Products
Beeswax is available as a pure substance in pharmacies and drugstores, among other places.
Structure and properties
The European Pharmacopoeia defines two types of beeswax. Yellow wax (Cera flava) is the wax obtained by melting out the honeybee’s emptied combs with hot water and purified of foreign components. Bleached wax (Cera alba) is obtained by bleaching the yellow beeswax. Yellow wax has a yellow to light brown color and is available, for example, as pieces or as small platelets. When heated by hand, a soft, kneadable mass is formed. The melting point is about 61 to 66°C. It is lower than that of carnauba wax. The substance smells pleasantly of honey and has no taste. Beeswax is practically insoluble in water. In organic solvents such as diethyl ether or chloroform, however, it is readily soluble. Bleached wax has comparable properties. It is white to yellowish and has a slightly weaker odor. Beeswax is a complex mixture containing various esters as well as hydrocarbons, free acids and free alcohols.
Effects
As a coating agent, beeswax gives products a nice sheen, protects ingredients and prevents sticking together.
Fields of application
- As a pharmaceutical excipient, for example in ointments, lip balms and lipsticks, as an ointment base.
- As a release and coating agent, for example, for sweets, chocolate, gum sweets, fruits (citrus, apples, pears, peaches, melons, pineapple), nuts and coffee beans.
- For the production of beeswax candles, ear candles and beeswax toppers.
- Beeswax is also used for various technical applications (eg furniture polish).
Adverse effects
Beeswax is generally considered harmless (GRAS) and well tolerated. Beeswax is edible, but is hardly absorbed. For example, the combs are sold in combination with honey as a specialty.
