WHITE BEESWAX
WHITE BEESWAX
White beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis, which they use to build honeycombs for storing honey and pollen.
White beeswax has a range of applications, including use in candles, cosmetics, and as a sealant, valued for its natural and eco-friendly properties.
White beeswax is used in various consumer products, including lip balm, hand creams, and cosmetics, due to its beneficial properties like its ability to provide a protective barrier and enhance texture.
CAS Number: 8012-89-3
EC Number: 232-383-7
Synonyms: BEESWAX, YELLOW, BEESWAX ABSOLUTE, BEESWAX ABSOLUTE BRECHE, BEESWAX, BLEACHED, WHITE, BEESWAX, WHITE, BEESWAX, CERA ALBA, CERA FLAVA, FEMA 2126, Bee wax white, WHITE BEESWAX NF PASTILLES), BEESWAX, WHITE CAKE, BEESWAX, WHITE PRILLED, WAX, BEES, YELLOW, WAX WHITE, WAX, WAX, BEES, WAX, BEES, WHITE, WHITE BEESWAX, WHITE WAX, YELLOW BEESWAX, YELLOW WAX, White?Bee?Wax, Chinese(insect) wax, BEESWAX, REFINED, YELLOW, BeesWaxPure(White)ForHistology, Ceraalbaorflava, Chinese (insect) wax,white wax, Beeswax,pure,refined, yellow, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, 37311-01-6, 9087-53-0, hexadecan-1-ol;2-methyloxirane;oxirane, Triglyceryl beeswax, PPG-1-Ceteth-5, PPG-2-Ceteth-1, PPG-2-Ceteth-5, PPG-4-Ceteth-5, PPG-8-Ceteth-2, PPG-1-Ceteth-20, PPG-4-Ceteth-10, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, PPG-8-Ceteth-10, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, SCHEMBL285156, UNII-1OTA54V264, GTABBGRXERZUAH-UHFFFAOYSA-N, C16-H34-O.(C3H6-O.C2-H4-O)x-, C16-H34-O.x-(C3H6-O.C2-H4-O)x-
White beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees.
White beeswax’s used by the bees to build honeycombs where they store honey and pollen.
For humans, White beeswax has a range of applications.
White beeswax’s commonly used in candles, cosmetics, and as a sealant for various purposes.
White beeswax’s also valued for its natural and eco-friendly properties.
White beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis.
White beeswax is formed into scales by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, which discard it in or at the hive.
The hive workers collect and use White beeswax to form cells for honey storage and larval and pupal protection within the beehive.
White beeswax is a natural wax that worker bees secrete from glands under their abdomen.
White beeswax is produced as waxy scales that form thin sheets.
White beeswax can be chewed up by the worker bee and molded into any shape they choose.
Bees produce White beeswax mainly to create honeycomb cells for storing honey and protecting eggs and larvae.
White beeswax acts as a valuable barrier to water and keeps out cold.
White beeswax has a chemical makeup comprising various long-chain alcohols and fatty acid esters.
White beeswax is a product made from the honeycomb of the honeybee and other bees.
The mixing of pollen oils into honeycomb wax turns the white wax into a yellow or brown color.
White beeswax is used for high cholesterol, pain, fungal skin infections, and other conditions.
But there is no good scientific research to support these uses.
In foods and beverages, white White beeswax and White beeswax absolute (yellow White beeswax treated with alcohol) are used as stiffening agents.
In manufacturing, yellow and white White beeswax are used as thickeners, emulsifiers, and as stiffening agents in cosmetics.
White beeswax absolute is used as a fragrance in soaps and perfumes.
White White beeswax and White beeswax absolute are also used to polish pills.
White beeswax is a substance made by honeybees.
White beeswax has many useful properties, not only for the success of the hive but also as a natural ingredient for consumer products.
White beeswax can be used for household items, but there are also biological benefits.
Bees play an important role in keeping our world functioning.
With the amount of pollination that they do, they contribute to various animal and plant species’ survival, including our own.
Not only that, bee products are now an integral part of consumer products.
These products are growing in popularity, and help bring attention to all the work honeybees do for nature and people.
