Beeswax is one of common bio wax. It is a mixture of esters secreted by worker bees from glands under their abdomen for nests building. Just as some indigenous tribes collect honey and beeswax today, the knowledge of beeswax dates back to Neolithic times. Our ancestors stored them in pottery, or used them as a waterproof coating.
Beeswax is divided into European and Oriental beeswax. Oriental beeswax has a low yield and only be collected once or twice per year. It is only suitable for small-scale family beekeeping. European bees are larger, breed faster and produce more beeswax and honey, typically more than ten times, making them more suited for wax manufacture. There are almost no differences in these beeswax components. The subtle differences are that European bees also collect resin while gathering nectar. Therefore their beeswax displays a bright golden color with water-wave-like patterns on the surface. The dull brown with a smooth surface is the obvious characteristic in oriental beeswax.
Physical Characteristics
The yellow color of raw beeswax comes from the oil-soluble pigments in pollen, which are removed to make white refined beeswax. It gives off a unique fragrance due to the honey and pollen stuck to it. The melting point ranges from 62 to 67℃ and it is a candle-like and somewhat brittle solid at room temperature. It is not a pure substance and some short-chain esters begin to melt above 40℃. Although still solid at this temperature, beeswax becomes very soft and can be molded into various shapes. When heated above 85℃, beeswax begins to fade. Like most esters, its lower density than water (0.95 g/m³) allows it to float. Beeswax is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol, and completely soluble in organic solvents such as chloroform, ether and benzene.
Chemical Composition
Beeswax is a mixture of hundreds of organic compounds. Its main components are esters (70% to 72%) formed by long-chain fatty acids and long-chain alcohols. About half of these esters are monoesters composed of stearic acid, cerotic acid, and myricyl alcohol. The rest of these esters are mainly hydroxy esters, carboxylic esters, complex esters and other esters. Beeswax also contains a lot of fatty acids (14%) and saturated hydrocarbons (12%). Long-chain alcohols, water, minerals, vitamins, pigments, flavonoids and other organic substances make up a small portion. Their composition depends on the bee species and nectar sources. Monoesters and fatty acids are less abundant in Oriental beeswax, while saturated hydrocarbons are more abundant. Oriental beeswax has a full year's worth of nectar stored in it, so it contains more trace elements and gives off a stronger aroma.
Beeswax is used in the food industry
The cells of fruits and vegetables are respiring beings that gradually lose moisture and dry out during the times they are stored and waiting to be sold. Sometimes they rot and deteriorate due to the multiplication of microorganisms. Beeswax is coated on the surface to form a protective film which prevents water evaporation through the pores, reducing the water loss and fruit shriveling. It also decreases nutrients depletion through respiration by keeping oxygen from entering the plant cells. The beeswax not only presents a glossy appearance but also blocks some of the abrasions that can damage the fruit skin. Fruits coated with beeswax can maintain their flavor, appearance and nutrient for a long time. Beeswax is also a natural edible product, so there is no need to worry about it harming your health or polluting the environment.
Beeswax in cosmetics
In recent years, the cosmetics market has begun to pursue natural ingredients and minimize the synthetic substances. As a natural emulsifier, beeswax is widely used in cosmetics, such as lotions, skincare products and lipsticks. Typically, beeswax makes up 50% of hair removal creams, 5% to 35% of lip balms and lipsticks, and 5% to 20% of other creams and lotions.
The ointment from the saponified natural beeswax provides a smooth and stable base for cosmetics, especially creams. They are soluble with the oils in cosmetics, as well as water-soluble ingredients. The melting point above 60°C ensures that even on the hottest summer, cosmetics on the skin will not melt, helping to stabilize and prolong the makeup. Beeswax does not cause allergies like synthetic waxes. It forms a hydrophobic protective layer on the skin to lock moisture and hydrate your skin. The nutrients in beeswax are directly absorbed by the skin and combat aging. Plant-derived carotenoids absorb ultraviolet light from the sun to prevent skin damage. They also penetrate the skin to absorb free radicals from metabolism. The long-chain alcohols and fatty acids in beeswax are also bioactive nutrients. They eliminate inflammation, activate cells, resist oxidation and inhibit bacterial growth. Studies have shown that ointments formulated with natural beeswax can improve the permeability of skin tissues, restore skin elasticity, and slow down appearance of fine lines significantly.
Beeswax in pharmaceuticals
Beeswax is primarily used in hard capsules polishing and as an excipient for pills or tablets in the pharmaceutical industry. Hard capsules coming out of automatic filling machines are covered with powder, which is removed in a polishing machine and given a bright beeswax coat. The coating not only provides a glossy appearance but also prevents the gelatin capsules from absorbing moisture and oxidizing.
Melted beeswax can be uniformly mixed with medicinal powder, and it gives pills and tablets a fixed shape after cooled. It almost does not react with the drugs. Beeswax also slows down the release of water-soluble drugs to prolong their potency. Some fatty alcohol and fatty acid are currently recognized as antiaging substances. In experiments with lab mice, researchers found that combination of beeswax and aspirin could resist blood clotting. It can also effectively lower cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein in the blood, which is beneficial for treating hyperlipidemia. Mice treated with beeswax experienced relief from skin inflammation and stomach ulcers. The antioxidants in beeswax inhibit free radicals from attacking cells and activating the cells' metabolic pathways to produce endogenous antioxidants, reducing inflammatory factors. Moreover, the agility, rate of metabolism and endurance of mice that ingested fatty alcohol significantly improved.