832 FOODS AND FOOD ADULTERANTS. 



PARAFFIN IN WAX. 



A simple method is recommended by Hager* for detection of paraffin. Warm to- 

 gether in a test tube 2 grams of wax with 5 cc solution of sodium carbonate till the 

 former melts, shake energetically and then while still shaking add gradually about 

 G cc of benzol. An emulsion is produced. Place the test tube in a water bath heated 

 to about 50 and allow to remain for ail hour so that the mixture can stratify, then 

 let it stand for some time at the ordinary temperature. With pure wax after cooling 

 there is a fluid, scarcely cloudy layer of benzol. When this is the case it is not neces- 

 sary to hunt farther for paraffin. In the presence of the latter the layer is not fluid 

 and is also cloudy or white. 



DETECTION OF CERESIN AND PARAFFIN IN WAX.t 



Boil 1 gram wax in a test tube with 1 part potash and 3 parts 90 per cent alcohol 

 for several minutes. Place tube in a hot-water bath and allow to cool gradually. 

 If the wax is pure the liquid remains clear, while in the presence of paraffin and cere- 

 sin ail oily layer is formed. 



DETECTION OF CERESIN, OZOKERITE, AND PARAFFIN IN BEESWAX.}: 



The determination of the specific gravity is an essential point. If the wax con- 

 tains moisture it should be cut with a sharp knife into thin pieces, and these should 

 be placed in a place the temperature of which does not exceed 30. After one or two 

 days the pieces are melted and the liquid wax dropped on clean lead foil. The 

 solidified drops are thrown into diluted alcohol (40 cc alcohol, 90 per cent, and 60 cc 

 water) and by addition of water or alcohol made to float in the liquid, any adhering 

 gas bubbles being carefully removed. The specific gravity of beeswax varies between 

 0.956 and 0.964 (temperature not stated). A specific gravity below 0.954 indicates 

 adulteration. 



EXAMINATION OF BEESWAX FOR PARAFFIN, ETC. 



Adulterations of beeswax with paraffin, ceresin, or ozokerite can be easily deter- 

 mined by subjecting the sample to the influence of heat. In a small porcelain cap- 

 sule of about 5 cm diameter and 1 to 2 cm depth 2 grams of the wax, previously cut 

 into shavings and dried by exposure to air, are placed and heated over a small flame ; 

 when vapors are evolved a beaker of same diameter as capsule and of one-half to 

 two- thirds liter capacity is held over the capsule and completely filled with the vapor, 

 when it is covered and set aside for condensation ; a second beaker is filled in the same 

 manner and then the flame is removed. The condensation of the vapor requires 

 about one hour, and when completed the deposit of one beaker is dissolved in 3 cc 

 chloroform and poured into the second beaker, rinsing the first beaker with a small 

 additional quantity of chloroform. With the chloroform solution of the sublimate 

 the following tests are made: (t) One to 15 cc are evaporated in a test tube and, 

 after adding 4 cc solution of sodium hydrate, heated to the boiling point ; after cool- 

 ing the paraffin will float upon the colorless lye. (2) Several drops are allowed to 

 evaporate spontaneously upon an object glass and the residue examined microscopic- 

 ally ; paraffin has the appearance of raised stars with curved or serpent-like rays. 

 In this distillation the first portion of the vapor always consists of the paraffin, pure 

 beeswax only producing volatile matter on heating to 300 to 320 C. ; the sublimate 

 from beeswax is always colored, the chloroform solution being decidedly colored ; 



* Pharm. Centralhalle, 18, 414. 



t Peltz. Jour, de pharm. et do china. (5) 5,154; Arch. d. Pharm., June, 1882,471; 

 Proc Amer. Pharm. Assoc., 1882, 363. 

 t Hager, Chem. Centralblatt, 1889, 2, 815. 

 $ H. Hager, Pharm. Centralhalle, lHi>,565. 



