6.3 | Waxes

Waxes

- Natural mixtures

- has large amounts of esters derived from higher monohydric alcohols of the methyl alcohol series combined with fatty acids

Waxes: Alcohols

- change from liquids to solids

- become less water-soluble

- higher MP & MW

Waxes: Examples (2)

1. Vegetable products - e.g., carnauba wax

2. Animal products - e.g., beeswax

Beeswax: Source

Melting & purifying the honeycomb of Apis mellifica and other bees

Apis mellifica is a _

homeopathic therapy, not a bee species

Beeswax: Zoological origins (5)

1. Apis mellifera

2. Apis dosarta

3. Apis cerana

4. Apis indica

5. Apis florea

Beeswax: Family

Apidae

Beeswax: Geographical Sources (6)

1. West Indies

2. California

3. Chile

4. Africa

5. Madagascar

6. India

Beeswax: Types (2)

1. Yellow beeswax

2. White beeswax

Yellow Beeswax: Preparation

1. honey removal

2. melt comb underwater

3. solid impurities sink

4. residual honey dissolves

5. strain

6. wax solidifies in suitable molds

White Beeswax: Preparation

yellow beeswax

- treated with charcoal, KMNO₄, HCrO₄, or Cl

- by slow bleaching action of light, air, and moisture

Beeswax: Characteristics (6)

1. yellow-brown or yellow-white

2. granular fracture

3. characteristic odor

4. water-insoluble

5. slightly alcohol-soluble

6. dissolves in chloroform, warm fixed and volatile oils

Beeswax: Constituents (3)

1. 80% myrisin = myricryl palmitate

2. a little myricyl stearate

3. free cerotic acid

Beeswax: Adulterants

Japan wax

- not a true wax, but a fat

- from fruits of Rhus, Anacardiaceae

Beeswax: Uses

preparations of plasters, ointments, polishes

Carnauba Wax: Botanical Origin

Copernicia cerifera

Carnauba Wax: Family

Arecaceae

Carnauba Wax: Parts Used

Leaves

Carnauba Wax: Constituents

Myricyl cerotate with some free alcohols and other minor constituents

Carnauba Wax: Uses (3)

1. Tablet coating agent

2. Manufacture: candles and leather polish

3. Replacement of beeswax in phytocosmetics