The main components of beeswax

composition

Beeswax is a complex organic compound. The main components of beeswax are esters, fatty acids and sugars synthesized from higher fatty acids and monools, but there are certain differences in the components due to different bee species, nectar source plants and extraction methods.

(1) ester

Fatty acid esters include monoesters and hydroxyl esters, and the content is 70%~75%. The monoesters included palmitic acid bombyol ester 23%, palmitic acid chlorumester 2%, ceric acid bombyol ester 12%, pyrogallic acid bombyol ester 12%. Hydroxyl ester has hydroxyl palmitate wax alcohol ester 8%~9%, double ester 9%~9.5%, acid ester 4%~4.5%.

(2) fatty acids

Free fatty acid content is 10%~15%; The saturated fatty acids were 9%-11%, including ceric acid 3.3%-4.4%, xytaric acid 1%-1.5%, humic acid and lignite acid 2%, phyllopitic acid 1.3%-1.5%, pyrogallic acid 1.5%, etc.

(3) sugar

The content of sugars is 10%~16%, and the most significant saturated hydrocarbons are 15-31 carbon chains, including 0.3% of 25 alkanes, 0.3% of 27 alkanes, 1%~2% of 29 alkanes and 8%~9% of 31 alkanes. Unsaturated hydrocarbons are mainly 30 alkanes, accounting for 2.5%.

(4) Other components in beeswax

Beeswax contains fatty acid cholesterol esters, colorants (mainly 1~3 dihydroxyl flavones), W-nutmeg lactone, free fatty alcohols, etc. In addition, beeswax also contains a small amount of water and minerals, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ash of beeswax accounted for 80%, 13% and 7% respectively.