Studies in Waxes. XVIII. Beeswax: A Spectroscopic and Gas Chromatographic Examination

2014

A b s t r a c t The hydrocarbon composition of beeswax secreted by Apis mellifera was characterised. In the studies, analyses were made of virgin beeswax (obtained from light combs, socalled "wild-built combs") that was collected at different dates, and beeswax obtained from dark combs ("brood combs"). A qualitative analysis did not show any differences in the hydrocarbon composition of beeswax originating from light and dark coloured combs. The same hydrocarbons (n-alkanes, alkenes, and dienes) were identified in virgin beeswax and beeswax collected from brood combs. However, the studies showed differences in the content of n-alkanes in the beeswax obtained from light and dark coloured combs. In comparison to the virgin beeswax, the beeswax obtained from dark combs had higher content of the total n-alkanes, higher total contents of even-numbered alkanes and odd-numbered alkanes, and higher contents of certain alkanes. Furthermore, it has been found that the hydrocarbon composition of beeswax did not depend on the collection period.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrocarbon Composition of Beeswax (Apis Mellifera) Collected from Light and Dark Coloured Combs

2014

“…The results of the GC-MS analysis showed that the dominant group of the beeswax hydrocarbons is n-alkanes containing from 20 to 35 carbon atoms in their molecules. These results are in line with those previously reported by other authors, although slightly different lengths of the carbon chains were indicated (White et al, 1960;Downing et al, 1961;Lorbeer, 1999, 2000;Jimenez et al, 2004;Serra Bonvehi and Ornantes Bermejo, 2012). The differences in the qualitative composition of the beeswax reported by different authors are undoubtedly caused by various limits of detection of these compounds and by the manner of beeswax sample preparation for the analysis.…”

Section: Determination Of Beeswax Hydrocarbons By Gc-mssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The study of the composition of beeswax became possible with the advent of gas chromatography techniques. This method was used for the first time for the analysis of beeswax hydrocarbons by White et al (1960) and Downing et al (1961). Gas chromatography with different kinds of detection (FID, MS) is now commonly used in studies of beeswax composition (Aichholz and Lorbeer, 1996, 1999, 2000Jimenez et al, 2003Jimenez et al, , 2004Jimenez et al, , 2006Jimenez et al, , 2007Jimenez et al, , 2009Serra Bonvehi and Ornantes Bermejo, 2012;Maia and Nunes, 2013), and the majority of compounds belonging to certain homologous series have been characterized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Beeswax Hydrocarbons by Gas Chromatography with a Mass Detector (GC -MS ) Technique

2014

a b s t r a c t here we describe a method of hydrocarbon (alkanes, alkenes, dienes) identification and quantitative determination of linear saturated hydrocarbons (n-alkanes) in beeswax using gas chromatography with a mass detector technique (gc-ms). beeswax hydrocarbons were isolated using a solid-phase extraction (spe) technique with neutral aluminum oxide (alumina -n, 1000 mg, 6 mL), then were separated on a non-polar gas chromatography column Zb-5ht inferno (20 m×0.18 mm×0.18 µm). qquantitative analysis of n-alkanes was conducted by the method of internal standard with squalane used as the internal standard. the basic parameters of validation (linearity and working range, limit of determination, repeatability and reproducibility, recovery) were determined. for all of the identified compounds, satisfactory (≥0.997) coefficients of correlation in the working ranges of the method (from 0.005 to 5.0 g/100 g) were obtained. the elaborated method was characterized by satisfactory repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility. the average coefficients of variation for the total n-alkanes did not exceed 2% under conditions of repeatability or 4% under conditions of reproducibility. the recovery for individual n-alkanes was above 94%; for their total content, it was 100.5%. in beeswax originating from apis mellifera, n-alkanes containing from 20 to 35 carbon atoms in their molecules were determined. the total content of these alkanes was between 9.08 g and 10.86 g/100 g (on average, 9.81 g/100 g). additionally, apart from the saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons and dienes were identified.

“…As it has been previously stated, the indicators of beeswax adulteration with hydrocarbons of an alien origin (e.g. paraffin) can be hydrocarbons containing even numbers of carbon atoms in the molecule (these hydrocarbons occur in trace amounts in beeswax), and the presence of hydrocarbons containing over 35 atoms of carbon, which were not found in beeswax (White, Reader, & Riethof, 1960;Downing et al, 1961;Streibl, Stransky, & Sorm, 1966;Tulloch & Hoffman, 1972;Tulloch, 1973;Jimenez et al, 2004Jimenez et al, , 2006Jimenez et al, , 2007Jimenez et al, , 2009Serra Bonvehi & Ornantes Bermejo, 2012). The addition of paraffin results in an increase in the hydrocarbon content.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficiency of GC-MS method in detection of beeswax adulterated with paraffin

2016

A b s t r a c tThe efficiency of the gas chromatography -mass detector (GC-MS) technique for the detection of beeswax adulterated with paraffin, was evaluated. For this purpose, beeswax samples with paraffin additions (3, 5, 10, 30, 50%) were analysed. Since not enough is known about paraffin compositions, and since it is difficult to detect paraffin in beeswax, the aim of our research was also to compare the hydrocarbon composition of different types of paraffin. The analysis showed that the types of paraffin available on the market, differ qualitatively and quantitatively as far as their hydrocarbon compositions are concerned. In all kinds of paraffin, we found homologous series of n-alkanes that were much longer than those in beeswax. In beeswax, the amount of added paraffin that is possible to detect, differs and depends on the kind of paraffin used for adulteration. In this study, the minimum estimated percent that was detected using the GC-MS technique, was 3%. The adulteration is indicated by the presence of hydrocarbons containing over 35 carbon atoms in the molecule, and by the higher contents of n-alkanes (C 20 H 42 -C 35 H 72 ), in comparison to the concentration of these compounds determined in pure beeswax. We also presented the results of the quality control of commercial beeswax. Based on our results, it can be stated that beeswax adulteration is currently a problem. Keywords: adulteration, beeswax, detection, efficiency, GC-MS, paraffinResearch Institute of Horticulture, Apiculture Division in Puławy, Kazimierska 2, 24-100 Puławy, Poland INTRODUCTIONThe recent increased interest in the testing of beeswax composition and in the quality assessment of beeswax, is related to the numerous cases of beeswax adulteration. Substances such as ceresin, stearin, natural plant waxes (e.g. Candelilla wax, Carnauba wax), animal waxes and fats (e.g. lanolin, tallow), and mineral waxes (Montan, ozocerite) have been added to beeswax. It is paraffin, though, that is the product most frequently used for beeswax adulteration. Due to having a similar composition and similar physico-chemical properties, the addition of paraffin to beeswax, especially when added in small amounts, is difficult to detect (Bogdanov, 2009;Jimenez et al., 2009;Serra Bonvehi & Ornantes Bermejo, 2012;Maia, Barros, & Nunes, 2013;Svečnjak et al., 2015). The chemical composition of paraffin has not yet been sufficiently analysed. The information found in literature mostly concerned physicochemical properties (Bernal et al., 2005) or concerned the estimated data on the paraffin composition stated by the producers. From these data, it follows that the group of longstraight-chained saturated hydrocarbons (nalkanes) dominate in paraffin. The content of these hydrocarbons is estimated to be at different levels, and even at levels of up to 90%. Depending on the kind of paraffin (in particular the melting point of paraffin), and the purification level of the obtained product, the paraffin can also contain other hydrocarbons (e.g. branched, cyclic, unsa...