Am.  Joui.  Pliarm. 
Dec,  1893. 
Examination  of  Beeswax. 
593 
Below  is  a  table  embodying  the  properties  of  the  various  sub- 
stances employed  in  adulterating  beeswax.  A  few  of  the  data  are 
those  of  the  writer,  but  the  majority  were  secured  from  various 
sources  in  literature.1 
a 
« s 
<u 
>> 
u 
V 
gra 
0 
Substance. 
d 
fic  gravi 
03 
.2 
<u 
u 
<u 
SI 
I  by  one 
wax. 
Hydrog 
760  mm. 
1  per  gn 
I*  ' 
§. 
'o 
Pk 
0 
lub 
,0 
1 
urn 
Total. 
M  0 
oil 
-1 
bo 
a. 
0 
a 
ta 
<u  o3  be 
rt  £ 
u  r* 
Meltin 
t/2 
V 
0 
Acids  s 
Acid  n 
u 
<u 
X, 
W 
Iodine 
Volum 
o°  C. 
sure 
Hydro' 
g 
Yellow  beeswax,  .  .  . 
Beeswax  bleached  by- 
62-64 
•961- 
•964 
0-1 
19-21 
73-76 
91-97 
8-1 1 
53-57'5 
12-5-14-5 
various  agents,  .  .  . 
63-64 
•960- 
•973 
0-2 
19-23 
74-84-29 
93-107-7 
1-08-11-36 
51-57 
11-14-30 
30-33 
•945- 
•982 
0 
o-3 
192-200 
192-204 
34 
Carnauba  wax,  .... 
83-84 
"999 
0 
4-6 
75-76 
79-82 
7-9 
73-76 
i-6 
53'5 
•970 
2 
22 
196 
218 
6-85 
72-3 
0 
47-54 
•975 
2 
18-28 
194-198 
216-222 
6-7  "55 
69-71 
0 
60-80 
•918- 
•952 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0-0*6 
0 
100 
Paraffin,  
38-74 
'913- 
•914 
0 
0 
0 
0 
*7-3i 
0 
100 
Resin,  
53'5 
1-104-: 
•108 
0 
168 
10 
178 
135*6 
35 
0 
Spermaceti,  
40-50 
•945- 
•96 
0 
0-2 
136-142 
136-144 
Stearic  acid,  
53-5-69-2 
■901-1 
•00 
0 
204 
5 
209 
2-4 
0 
0 
Suint  wax,  
62-66 
0 
95-H5 
4-7 
102-119 
13-18-5 
0 
14-18 
Tallow,  
42-50-5 
•952- 
•96 
0 
275-5 
193-208 
196-213 
27-40 
52-60 
0 
Vegetable  wax,  .... 
47-55  "6 
"947 
2 
17-19 
200-210 
218-220 
6-6-82 
73-74 
0 
GENERAL  CONCLUSIONS. 
Beeswax  in  our  markets  is  adulterated  to  the  extent  of  50  per  cent, 
while  in  English  markets  it  rises  to  66j^  per  cent. 
The  melting  point  of  beeswax  varies  from  62-640  C;  it  is  raised 
by  adding  carnauba  wax,  stearic  acid,  certain  mineral  waxes  and  par- 
affins. China  wax,  Japan  wax,  cacao  butter,  resin,  tallow,  spermaceti, 
vegetable  wax,  certain  stearic  acids  and  paraffins  lower  it,  while  it 
is  apparently  unaltered  when  adulterated  with  suint  wax,  certain 
mineral  waxes,  paraffins  and  stearic  acids. 
Beeswax  varies  in  specific  gravity  from  and  appears  to 
be  greatly  influenced  only  by  resin,  carnauba  wax  and  certain  mineral 
waxes,  which  increase  it,  and  paraffin  which  lowers  it. 
The  "Acid  Number"  ranges  from  .19-21  mgs.  of  potash  per 
1  1882,  Dieterich,  Arch,  der  Pharm.  (3),  20,  454.  1885,  O.  Dammer,  Illus- 
triertes  Lexicon  der  Verfalschungen,  etc.  1891,  A.  and  P.  Busine,  Bull.  Soc. 
China.  (3),  5,  654.  R.  Benedikt,  Analyse  der  Fette  und  Wachsarten,  Zweite 
Auf.,  311,  et  seq. 
