Effects of Various Adulterants Materials on Properties of Beeswax

Beeswax is one of the best valued bee products and its demand is high these times in the world market. Adulteration of beeswax with inexpensive materials has become a challenge for its quality and marketing. The objective of this study was to characterize the physicochemical properties of adulterated beeswax and then identify better methods to detect adulterated beeswax. In this paper, the properties of beeswax-adulterant mixtures, such as beeswax with candle, beeswax with animal tallow, beeswax with soap, beeswax with maize flour, beeswax with lime stone, beeswax with salt, and beeswax mixed with powder of “kocho” in different ratios were prepared based on previous survey study results and quality parameters were analyzed using the official methods. The results indicated that the density of beeswax adulterated with different adulterants such as soap, animal tallow, limestone, “kocho”, salt, candle and maize flour for different proportions were significantly different at p<0.05. Parameters such as acid value of animal tallow, saponification point, ratio number and ester value of maize flour, ratio number, acid value and saponification point of “kocho”, melting and saponification point of candle, ash content of lime stone, melting point, ash value and saponification point for salt, and ash content and ratio number for soap were found to be better methods to identify beeswax adulterated with the respective adulterants mentioned above. It is important to characterize beeswax quality parameters using more sensitive analytical instruments. Pure beeswax is important for bee’s colony health and to attract good market.