Besides growing in demand as a natural alternative to plastics and synthetic chemicals, White beeswax is an important material used for building the beehive.
White beeswax is made to store food and house the young bee larvae.
White beeswax is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are formed into long carbon chains.
This structure makes White beeswax easy to sculpt once it’s been harvested and cleaned.
Worker bees make White beeswax by turning their nectar and honey stores into compounds.
They work together and use their small bodies to make the product.
Those compounds are secreted from special glands on the bee’s abdomen.
A lot of work goes into making White beeswax.
Young worker bees spend most of their time making White beeswax.
Bees use six pounds of honey to make one pound of wax.
The young worker bees cluster together to raise their body temperatures, which helps to make White beeswax easier to work with.
White beeswax is one of the natural waxes that have been used as a support ingredient in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.
Although White beeswax has well-known healing properties, White beeswax remains a secondary and poorly valued product, particularly in South American countries’ apiarian production.
In Latin America, for example, the apiarian activity can be traced back to stingless bees in pre-Columbian times.
Then, with the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, honey bees (Apis mellifera iberian and A. m. mellifera) were introduced, which were joined afterward by other breeds such as A. m. ligustica and A. m. scutellata.
Over the years, honey has been the main product from the apiarian farmers, being White beeswax a secondary product, mainly used for the regular renewal procedure of the hives.
Nowadays, White beeswax’s cosmetic and pharmaceutical use is found at the level of small laboratories and small businesses.
Unlike other hive products, White beeswax is a substance produced 100% by worker bees.
They produce what are called wax scales thanks to specific glands located on their abdomen.
Mixed with saliva, White beeswax scales take on a more homogeneous and smoother appearance, which then serves as a polishing, protective and softening agent.
Like propolis or royal jelly, White beeswax plays an important role in maintaining the good health of the hive and protecting it from external aggression.
Chemically, White beeswax consists mainly of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols.
White beeswax has been used since prehistory as the first plastic, as a lubricant and waterproofing agent, in lost wax casting of metals and glass, as a polish for wood and leather, for making candles, as an ingredient in cosmetics and as an artistic medium in encaustic painting.
White beeswax is edible, having similarly negligible toxicity to plant waxes, and is approved for food use in most countries and in the European Union under the E number E901.
However, due to its inability to be broken down by the human digestive system, White beeswax has insignificant nutritional value
Uses of White Beeswax:
Candle-making has long involved the use of White beeswax, which burns readily and cleanly, and this material was traditionally prescribed for the making of the Paschal candle or “Easter candle”.
White beeswax candles are purported to be superior to other wax candles, because they burn brighter and longer, do not bend, and burn cleaner.
White beeswax is further recommended for the making of other candles used in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church.
White beeswax is also the candle constituent of choice in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Refined White beeswax plays a prominent role in art materials both as a binder in encaustic paint and as a stabilizer in oil paint to add body.
White beeswax is an ingredient in surgical bone wax, which is used during surgery to control bleeding from bone surfaces; shoe polish and furniture polish can both use White beeswax as a component, dissolved in turpentine or sometimes blended with linseed oil or tung oil; modeling waxes can also use White beeswax as a component; pure White beeswax can also be used as an organic surfboard wax.
White beeswax blended with pine rosin is used for waxing, and can serve as an adhesive to attach reed plates to the structure inside a squeezebox.
White beeswax can also be used to make Cutler’s resin, an adhesive used to glue handles onto cutlery knives.
White beeswax is used in Eastern Europe in egg decoration; White beeswax is used for writing, via resist dyeing, on batik eggs (as in pysanky) and for making beaded eggs.
White beeswax is used by percussionists to make a surface on tambourines for thumb rolls.
White beeswax can also be used as a metal injection moulding binder component along with other polymeric binder materials.
White beeswax was formerly used in the manufacture of phonograph cylinders.
White beeswax may still be used to seal formal legal or royal decree and academic parchments such as placing an awarding stamp imprimatur of the university upon completion of postgraduate degrees.
Purified and bleached White beeswax is used in the production of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
The three main types of White beeswax products are yellow, white, and White beeswax absolute.
