportunities rather than problems. Early refiners viewed heavy residues as waste requiring disposal. Reichenbach saw potential products requiring identification and purification. This mindset shift—treating by-products as resources—became fundamental to chemical engineering economics.

In 2026, paraffin wax remains significant despite soy and palm wax alternatives. Annual global production exceeds 6 million tons for candles, cosmetics, coatings, and industrial applications. Petroleum refineries continue producing paraffin as a by-product, making it economically competitive with biological waxes. The 1830 discovery still serves markets nearly two centuries later.

Yet the fundamental insight remains: when conditions align—petroleum refining, fractional distillation knowledge, market demand for clean-burning materials—valuable products emerge from industrial waste streams. Reichenbach didn't invent distillation or petroleum chemistry; those existed. He discovered that petroleum's waxy fractions could replace traditional candle materials, and we continue using that material wherever petroleum refining produces it.