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BEESWAX

Beeswax is used by percussionists to make a surface on tambourines for thumb rolls. 
Beeswax can also be used as a metal injection moulding binder component along with other polymeric binder materials
Beeswax was formerly used in the manufacture of phonograph cylinders. 


CAS Number: 8012-89-3
EC Number: 232-383-7
General molecular formula: C₁₅H₃₁COOC₃₀H₆₁
Molecular weight: ~900 g/mol

SYNONYMS:
Cera alba, Cera flava, White beeswax, Yellow beeswax, YELLOW WAX, WHITE WAX, WHITE BEESWAX, CERA ALBA, BLEACHED BEESWAX, BEESWAX, WHITE (APIS MELLIFERA L.), BEESWAX CONCRETE, BEESWAX ABSOLUTE, WHITE (APIS MELLIFERA L.) BEESWAX, BEESWAX, BEESWAX ABSOLUTE, BEESWAX, ABSOLUTE, BEESWAX OIL, ABSOLUTE, BEESWAX WHITE, BEESWAX (WHITE), BEESWAX YELLOW, YELLOW BEESWAX

Beeswax does not have a single, well-defined molecular formula because it is a complex mixture of esters, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons. However, a general molecular formula often used to represent its primary components is C₁₅H₃₁COOC₃₀H₆₁.
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees (Apis species) and has been utilized for centuries across various industries due to its unique properties.


Refined 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.
Beeswax, also known as cera alba, is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. 
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.
Candle-making has long involved the use of beeswax, which burns readily and cleanly, and this material was traditionally prescribed for the making of the Paschal candle or "Easter candle". 


Beeswax candles are purported to be superior to other wax candles, because they burn brighter and longer, do not bend, and burn cleaner. 
It is further recommended for the making of other candles used in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church.
Beeswax is also the candle constituent of choice in the Eastern Orthodox Church.


Beeswax's natural origin, coupled with its diverse functional properties, makes it a valuable resource across multiple sectors, from personal care and pharmaceuticals to food preservation and household maintenance.
Beeswax is an exquisite substance that is secreted by worker honeybees. 


Beeswax is the purified wax from the honeycomb of the bee, Apis mellifera. 
Beeswax (also known as cera alba) is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. 
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 it to form cells for honey storage and larval and pupal protection within the beehive. 
Chemically, beeswax consists mainly of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols.


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, Beeswax has insignificant nutritional value.

USES and APPLICATIONS of BEESWAX:
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees (Apis species) and has been utilized for centuries across various industries due to its unique properties
Artistic Medium: Historically significant in encaustic painting, beeswax is used as a binder for pigments, offering durability and a unique texture to artworks.


Household Uses: Beeswax is versatile in home applications, including seasoning cast iron pans, quieting squeaky hinges, preventing rust on metal tools, conditioning cutting boards, and crafting reusable food wraps. 
Pharmaceuticals: Utilized in the formulation of ointments and salves, beeswax contributes to the consistency and stability of medicinal products.


Food Industry: Employed as a glazing agent (E901), beeswax imparts shine to confectionery and serves as a coating for cheeses, aiding in moisture retention and spoilage prevention.
Candlemaking: Beeswax is prized for producing candles that burn cleanly, emit a pleasant aroma, and have a longer burn time compared to those made from paraffin.


Use Beeswax for cosmetics, salves, body care products, or lotions. 
You can also melt Beeswax down to make your own aromatic candles. 
Beeswax works well in cosmetic products because of the “wax esters” that exist in both beeswax and human skin and it is these compounds which help to bind ointments, lipsticks and lotions. 


As a natural hydrating ingredient that increases essential moisture in the skin, Beeswax is commonly found in hand and body creams that help retain natural skin moisture and in the relief of itching from sensitive skin.
Beeswax is secreted by worker bees from specialized glands and used to construct honeycomb cells for storing honey and protecting larvae.


Beeswax is used for high cholesterol, pain, fungal skin infections, and other conditions. 
In foods and beverages, white beeswax and beeswax absolute (yellow beeswax treated with alcohol) are used as stiffening agents.
In manufacturing, yellow and white beeswax are used as thickeners, emulsifiers, and as stiffening agents in cosmetics. 


Beeswax absolute is used as a fragrance in soaps and perfumes. 
White beeswax and beeswax absolute are also used to polish pills.


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 beeswax as a component, dissolved in turpentine or sometimes blended with linseed oil or tung oil; modeling waxes can also use beeswax as a component; pure beeswax can also be used as an organic surfboard wax.


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. 
Beeswax is used in Eastern Europe in egg decoration; it is used for writing, via resist dyeing, on batik eggs (as in pysanky) and for making beaded eggs. 


