2.13 Constituents of Beeswax

Question 1

The main constituent

Answer 1

myricyl palmitate which is an ester

Question 2

The four main four ingredients and approximate percentages

Answer 2

esters 70%
hydrocarbons 13%
acids 10%
alcohols 1%

Question 3

Physical properties of beeswax

Answer 3

• Insoluble in water; slightly soluble in alcohol; soluble in chloroform, ether and benzene.
• Colourless as individual flakes, white when solid
• Melts at 62-64℃; pliable at 32-35℃ and has a flashpoint of 242-250℃.
• Relative density 0.96, i.e floats on water. Note: relative gravity is another way of describing relative density
• Reacts with alkalis to make soap.
• Acidity 17-24. Note: This means 17-24 mg KOH/g (KOH - Potassium Hydroxide)

Question 4

Outline how the wax from used combs and clean cappings is recovered

Answer 4

CAPPINGS:
• After honey has been drained off, place in container and feed back to bees above the crown board.
• Remove discoloured pieces of wax.
• Heat wax to not more than 90℃ and filter through lint. If a second filtration is required filter through a filter paper.
USED COMB
This can either be done in a solar wax extractor or heating tray.
• Comb is placed in the solar extractor. As it melts it runs down the slope into a
container. It can then be washed in soft water to remove any honey. The dross can
be scraped away.
• Combs are placed on a stainless steel shallow water bath. The wax melts, passes
through a metal mesh and out through a spout into a receptacle below.

Question 5

Uses of Beeswax

Answer 5

Candles, cosmetics or polishes + wax foundation, creams and ointments.

Question 6

Describe briefly the process of recovering beeswax and usable honey from 10kg of wet
cappings. The honey ending up in a bucket and the beeswax made into blocks suitable
for exchange into sheets of foundation. Include temperatures in °C and approximate time
durations.

Answer 6

• I use a cold uncapping tray. The wax cappings drop onto a mesh floor that sits above a tray. When uncapping is complete, a cover is placed over the top and the honey lef overnight to drain through. This process is helped by placing the tray on a rack above
the AGA. The next day the honey can be run off from the tap in the bottom tray, through a filter into a bucket.
• The wax cappings can be placed small quantities at a time in a large tin with the bottom removed. Fix a piece of soft cloth to the bottom with a jubilee clip.
• Suspend in the oven with a container underneath and set the temperature to just under
90℃ and keep feeding the top tin with cappings. This could take many hours so just keep warm at night and check regularly when you are up and about.
• Periodically remove the collection bowl and pour the contents into a plastic container having first wiped the bottom and edges of that container with a soapy cloth. Allow the wax to cool completely. On cooling it should shrink away from the sides of the container. If not the soapy nature should ensure it is easy to release.
• Scrape the dross off the bottom. This block is now ready to be exchanged.
• Continue the process until all the wax has been processed.

Question 7

Chemical properties of beeswax

Answer 7

31% Monohydric alcohols (C24-C36)
31% Fatty Acids (C12-C34) mostly C16
16% Hydrocarbons C21-C33 odd numbers
13% Hydroxy acids (C12-C32) mostly C16
6% Other substances(plant pigments, propolis)
3% Diols (C24-C32)