Gums, Resins, 



8 



[July, 1909. 



of leaves used, and to about 17 per cent- 

 of the weight of dry fibre extracted. In 

 practice, however, it would be lower, 

 and possibly equal to about 10 per cent, 

 of the weight of fibre. 



Examination of the Wax. 



Professor Jumelle showed that in many 

 respects this product resembles the car- 

 nauba wax of commerce, obtained from 

 Copernicacerifera. It has approximate- 

 ly the same melting-point (83° C), and 

 behaves in the same way towards various 

 solvents. Raphia wax has been subiected 

 to a more detailed examination by Prof. 

 Haller and M. Descude. The results of 

 these investigations indicate that al- 

 though in physical properties raphia 

 wax resembles carnauba wax to some 

 extent, the two differ considerably in 

 composition. 



Two samples of the raphia wax were 

 received at the Imperial Institute. The 

 first consisted of a solid cake weighing 

 .330 grams. 



It was yellowish brown in colour, for 

 the most part, but greyish at the edges, 

 and was sufficiently brittle to powder in 

 a mortar. 



The second sample was larger, and con- 

 sisted of two cakes weighing together 

 eight pounds. The lower part of one 

 of these cakes contained a larpre quantity 

 of sandy or gritty impurity due to care- 

 less preparation. Only the upper portion 

 of this was taken for chemical examin- 

 ation. 



The results are given in the following 

 table, which also includes, for the pur- 

 pose of comparison, the corresponding 

 values for carnauba wax and beeswax. 





Raphia 



Raphia Carnauba 



Bees 





wax. i 



wax. 2 



wax. 



wax. 



Specific gravity at j|^- 



0'836 



0-832 



0'842 



820 



Acid value 



49' 



65 



3>7'0 



19-21 



Saponification value . . 



5*"3 



50. 3 



79-84 



90-99 



Iodine value 



7-68 

 82'C, 



107 



I3'5 



8-11 



Melting-point of wax . . 



83°C. 



83 o -86 C. 



63°-65°C 



Results of Technical Trials. 

 The results of the comparative ex- 

 amination showed that the raphia wax 

 agreed closely in physical characters 

 with carnauba wax, and it was con- 

 sidered likely that it might be used for 

 the same purposes, such as the manu- 

 facture of polishes, candles, etc. 



A firm of boot-polish manufacturers, 

 who were consulted on this point, were 

 at first inclined to view the product 

 favourably, and asked for a larger 

 sample for trial. Unfortunately the 

 second large sample received at the Im- 

 perial Institute, as indicated above, con- 

 tained a good deal ot gritty impurity, 

 and this the manufacturers reported 

 rendered the material unsuitable for 

 their purpose. 



A firm of caudle and soap manu- 

 facturers who were also consulted, re- 

 poitedthatin some respects the mate- 

 rial possessed the qualities of certain 

 waxes already on the market, and al- 

 though they took exception to the in- 

 herent "oiliness" and the dark colour of 

 the wax, they expressed their willinguess 

 to purchase a small consignment at the 

 rate of £40 per ton, for trial on a large 

 scale. Inquiries made by H.M. Consul 

 at Tamatave as to the possibility of 

 obtaining commercial supplies of the 

 wax, indicate that a price of £40 per ton 

 would not cover the cost of collecting, 

 preparing and shipping the wax, and 

 that the latter cannot be produced at 

 present for less than £80 per metric ton 

 t'.o.b. Tamatave. 



As the present price of carnauba wax 

 ranges from £4 10s, to £7 per cwt., it is 

 possible that if raphia wax of good 

 quality, pale colour, and free from grit 

 could be shipped in quantity at £80 per 

 ton, it might find considerable use as a 

 substitute for carnauba wax. 