Yellow White beeswax is the crude product obtained from the honeycomb, white White beeswax is bleached or filtered yellow White beeswax, and White beeswax absolute is yellow White beeswax treated with alcohol.
In food preparation, White beeswax is used as a coating for cheese; by sealing out the air, protection is given against spoilage (mold growth).
White beeswax may also be used as a food additive E901, in small quantities acting as a glazing agent, which serves to prevent water loss, or used to provide surface protection for some fruits.
Soft gelatin capsules and tablet coatings may also use E901.
White beeswax is also a common ingredient of natural chewing gum.
White beeswax monoesters in White beeswax are poorly hydrolysed in the guts of humans and other mammals, so they have insignificant nutritional value.
Some birds, such as honeyguides, can digest White beeswax.
White beeswax is the main diet of wax moth larvae.
The use of White beeswax in skin care and cosmetics has been increasing.
A German study found White beeswax to be superior to similar barrier creams (usually mineral oil-based creams such as petroleum jelly), when used according to its protocol.
White beeswax is used in lip balm, lip gloss, hand creams, salves, and moisturizers; and in cosmetics such as eye shadow, blush, and eye liner.
White beeswax is also an important ingredient in moustache wax and hair pomades, which make hair look sleek and shiny.
In oil spill control, White beeswax is processed to create Petroleum Remediation Product (PRP).
White beeswax is used to absorb oil or petroleum-based pollutants from water.
White beeswax has played an essential role in history and popular tradition for many years.
Historically, White beeswax has been used for candle manufacture; White beeswax also was used in letter envelopes seals, sculpture making, and sealing coffins, among other applications.
Due to White beeswax characteristics, properties and benefits, White beeswax is used in both handcrafted and industrial products.
Industry uses White beeswax as an insulating and hydrophobic component of numerous products.
For example, White beeswax is used in electrical cables to isolate copper from moisture, in electronic circuits, to protect leather, in the preparation of varnishes, inks, matches, and protective waxes for cuttings.
White beeswax goes into the composition of ointments and creams as a fat base and thickener.
The major use in this field is depilating wax, a mixture of White beeswax and resins.
White beeswax has anti-inflammatory and healing properties and is thus widely used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
White beeswax is used to cover sewing cords in shoe production, paperboards, and even in some cultures to produce dried meat.
White beeswax is also used in shoe polishes and creams to protect cans from acidic attacks from fruit juices and other corrosive agents.
White beeswax is used to make models for pieces in jewelry and sculpture modeling due to its malleability.
White beeswax in some Asia and African countries is used to create batik fabrics and manufacture small metal ornaments through the molten wax method.
Companies such as Stockmar and Filana use White beeswax to make wax crayons.
Additionally, candelilla wax has been proposed in White beeswax crayon formulations.
Stockmar also manufactures modeling White beeswax.
White beeswax has numerous uses.
White beeswax has over 300 natural compounds in it, and has a pleasant scent.
This makes White beeswax a popular material to use in human goods.
Candles:
White beeswax burns more beautifully than any other wax.
White beeswax exudes a faint, natural fragrance of honey and pollen.
When candles are made with the proper size of wicking, they are smokeless, dripless, and burn with a bright flame.
The aroma can be accentuated when mixed with essential oils.
Pure White beeswax candles can clean the air by releasing negative ions into the air.
These negative ions can bind with toxins and help remove them from the air.
White beeswax candles are often especially helpful for those with asthma or allergies and they are effective at removing common allergens like dust and dander from the air.
Whilst White beeswax candles are more expensive than paraffin wax ones, they burn more slowly so they last much longer.
Prevents Rust:
Coat things like hand tools, cast iron pieces and shovels to prevent them from rusting out.
You can even rub White beeswax on the wooden handle of your shovel to help protect against wear and tear.
White beeswax also prevents bronze items from getting tarnished.
Cheese Waxing:
White beeswax is the best natural cover for cheeses.
White beeswax works well for sealing because it has a low melting point.
Waxed Thread:
Plain thread can be rubbed against a cube of wax, coating the thread in the wax.
White beeswax on the thread provides lubrication that can make sewing easier.
Coating Nails & Screws:
Nails and screws coated with White beeswax help not splinter the wood.
