Beeswax

For sem 3 B.pharm students GTU

1. Prepared By : Jahanvi P. Tankaria B.Pharma . Sem 3 Akshar Preet Institute of Pharmacy, Jamnagar . Guide by: Mrs. Pooja Khanpara Beeswax

2. Synonyms: Yellow wax, Cera alba. White wax obtained is known as cera flava . Obtained from the honey comb of the bees Apis mellifera and other species of Apis belonging to the family Apidae , order Hymenptera . . It is produced in France, Italy, West Africa, India. Biological Source: Geographical source:

3. Preparation: The combs and capping of honeycomb are broken and boiled in soft water. These are then enclosed in a porous bag weighed to keep under water, the boiling causes oozing of the wax, which get collected outside the bag and form a cake after cooling. The debris on outer surface is removed by scraping. The process is repeated several times and finally wax is skimmed off.

4. Description: Colour : Yellow to yellowish-brown Odour : Agreeable and honey-like Non crystalline solid. Soft to touch and crumbles under pressure of fingers to plastic mass. Under molten condition, it can be given any desired shape. It breaks with a granular fracture. Insoluble in water Soluble in hot alcohol, ether, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, fixed and volatile oils. Extra features : Solubility:

5. Standards: M.P. : 62 to 65°c Specific gravity : 0.958 to 0.967 Acid value : 5 to 10 Saponification value : 90 to 103 Ester value : 80 to 95 It consists of esters of straight chain monohydric alcohols with straight chain acids. Constituent is myricin i.e. myricyl palmitate 80%, free cerotic acid 15%, melissic acid and aromatic cerolein . Indian bees wax contains low acid value and European bees wax has acid value of 17-22. Chemical constituents:

6. Identification test: Saponification cloud test: 0.5g bees wax + 20ml aq. Caustic soda Boil for 10 minutes No turbidity is produced.

7. Uses: In preparation of ointments, plasters and polishes. Also used in the manufacturing of candles, moulds in dental and electronic industries, cosmetics for lip-sticks, face cream. Is an ingredient of paraffin ointment. Adulterated with colophony, hard paraffin stearic acid, Japan wax, spermaceti, carnauba wax. Adulteration can be detected on the basis of solubility and melting point. Adulteration: