Question

If one mix vegetable oil with dried, cleaned elephant dung to make BBQ firefighters, is it possible to produce a NON-OILY block about the size of a small pine-cone as the end result?

A) Yes, the oil in the mixture will evaporate during the drying process.

B) No, the presence of oil will always result in an oily texture.

C) Yes, if a water-based binder is added to the mixture.

D) No, the vegetable oil will permanently saturate the dung.

Answer 1

Vegetable oil, while originally oily, will partially evaporate during the drying and burning processes, potentially yielding a non-oily firelighter block after combination with dried elephant dung. The correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks whether combining vegetable oil with dried, cleaned elephant dung could produce a non-oily block suitable for use as a BBQ firelighter. The correct answer is A) Yes, the oil in the mixture will evaporate during the drying process.

Although vegetable oils are generally fatty substances that have a greasy feel, they can be altered or dried out under certain conditions. For instance, when oils are exposed to heat or left out, the lighter components can evaporate, leaving behind a substance that is significantly less oily.

Heating during the burning process would drive off much of the oil, resulting in a drier, less oily product. However, it's important to consider that complete evaporation might not occur, but the texture could still be sufficiently dry to meet the requirements.

Furthermore, the use of vegetable oil as an alternative to petroleum products is an area of interest, especially in the field of lubricants where specialized esters are being developed for stability and environmental benefits.