Wood Lubricant:
Rub White beeswax on sliding glass doors, windows or drawers that tend to stick to restore smooth movement.
White beeswax is also a fantastic lubricant for oiling very old furniture joints.
Envelope Seal:
Traditionally White beeswax was used as an envelope seal.
This use would be great for an invitation to traditional events such as weddings.
Waterproof Shoes and Boots:
Rub the White beeswax over the entire shoe.
Next, use a blow dryer to melt White beeswax all over the shoe then let set for about 5 minutes before wearing!
DIY Shoe Polish:
Restore leather products such as boots, shoes, wallets, bags, and more with this basic shoe polish formula.
White beeswax For Hair:
White beeswax is used as a remedy for dry hair, to help start and maintain dreadlocks and as a wax for a man’s beard or mustache.
Grease Cookie Sheets:
If you have a block of wax, you can simply rub it over your pans and use it in place of butter or oil. (White beeswax is edible so this is perfectly safe.)
White beeswax works best if you warm the sheet a bit first.
Over time the pan will take on a permanent coat of wax, eliminating the need to grease every time.
Furniture Polish:
To make White beeswax furniture polish melt 1 T. of grated White beeswax, stir in 3 T. of coconut oil until melted.
When this cools and hardens, use a clean cloth to rub it onto your wood furniture.
Then using another cloth, buff the furniture until all residue is removed.
Reusable Food Wrap:
An alternative to plastic wrap make your own White beeswax coated cotton material.
The warmth of your hands allows you to mould the White beeswax to whatever shape you want and it stays there.
When refrigerated White beeswax forms a firm cover to protect your leftovers.
Care For Wooden Utensils:
Make spoon (or board) butter out of mineral oil and natural White beeswax.
Smooth White beeswax into your spoons, spatulas, boards and bowls.
Let them sit for a couple of hours, then rub down with a clean cloth and return them to normal use.
Cosmetics:
White beeswax is often added to creams, lotions, soaps, and lipstick.
This is because White beeswax can improve skin’s softness and hydration, and has antibiotic properties.
This ingredient is increasingly seen in skincare items, as a natural alternative that is safe for sensitive skin.
Food coverings:
White beeswax has become an alternative coating to other kinds of wax for candies, fruits, nuts, and coffee beans to name a few.
You can find natural White beeswax covers in the grocery store, which are reusable alternatives to plastic wrap.
White beeswax is thus becoming more popular among people who are switching to sustainable lifestyles.
Polish:
White beeswax has been used in furniture and shoe polish, but there are many technical uses for White beeswax.
White beeswax is also been used to care for leather products.
The different types of compounds found in White beeswax make it a versatile product.
Candles:
White beeswax can be used as candle wax.
White beeswax is naturally scented and makes for nice, natural candles.
Candles made with White beeswax were once popular.
Now people have moved on to easier, more sustainable waves for candles.
Honeybees are powerhouses capable of making all sorts of wonderful things.
Buying local is a great way to support your area’s bees.
You can also check to see that your bee products are sustainably sourced.
These actions may benefit both your surrounding environment and local economy.
Historical Uses:
White beeswax was among the first plastics to be used, alongside other natural polymers such as gutta-percha, horn, tortoiseshell, and shellac.
For thousands of years, White beeswax has had a wide variety of applications; White beeswax has been found in the tombs of Egypt, in wrecked Viking ships, and in Roman ruins.
White beeswax never goes bad and can be heated and reused.
Historically, White beeswax has been used:
As candles – the oldest intact White beeswax candles north of the Alps were found in the Alamannic graveyard of Oberflacht, Germany, dating to 6th/7th century AD
In the manufacture of cosmetics
As a modelling material in the lost-wax casting process, or cire perdue
For wax tablets used for a variety of writing purposes
In encaustic paintings such as the Fayum mummy portraits
In bow making
To strengthen and preserve sewing thread, cordage, shoe laces, etc.
As a component of sealing wax
To strengthen and to forestall splitting and cracking of wind instrument reeds
To form the mouthpieces of a didgeridoo, and the frets on the Philippine kutiyapi – a type of boat lute
As a sealant or lubricant for bullets in cap and ball firearms
To stabilize the military explosive Torpex – before being replaced by a petroleum-based product
In producing Javanese batik
As an ancient form of dental tooth filling
As the joint filler in the slate bed of pool and billiard tables.
