Products
Carnauba wax is available as a pure substance in specialized stores. Annual production is in the range of 20,000 tons.
Structure and properties
Carnauba wax is the wax extracted and purified from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm (synonym: ). It exists as a powder, in the form of flakes or as a hard mass and has a yellow to brown color. Carnauba wax is lipophilic and therefore practically insoluble in water. However, it is soluble in organic solvents such as chloroform or diethyl ether. Carnauba wax is one of the hardest natural waxes with a slightly aromatic odor. It melts between 82 and 86°C. Its constituents include esters as well as free acids, free alcohols, hydrocarbons and resins.
Effects
Carnauba wax gives products a beautiful shine, protects ingredients and prevents sticking together. Due to its hardness and high melting point, it imparts a physical resistance, for example, to heat.
Fields of application
As a release and coating agent, for example for:
- Sweets, chocolate, gum sweets.
- Fruits, such as citrus, apples, pears, peaches, melons, pineapples.
- Nuts
- Coffee beans
Carnauba wax is also used for cosmetics (eg hair wax), as a pharmaceutical excipient for drugs (eg tablet coating), for lip balms and as a chewing mass for chewing gum. In addition, numerous technical applications also exist (e.g., furniture polish, car wax, shoe polish, floor care products).
Adverse effects
Carnauba wax is generally considered to be harmless (GRAS) and well tolerated.
