부산대학교 도서관

Beeswax, an important structural material of honeybees is utilized for the formation of comb, and is becoming important biomaterial important in medicine, cosmetics, food, engineering and industry. This study analyze chemical composition and physicochemical properties of beeswax of Apis mellifera and A. cerana. Hydrocarbons fraction of beeswax was extracted using the SPE technique and analyzed by GC-MS. The hydrocarbon fraction constitutes 88.6% hydrocarbon compounds. Moreover, the beeswax samples were esterified using the BF₃ solution in methanol and analyzed by GC-MS. The physicochemical characteristics evaluated included melting point, acid value, saponification value, ester value, and the acid-to-ester ratio. Melting points was not significantly different among beeswaxes of the bees species ranging from 62-64℃. The acid value and iodine absorption values were higher for A. mellifera beeswax samples than A. cerana. The saponification and ester values were higher for A. cerana than A. mellifera beeswax samples. From the chemical compositional analysis, hydrocarbons (48%) and monoesters (21.5%) were found as the major classes of compounds after derivatization of beeswax solution. Methyl palmitate was abundant in the derivatized fraction of beeswax samples, ranging from 8.46% to 28.66%. The other principal compound identified after derivatization of the beeswax was heptacosane (10.21-17.35%). The physicochemical properties and composition were more influenced by the species than the floral resources, environment or location of honeybee colonies.