Benefits of White Beeswax:
White beeswax has numerous benefits for honeybees and their hives.
This material plays an important role in the honeybee colony’s function and health.
The good news is that it’s also useful to humans.
White beeswax has been shown to have multiple therapeutic properties.
The natural components of White beeswax also give it healing properties.
White beeswax products are used on the exterior of your skin.
Unlike honey, it’s not meant to be consumed.
Some of these include:
Healing bruises
Reducing inflammation
Treating burns
There is a long history in European and Asian usage of White beeswax in traditional medicine.
More modern researchers are studying the antimicrobial properties of White beeswax, and some studies have shown a reduction of the effect of salmonella and staphylococcus.
Another benefit of White beeswax is its low irritant content.
This makes White beeswax popular in cosmetics and makeup.
Because of White beeswax’s softening and protective properties, it’s safe for many skin types.
All natural:
Coming from the honeycomb of the honeybee, White beeswax is a completely all-natural substance straight from Mother Nature.
Honeybees consume honey and pollen to produce the wax.
White beeswax takes about eight pounds of honey to produce just one pound of White beeswax.
Antibacterial:
Like honey, White beeswax has antibacterial properties helping keep things clean and reducing risks of contamination.
This makes White beeswax a common ingredient in skin treatments, salves, and more.
Antifungal:
White beeswax is also thought to have antifungal properties preventing the growth of yeasts and other fungi.
Edible:
While it wouldn’t provide you with many nutrients, White beeswax is non-toxic and safe if ingested which is one of the reasons White beeswax makes an excellent lip balm.
Better even when burned:
Unlike candles made from other wax, White beeswax candles burn brighter and cleaner as they emit negative ions that are known to help purify the air.
White beeswax also smells great when burned without any added chemicals or scents, as White beeswax’s naturally aromatic from the honey and flower nectar that’s found in the honeycomb.
Waterproof:
White beeswax has been used throughout history as a sealant and waterproofing agent for items like belts, tents, and shoes.
By rubbing White beeswax onto a surface like leather or canvas and then heating White beeswax, White beeswax seeps into the materials’ fibers and blocks water from passing through.
Moisturising:
A common ingredient in lotions, salves, and balms, White beeswax helps lock in moisture making it a great defense against dry skin, lips, or hair.
Eco-friendly:
Since White beeswax comes directly from bees and is non-toxic, White beeswax is completely environmentally friendly and an important ingredient in a range of eco-friendly products.
Also, we use White beeswax to make our White beeswax wraps and White beeswax food bags.
Never goes bad:
Propolis in White beeswax:
White beeswax contains a natural, powerful protective substance called propolis, which shields White beeswax from ever going bad.
Made by the bees by combining tree resin with wax flakes and pollen, propolis is used to used fix and strengthen the beehive while protecting the hive with an antiseptic barrier – the name propolis comes from the Greek meaning “defense of the city.”
These protective qualities are so effective that unspoiled White beeswax has even been found in ancient tombs.
That said, White beeswax is possible for commercial or homemade White beeswax products that also include other ingredients to go bad.
White beeswax and its beneficial properties:
With so many beneficial properties, White beeswax is a healthy and harmless alternative to plastic for storing food.
White beeswax wraps use the natural power of White beeswax to protect and store your food in a safe way as a plastic wrap alternative.
Since White beeswax is waterproof, it keeps unwanted moisture out of food while trapping the food’s natural moisture in.
Meanwhile, its antibacterial and antifungal properties keep bacteria and germs at bay while the fact that White beeswax’s all-natural and nontoxic means that, unlike chemical-filled plastics, it’s safe to have close to your food.
Many people even use White beeswax to seal fresh cheeses for aging – you can’t get much closer than that.
BENEFITS OF White beeswax FOR THE SKIN AND HAIR:
The softening, emulsifying and protective properties of White beeswax are particularly valuable for helping to nourish the skin and contribute to naturally maintaining its elasticity and flexibility.
