Abstract
Carnuba wax consists chiefly of myricyl cerotate (MW 817.4) and small quantities of free cerotic acid (C26H52O2, Mw 396.7) and myricyl alcohol (C30H62O, mp 90°C). Of the two common extraction solvents, ethyl ether or petroleum ether, Lewkowitsch prefers the former. Concerning separation of phases, he advocates addition of small amounts of alcohol or caustic, and he also states that formation of a flocculant layer between the aqueous layer and the solvent does not interfere with the correct estimation of the unsaponifiable matter. These statements were not corroborated in the hands of this chemist. The “Unsaponifiable Matter” in oils or and fats, which consist mainly of hydrocarbons, sterols and aliphatic alcohols of high molecular mass that are not saponifiable by alkali hydroxides but are soluble in the ordinary fat solvents, and to products of saponification that are soluble in such solvents. Carnuba wax, a rather expensive wax, may be adulterated with less expensive paraffin by dishonest merchants. ASTM has a method for determining paraffinic material in carnuba wax. It uses heptanes at its boiling point to dissolve the wax, apply it to a silica gel column, and elute only the nonpolar (i.e. alkane) material. The method has the disadvantage of using a large volume of haptane, nor is it called for by either US Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP/NF) or Food Chemicals Codex (FCC). The test for unsaponifiable matter on pure carnuba wax will yield a result of 50.0% - 55.0%, while a higher result will betray the presence of paraffin adulterants.
Highlights
Carnuba wax (Cera carnuba) is purified wax obtained from the leaves of Copernicia cerifera Mart. (Palmae) [1] grown only in Brazil
A test for unsaponifiable matter has been successfully determined in carnuba wax. This is in contradistinction to the US Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP/NF) and Food Chemicals Code (FCC) methods, which for carnuba wax fails by given results far below the specific range
It was convenient to combine the determination of the unsaponifiable matter with that of the saponification value; it must, be borne in mind, that in view of the very small quantity of unsaponifiable matter, it has been necessary to take at least 5 g for the test [10]
Summary
Carnuba wax (Cera carnuba) is purified wax obtained from the leaves of Copernicia cerifera Mart. (Palmae) [1] grown only in Brazil. Carnuba wax occurs as light yellow to light brown, hard and brittle masses or white to light yellow moderately coarse powder or flakes, possessing a slight characteristic bland odor, and free from rancidity. Carnuba wax has a very high melting point of 82 ̊C - 86 ̊C (180 ̊F - 187 ̊F) It is tasteless and partially insoluble in water, in ethanol (95%) and in diethyl ether and xylenes [3], soluble on heating in ethyl acetate, in warm chloroformand in warm toluene and in xylene [4]. A test for unsaponifiable matter has been successfully determined in carnuba wax This is in contradistinction to the US Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP/NF) and Food Chemicals Code (FCC) methods, which for carnuba wax fails by given results far below the specific range. The modified method for determination of unsaponifiable matter in carnuba wax is here noted, and emphatically stated, that the FCC and USP/NF methods, as written, fail miserably in the separation of the unsaponifiable matter from the reaction mixture after saponification [3]
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