Chemical Properties
white to yellowish-white pieces or plates
Physical properties
It is a yellowish to grayish-brown solid, somewhat brittle when cold, and presents a dull granular, noncrystalline fracture when broken. It becomes pliable at about 35°C.
Occurrence
Wax from the honeycomb of the bee, Apis mellifera L.
Uses
Beeswax is used to produce edible films (sodium caseinate, soy protein isolate etc.). It can form a mixture with a variety of fatty acids and polyols to provide flexibile, elastic and stretchable films. It also decreases the water vapor permeability and enhances the mechanical properties of the film.
Uses
Beeswax is used to produce edible films (sodium caseinate, soy protein isolate, etc.). It can form a mixture with a variety of fatty acids and polyols to provide flexibile, elastic and stretchable films. It also decreases the water vapor permeability and enhances the mechanical properties of the film.
Definition
The wax obtained from the honeycomb of the bee. It consists primarily of myricyl palmitate, cerotic acid esters and some high-carbon paraffins.
Preparation
By alcoholic extraction of the raw wax(Fenarolfs Handbook of Flavor Ingredients,
1975).
Production Methods
Yellow wax (beeswax) is obtained from the honeycomb of the bee
(Apis mellifera Linne′ (Fam. Apidae)); see Wax, Yellow. Subsequent
treatment with oxidizing agents bleaches the wax to yield white
wax.
General Description
Beeswax is a natural wax that is formed from honeybee Apis mellifera. It is a lipid that contains hydrocarbons, esters and free acids, which can be used to lower the transference of water on films.
Pharmaceutical Applications
White wax is a chemically bleached form of yellow wax and is used
in similar applications: for example, to increase the consistency of
creams and ointments, and to stabilize water-in-oil emulsions.
White wax is used to polish sugar-coated tablets and to adjust the
melting point of suppositories.
White wax is also used as a film coating in sustained-release
tablets. White beeswax microspheres may be used in oral dosage
forms to retard the absorption of an active ingredient from the
stomach, allowing the majority of absorption to occur in the
intestinal tract.Wax coatings can also be used to affect the release of
drug from ion-exchange resin beads.
Safety
White wax is used in both topical and oral formulations, and is
generally regarded as an essentially nontoxic and nonirritant
material. However, although rare, hypersensitivity reactions to
beeswax (attributed to contaminants in the wax) have been
reported.
storage
When the wax is heated above 150℃, esterification occurs with a
consequent lowering of acid value and elevation of melting point.
White wax is stable when stored in a well-closed container,
protected from light.
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with oxidizing agents.
Regulatory Status
GRAS listed. Accepted for use as a food additive in Europe.
Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (oral capsules
and tablets; rectal, topical, and vaginal preparations). Included in
nonparenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the
Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.