Rich in fatty acids, White beeswax is widely found in the formulation of cosmetic treatments intended for dry skin and mature skin.
White beeswax is also a key ingredient in lip balms and hand creams.
Applied on the skin, White beeswax gives instant comfort thanks to its softening action and provides lasting protection against external aggression such as the cold or wind.
In addition to being recommended in facial and body treatments, White beeswax can also be used on the hair to nourish ends and facilitate styling, in association with other ingredients.
To enjoy the benefits of White beeswax, we have integrated it in some of our cosmetic products.
You can therefore find White beeswax alongside other hive products in our hand cream, our lip balm and even our moisturising day cream for normal skin.
White beeswax Formulation For Creams And Ointments:
In general, to obtain a dermo-cosmetic cream, the components of each phase must be mixed separately at a temperature close to 60 ºC, then incorporated one phase into the other under mixing, cool, and homogenize.
However, the preparation is more straightforward for ointments as a single phase.
The procedure consists basically in melting the White beeswax at a temperature higher than 65 ºC and adding the formulation components.
In this sense, the cream or ointment components must be chosen according to the objective pursued with the application on the skin.
Thus, White beeswax can be used as a component in moisturizing creams for burns, stretch marks, wrinkles, cellulite, lip balms, and even sunscreen formulations
Chemical Composition of White Beeswax:
An approximate chemical formula for White beeswax is C15H31COOC30H61.
White beeswax’s main constituents are palmitate, palmitoleate, and oleate esters of long-chain (30–32 carbons) aliphatic alcohols, with the ratio of triacontanyl palmitate CH3(CH2)29O-CO-(CH2)14CH3 to cerotic acid CH3(CH2)24COOH, the two principal constituents, being 6:1.
White beeswax can be classified generally into European and Oriental types.
The saponification value is lower (3–5) for European White beeswax, and higher (8–9) for Oriental types.
The analytical characterization can be done by high-temperature gas chromatography.
Characteristics of White Beeswax:
White beeswax has a very rich composition: White beeswax contains over 300 different molecules!
White beeswax mainly contains alcohol esters, fatty acids and sugars, as well as a significant quantity of vitamin A.
Produced at the heart of the hive, White beeswax also contains traces of propolis, pollen and other elements.
When White beeswax is produced by bees, White beeswax is white, but it progressively takes on a darker tint from contact with the pollen and propolis found in the hive.
White beeswax is a valued substance in industry, as White beeswax is very easy to work with.
Malleable at room temperature, White beeswax becomes liquid when it is melted.
White beeswax can also be kept for a long time, and its different properties make it a popular ingredient.
Physical Characteristics:
White beeswax is a fragrant solid at room temperature.
The colors are light yellow, medium yellow, or dark brown and white.
White beeswax is a tough wax formed from a mixture of several chemical compounds.
White beeswax has a relatively low melting point range of 62 to 64 °C (144 to 147 °F).
If White beeswax is heated above 85 °C (185 °F) discoloration occurs.
The flash point of White beeswax is 204.4 °C (400 °F).
White beeswax, a wax ester, is a major component of White beeswax.
When natural White beeswax is cold, it is brittle, and its fracture is dry and granular.
At room temperature (conventionally taken as about 20 °C (68 °F)), White beeswax is tenacious and it softens further at human body temperature (37 °C (99 °F)).
White beeswax is an inert material with high plasticity at a relatively low temperature (around 32ºC).
White beeswax’s melting point is not constant since the composition varies slightly depending on its origin.
Typical values are between (62 °C to 65 °C).
White beeswax’s relative density at 15 ºC is reported between 0.958 g/cm3 to 0.970 g/cm3, while its thermal conductivity is approximately 0.25 W/m.K.
White beeswax is also known that the viscosity at 100 °C is less than 20 mPa.
The boiling point is unknown and has a flash point at temperatures higher than 180 °C.
Pharmaceutical Properties of White Beeswax:
Sterols present in White beeswax are therapeutically beneficial compounds effective in lowering cholesterol levels.
The incorporation of sterols into different foods may be convenient.
White beeswax is used for delicate skin care in cosmetology, especially when it is dry.