Beeswax can also be used to make Cutler's resin, an adhesive used to glue handles onto cutlery knives. 
Beeswax is used by percussionists to make a surface on tambourines for thumb rolls. 
Beeswax can also be used as a metal injection moulding binder component along with other polymeric binder materials


Beeswax was formerly used in the manufacture of phonograph cylinders. 
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 beeswax is used in the production of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. 
The three main types of beeswax products are yellow, white, and beeswax absolute. 
Yellow beeswax is the crude product obtained from the honeycomb, white beeswax is bleached or filtered yellow beeswax, and beeswax absolute is yellow beeswax treated with alcohol. 


In food preparation, Beeswax is used as a coating for cheese; by sealing out the air, protection is given against spoilage (mold growth). 
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. 
Beeswax is also a common ingredient of natural chewing gum. 
The wax monoesters in 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 beeswax.
Beeswax is the main diet of wax moth larvae.
The use of beeswax in skin care and cosmetics has been increasing. 


A German study found beeswax to be superior to similar barrier creams (usually mineral oil-based creams such as petroleum jelly), when used according to its protocol.
Beeswax is used in lip balm, lip gloss, hand creams, salves, and moisturizers; and in cosmetics such as eye shadow, blush, and eye liner. 


Beeswax is also an important ingredient in moustache wax and hair pomades, which make hair look sleek and shiny.
In oil spill control, beeswax is processed to create Petroleum Remediation Product (PRP). 
Beeswax is used to absorb oil or petroleum-based pollutants from water.


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.


-Cosmetics and Personal Care
uses of Beeswax: 
Beeswax acts as a natural emulsifier and thickening agent in products like lotions, lip balms, and creams. 

Beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin, aiding in moisture retention and providing relief for conditions such as diaper dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema. 


-Polishes and Lubricants uses of Beeswax: 
Incorporated into polishes for furniture, leather, and shoes, beeswax provides a protective coating and enhances shine. 
Beeswax also serves as a lubricant for applications requiring a natural, non-toxic substance.

HISTORICAL USES OF BEESWAX:
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, beeswax has had a wide variety of applications; it has been found in the tombs of Egypt, in wrecked Viking ships, and in Roman ruins. 
Beeswax never goes bad and can be heated and reused. 

Historically, Beeswax has been used:
*As candles - the oldest intact 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.

USES AND BENEFITS OF BEESWAX:
*Cosmetics and Personal Care: 
Beeswax acts as a thickener, emulsifier, and stiffening agent in products like creams, lotions, lip balms, and ointments.

*Pharmaceuticals: 
Beeswax is utilized in drug formulations and as a coating for tablets.

*Food Industry: 
Beeswax is employed as a glazing agent (E901) to provide shine to food products and as a coating for cheese to prevent spoilage.

*Candlemaking: 
Beeswax is valued for producing candles that burn cleanly and emit a pleasant aroma.

*Polishes and Lubricants: 
Beeswax is used in polishes for furniture, leather, and shoes; serves as a lubricant and waterproofing agent.

*Artistic Medium: 
Beeswax is historically significant in encaustic painting techniques.
Beeswax is recognized for its versatility and safety across various applications, making it a valuable natural material in multiple industries.

USES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF BEESWAX:
*Small tears in the lining of the anus (anal fissures): 
Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area for 12 hours reduces pain, bleeding, and itching due to anal fissures.


*Burns. 
Early research shows that applying a gauze with a mixture of beeswax, olive oil, and alkanna to second-degree burns speeds up healing and shortens the time spent in the hospital. 
Other early research shows that using a particular beeswax cream can decrease itching that occurs when a burn is healing.


*Diaper rash. 
Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area four times daily for 7 days reduces symptoms of diaper rash.


*Hemorrhoids. 
Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area for 12 hours reduces pain, bleeding, and itching due to hemorrhoids.


*Swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis). 
Early research shows that applying a mixture of honey, olive oil-propolis extract, and beeswax to mouth sores caused by cancer treatment helps speed up recovery time in people with severe ulcers. 

But Beeswax may not work as well in people with moderate ulcers. 
Also, applying honey by itself may work better than the beeswax mixture.


*Ringworm (Tinea corporis). 
Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for 4 weeks improves ringworm.


*Jock itch (tinea cruris). 
Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for 4 weeks improves jock itch.


*A common fungal infection of the skin (Tinea versicolor). 
Early research shows that applying a mixture of beeswax, honey, and olive oil to the affected area three times daily for 4 weeks improves a fungal skin infection called tinea versicolor.

*Diarrhea.

*Hiccups.
High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia).

*Pain.

*Stomach ulcers.

*Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of beeswax for these uses.

