Waxes

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Waxes
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David S. Seigler Department of Plant
BiologyUniversity of IllinoisUrbana, Illinois
61801 USAseigler_at_life.illinois.eduhttp//www.l
ife.illinois.edu/seigler
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Waxes - Outline

• Importance
• Botanical
• o Several families
• Economics
• Chemistry
• Isolation

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Reading

• CHAPTER 9 IN THE TEXT

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Introduction

• Waxes are usually found on the outside of plants.
• They play a minor role in the economy.
• Some synthetic substances are available, but they
  are not as good quality as the plant-derived
  waxes.

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Carnauba wax

• Among all waxes, carnauba wax, mostly imported
  from Brazil, is the most important.
• The wax occurs on the surface of the leaves of
  Copernicia cerifera (Arecaceae).
• The wax is obtained by collecting the new or
  immature leaves of the palm and allowing them to
  dry. The wax can then be removed by beating.
• Used primarily in car polishes and shoe polish.

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A Copernicia species from Cuba
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Carnauba palms in Argentina
Libro del Arbol, Celulosa Argentina, Vol. 2, 1975
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Candelilla wax

• Candelilla wax often substituted for carnauba
  wax. From Euphorbia antisyphyllitica
  (Euphorbiaceae), a plant native to the Chihuahuan
  desert in Mexico and southern Texas.
• The plant is wild harvested and in some danger of
  being extincted by collectors.
• It is illegal to wild harvest candellila in
  Texas.

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Candelilla, Euphorbia antisyphyllitica
(Euphorbiaceae)
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Candelilla collection in Coahuila, Mexico
Courtesy Dr. Beryl Simpson
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Supplies of candelilla and the camp
Courtesy Dr. Beryl Simpson
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Courtesy Dr. Beryl Simpson
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Courtesy Dr. Beryl Simpson
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Candelilla wax ready for shipment
Courtesy Dr. Beryl Simpson
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Jojoba, Simmondia chinensis, Simmondsiaceae

• Jojoba wax comes from the seed of Simmondsia
  chinensis, Simmondsiaceae, of the southwestern
  U.S. and Mexico.
• The seeds contain a liquid wax that has many
  desirable properties.
• Jojoba can be cultivated on lands that are
  unsuitable for cultivation of most other crops.
• The wax has been used as a lubricant and is
  extremely good for this purpose.
• Jojoba oil is widely used in cosmetics.

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Jojoba, Simmondia chinensis, Simmondsiaceae
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Female and male flowers of jojoba
Courtesy Dr. David Young
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Jojoba fruit
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• New acreage of jojoba has come into production
  and the price has decreased from former times.

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Sugar cane wax

• Sugar cane wax is a by-product of the sugar
  industry.
• This wax is not as good as carnauba wax, but is
  available and used for many of the same purposes.

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Courtesy Dr. Lowell Urbatsch
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Bayberry wax (Myrica pennsylvanica, Myricaceae)

• Bayberry is from low wet areas in the eastern
  U.S.
• In New England the fruits were collected and the
  wax melted off to make candles.
• Bayberry candles are still used because of the
  nice odor they produce.

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Bayberry, Myrica cerifera, Myricaceae
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