Nomenclature
CAS number: 8012-89-3
Yellow beeswax.
Description and references
A substance obtained from bee honeycombs.
Consists of esters of straight-chain monohydric alcohols with even-numbered
carbon chains from C24 to C36 esterified with
straight-chain acids also having even numbers of C atoms up to C36 (some C18 hydroxy acids). Examples of such esters
are triacontanol hexadecanoate and hexacosanol hexacosanoate. These
esters are mixed with about 20% (w/w) of hydrocarbons having odd-numbered
straight carbon chains from C21 to C33. Propolis,
pigments and unidentified substances amount to about 6%. Composition:
D. T. Downing et al., Aust. J.
Chem. 14, 253 (1961); Callow, Bee World 44, 95 (1963). Brief
review: C. S. Letcher in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia
of Chemical Technology Vol. 24 (Wiley-Interscience,
New York, 3rd ed., 1984) pp 466-467.
Properties
Yellowish to brownish-yellow, soft to brittle;
honey-like odor; slight balsamic taste. d 0.95-0.960. mp 62-65°. Saponification number 84. Acid
number 20. Practically insol in water. Slightly sol in cold alc;
sol in hot alc, chloroform, benzene, ether, carbon disulfide.Derivative
White beeswax.
Nomenclature
White wax; bleached yellow wax; bleached beeswax. Properties
Prepd by oxidizing yellow beeswax cakes with peroxide
or in sunlight. Yellowish-white. Properties similar to those of
yellow beeswax, except for a slightly different taste. Preferred
to yellow beeswax in cosmetics.Use
Manuf of wax paper, candles, cosmetics; modeling
artificial fruits and flowers; in process engraving; shoe polish.
Pharmaceutic aid (in ointments, plasters).