White beeswax cleans the epidermis and softens and nourishes the dermis, thus preventing skin aging.
Products that contain White beeswax soften the skin.
White wax typically enters the composition of nourishing, astringent, cleansing creams and skin masks.
The therapeutic properties of White beeswax were already known in antiquity.
In his famous “Canon of medicine,” Avicenna cites several medicine formulas whose composition includes White beeswax.
In addition, archeological evidence of White beeswax ointments has been found from as early as the 16th century.
Nowadays, White beeswax continues to occupy a prominent place in medicine preparations.
According to Pharmacopoeia, plasters, ointments and creams should be prepared in pharmacies with a White beeswax base.
In addition, the white wax is included in the composition of creams, astringents, cleaning, whitening, and facial masks.
In the United States, chewing gum (combs wax) is attributed to have specific valuable properties, among others, to activate the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, eliminate dental stones, and reduce nicotine concentrations in smokers.
Recently, White beeswax has been used to encapsulate drugs and flavors.
Purification of White Beeswax:
As found in combs, White beeswax is yellow and has a particular smell similar to honey.
White beeswax’s purification is carried out through several procedures reported in the literature.
The purification procedure consists in melting White beeswax in a water bath at a temperature higher than 60 ºC.
Then White beeswax is bleached through a variety of methods, among them: exposition to the sun, through diatomaceous earth and activated carbon, or with sulfuric acid.
The molten White beeswax is then poured on a vessel and partially submerged in temperate water while slowly mixing, and the impurities are scraped off the surface.
The purified White beeswax is white and translucent and has thin edges.
Production of White Beeswax:
White beeswax is formed by worker bees, which secrete it from eight wax-producing mirror glands on the inner sides of the sternites (the ventral shield or plate of each segment of the body) on abdominal segments 4 to 7.
The sizes of these wax glands depend on the age of the worker, and after many daily flights, these glands gradually begin to atrophy.
The new wax is initially glass-clear and colorless, becoming opaque after chewing and being contaminated with pollen by the hive worker bees, becoming progressively yellower or browner by incorporation of pollen oils and propolis.
White beeswax scales are about three millimetres (0.12 in) across and 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) thick, and about 1100 are needed to make a gram of wax.
Worker bees use the White beeswax to build honeycomb cells.
For the wax-making bees to secrete wax, the ambient temperature in the hive must be 33 to 36 °C (91 to 97 °F).
The book White beeswax Production, Harvesting, Processing and Products suggests one kilogram (2.2 lb) of White beeswax is sufficient to store 22 kg (49 lb) of honey.
Another study estimated that one kilogram (2.2 lb) of wax can store 24 to 30 kg (53 to 66 lb) of honey.
Sugars from honey are metabolized into White beeswax in wax-gland-associated fat cells.
The amount of honey used by bees to produce wax has not been accurately determined, but according to Whitcomb’s 1946 experiment, 6.66 to 8.80 kg (14.7 to 19.4 lb) of honey yields one kilogram (2.2 lb) of wax.
Processing of White Beeswax:
White beeswax as a product for human use may come from cappings cut off the cells in the process of extraction, from old comb that is scrapped, or from unwanted burr comb and brace comb removed from a hive.
White beeswax’s color varies from nearly white to brownish, but most often is a shade of yellow, depending on purity, the region, and the type of flowers gathered by the bees.
White beeswax from the brood comb of the honey bee hive tends to be darker than wax from the honeycomb because impurities accumulate more quickly in the brood comb.
Due to the impurities, White beeswax must be rendered before further use.
The leftovers are called slumgum, and is derived from old breeding rubbish (pupa casings, cocoons, shed larva skins, etc.), bee droppings, propolis, and general rubbish.
White beeswax may be clarified further by heating in water.
As with petroleum waxes, White beeswax may be softened by dilution with mineral oil or vegetable oil to make it more workable at room temperature.
History of White Beeswax:
While we discovered the benefits and properties of beehive products relatively recently, they were commonly used across the different civilisations which preceded us.
The first traces of the use of White beeswax have been found in Turkey, where it was discovered on pottery shards dating to seven thousand years ago.
Other discoveries also lead us to believe that White beeswax was used traditionally during pre-Neolithic then Neolithic periods.
