NATURAL WAXES 377 



state. Sitosterol and stigmasterol are present, as well as several triterpe- 

 noids, a- and /3-amyrins and lupeol. 



Hemp wax from the fiber of Cannabis saliva L., broom wax from Scotch 

 broom (Cytisus scoparins L.) and from Algerian or weaver's broom (Spar- 

 tiiim junccmn L.), Pisang wax from the leaves of the Pisang banana (Musa 

 simiarum Rumphius), and tea wax from the leaves of several species of tea: 

 Camelia sinensis L. (common tea), C. japonica L. (Japanese rose), or C. 

 sasanqua Xois (Sasanqua camelia) are all well-known representatives of 

 this group. 



(c) Waxes from Grasses and Sedges, a'. Sugar-Cane Wax: Cane wax, 

 also referred to in earlier terminology as cerosie, and known more recently 

 as cerosm, is present on the periphery of the stem of the sugar cane (Sac- 

 charum officinamm, L.). Various samples have been investigated, in- 

 cluding East Indian, South African, Philippine, and Louisiana cane waxes; 

 they are quite similar in properties and composition. Highly refined 

 wax melts at 82°C. and solidifies at 80°C. The specific gravity has 

 been reported as 0.961 at 10°C. It burns readily with a white flame, like 

 spermaceti. It is partially soluble in 95% ethanol (5.9 grams per 100 

 milliliters) at 26 °C. and much more so in hot ethanol. Ethylene dichloride 

 dissolves it onty sparingly at 37 °C. (1.6 grams per 100 milliliters), as does 

 cold ether. It is somewhat more soluble in boiling ether and is readily 

 soluble in chloroform. 



Mitsui^^ has reported that stigmasterol constitutes 2% of the total Avax 

 of sugar cane and that sitosterol accounts for an additional 0.77%. Sitos- 

 terolin, or 22-dihydrostigmasterol, also, has been reported in small 

 amounts. Related steroids are a diol (a-saccharostanediol)^^^ and a ketone 

 (/3-saccharostenone) . The composition of a semi-refined sugar-cane wax is 

 given by Warth' as follows : 



Wax esters 70-72% 



M>Ticyl palmitate 20% 



Mj'ricj'l myricinate 1-2% 



Stigmasteryl palmitate 37-38% 



Phytosteryl dihydroxypalmitate 13% 



Glycerides Present 



Free acids 14% 



Palmitic Large amount 



^Nlyricinic Small amount 



Palmitoleie Small amount 



Alcohols 12-13% 



Monohydric (myricyl) 8% 



""T. Mitsui (Mitui), J. Agr. Chem. Soc. Japan, 13, 494-501 (1937); Ij^, 342-348 

 (1938); C/iem. .4 h.s/., Si, 8240(1937); 5^,6254-6255(1938). 



^1 T. Mitsui (Mitui), /. Agr. Chem. Soc. Japan, 15, 356, 526-530 (1939); Bull. Agr. 

 Chem. Soc. Japan, 16, 144-145 (1940); Chem. AbsL, 34, 383-384 (1940); So, 4390-4391 

 (1941). 