BEESWAX CONSIST OF:
Beeswax primarily consists of:
Esters (wax esters of fatty acids and long-chain alcohols)
Hydrocarbons (mainly alkanes)
Free fatty acids

PRODUCTION OF BEESWAX:
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.
Beeswax 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. 

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 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).

PROCESSING OF BEESWAX:
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. 

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. 
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, Beeswax must be rendered before further use. 
The leftovers are called slumgum, and are derived from old breeding rubbish (pupa casings, cocoons, shed larva skins, etc.), bee droppings, propolis, and general rubbish.

Beeswax may be clarified further by heating in water. 
As with petroleum waxes, Beeswax may be softened by dilution with mineral oil or vegetable oil to make it more workable at room temperature.

HOW DOES BEESWAX WORK?
Beeswax might help lower cholesterol levels, prevent infections, and help protect the stomach from ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Beeswax might help lower cholesterol levels, prevent infections, and help protect the stomach from ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BEESWAX:
Beeswax is a fragrant solid at room temperature. 
The colors are light yellow, medium yellow, or dark brown and white. 
Beeswax is a tough wax formed from a mixture of several chemical compounds.

Beeswax has a relatively low melting point range of 62 to 64 °C (144 to 147 °F). 
If beeswax is heated above 85 °C (185 °F) discoloration occurs. 
The flash point of beeswax is 204.4 °C (399.9 °F).

When natural beeswax is cold, it is brittle, and its fracture is dry and granular. 
At room temperature (conventionally taken as about 20 °C (68 °F)), Beeswax is tenacious and it softens further at human body temperature (37 °C (99 °F)).

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BEESWAX:
An approximate chemical formula for beeswax is C15H31COOC30H61.

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. 
Beeswax can be classified generally into European and Oriental types. 

The saponification value is lower (3–5) for European beeswax, and higher (8–9) for Oriental types.
The analytical characterization can be done by high-temperature gas chromatography.

ADULTERATION OF BEESWAX:
Beeswax faces challenges in the market due to the presence of various suppliers, making it difficult to distinguish authentic from fake variants. 

Adulterated beeswax often contains paraffin and other toxic additives, posing potential health risks and lacking the genuine honey-scented aroma of pure beeswax.
Pharmaceutical grades of pure beeswax are distributed in the shape of pellets for the cosmetic, phamaceutical and food industries, among other uses.

PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of BEESWAX:
EC Number: 232-383-7
CAS Number: 8012-89-3
Appearance: Yellow or light brown pieces or plates with a fine-grained, 
matte, and non-crystalline fracture; 
becomes soft and malleable when warmed.
Odor: Faint, characteristic of honey.
Melting Point: Approximately 61-65°C.
Density: About 0.95-0.96 g/cm³.
Solubility: Insoluble in water; slightly soluble in hot ethanol; 
soluble in chloroform, ether, turpentine, and oils.
Chemical Composition: Primarily consists of myricyl palmitate, 
cerotic acid and esters, and some high-carbon paraffins.
Molecular weight of beeswax varies due to its complex composition, but an estimated average is ~900 g/mol

FIRST AID MEASURES of BEESWAX:
-Description of first-aid measures
*General advice:
Show this material safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
*If inhaled:
After inhalation: 
Fresh air.
*In case of skin contact: 
Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. 
Rinse skin with
water/ shower.
*In case of eye contact:
After eye contact: 
Rinse out with plenty of water. 
Call in ophthalmologist. 
Remove contact lenses.
*If swallowed:
After swallowing: 
Immediately make victim drink water (two glasses at most). 
Consult a physician.
-Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed.
No data available

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES of BEESWAX:
-Environmental precautions:
Do not let product enter drains.
-Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Cover drains. 
Collect, bind, and pump off spills. 
Observe possible material restrictions. 
Take up dry. 
Dispose of properly. 
Clean up affected area.

FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES of BEESWAX:
-Extinguishing media:
*Suitable extinguishing media:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 
Foam 
Dry powder
*Unsuitable extinguishing media:
For this substance/mixture no limitations of extinguishing agents are given.
-Further information:
Prevent fire extinguishing water from contaminating surface water or the ground water system.

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION of BEESWAX:
-Control parameters:
--Ingredients with workplace control parameters:
-Exposure controls:
--Personal protective equipment:
*Eye/face protection:
Use equipment for eye protection. 
Safety glasses
*Body Protection:
protective clothing
*Respiratory protection:
Recommended Filter type: Filter A 
-Control of environmental exposure:
Do not let product enter drains.

HANDLING and STORAGE of BEESWAX:
-Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
*Storage conditions:
Tightly closed. 
Dry.

STABILITY and REACTIVITY of BEESWAX:
-Chemical stability:
The product is chemically stable under standard ambient conditions (room temperature) .
-Possibility of hazardous reactions:
No data available


 

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