In the present day, White beeswax has many uses.
White beeswax is often found in the cosmetics sector, where it serves as a protective and softening agent. White beeswax is also used to make candles, as well as being used as a food additive.
Zero waste proponents also use White beeswax to create “bee-wrap”, an alternative to plastic containers for preserving food in a more ecological way.
Handling and Storage of White Beeswax:
Handling:
Use:
Handle White beeswax with clean, dry tools and equipment to prevent contamination.
Avoid:
Minimize prolonged skin contact; White beeswax is generally non-toxic but can cause skin irritation in some individuals.
Temperature:
Handle at temperatures suitable for its melting point (around 62-64°C or 144-147°F) to prevent it from becoming too soft or too hard.
Storage:
When White beeswax is heated above 150℃, esterification occurs with a consequent lowering of acid value and elevation of melting point.
White beeswax is stable when stored in a well-closed container, protected from ligh.
Conditions:
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent melting or degradation.
Containers:
Keep in airtight containers to avoid contamination and moisture absorption.
Separation:
Store separately from strong acids, bases, and oxidizers to avoid potential reactions.
Reactivity and Stability of White Beeswax:
Reactivity:
Chemical Stability:
White beeswax is generally stable under normal conditions.
It does not react vigorously with most substances.
Incompatibilities:
Avoid contact with strong acids, bases, and oxidizing agents.
Stability:
Thermal Stability:
Stable up to its melting point; exposure to high temperatures can cause it to melt or degrade.
Storage Stability:
Long-term storage is stable if kept in appropriate conditions (cool, dry, and dark).
First Aid Measures of White Beeswax:
Move to an area with fresh air.
If respiratory symptoms persist, seek medical attention.
Skin Contact:
Wash the affected area with soap and water.
If irritation develops or persists, seek medical advice.
Eye Contact:
Rinse eyes with water for at least 15 minutes.
If irritation continues, seek medical attention.
Ingestion:
If swallowed, rinse mouth with water.
Do not induce vomiting.
Seek medical advice if a large amount is ingested or if symptoms occur.
Firefighting Measures of White Beeswax:
Fire Extinguishing Agents:
Suitable:
Use dry chemical fire extinguishers, CO2 extinguishers, or foam for fires involving White beeswax.
Unsuitable:
Water is not recommended as it can spread the wax and may not be effective.
Firefighting Procedures:
Protection:
Wear appropriate protective clothing and respiratory protection.
Evacuation:
Ensure that untrained individuals and those not equipped with protective gear are kept away from the fire area.
Hazardous Combustion Products:
Products:
Combustion may produce smoke and fumes; ensure proper ventilation and avoid inhaling fumes.
Accidental Release Measures of White Beeswax:
Personal Precautions:
Protection:
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid direct contact with the wax.
Ventilation:
Ensure good ventilation if the release is in a confined area.
Containment and Cleanup:
Containment:
Contain spills to prevent spreading.
Use barriers if necessary.
Cleanup:
Collect wax using appropriate tools.
For larger spills, use absorbent materials to clean up.
Dispose of according to local regulations.
Exposure Controls/Personal Protective Measures of White Beeswax:
Exposure Controls:
Engineering Controls:
Ensure good ventilation in areas where White beeswax is melted or processed to avoid excessive inhalation of fumes.
Personal Hygiene:
Practice good hygiene, including washing hands after handling White beeswax.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Eye Protection:
Safety glasses or goggles if there is a risk of splashing.
Skin Protection:
Wear gloves to avoid direct skin contact, especially if handling hot wax.
Respiratory Protection:
Use a dust mask or respirator if working in an environment with fumes or dust.
Properties of White Beeswax:
Wax content type Percentage:
Hydrocarbons: 14%
Monoesters: 35%
Diesters: 14%
Triesters: 3%
Hydroxy monoesters: 4%
Hydroxy polyesters: 8%
Acid esters: 1%
Acid polyesters: 2%
Free fatty acids: 12%
Free fatty alcohols: 1%
Unidentified: 6%
Names of White Beeswax:
IUPAC Names:
BEESWAX
Beeswax extract
cera alba