A process for the preparation of food-grade rice bran wax and the determination of its composition

A two-step method was developed for the preparation of food-grade wax. The first step involved the solventdefatting of crude wax, which gave a dark brown, dry, powdered wax with a m.p. of 75–79°C. The major impurity in the defatted wax was the dark brown resinous matter. In the second step, the resinous matter was removed by bleaching with sodium borohydride in isopropanol. This step yielded a pale yellow, odorless wax with purity higher than 99% and with a m.p. of 80–83°C. The resinous matter was a mixture of aliphatic aldehydes, fatty alcohols, and FA. High-temperature GC analysis of the purified rice bran wax indicated that it contained 11 major and 9 minor types of saturated wax esters. The major and minor peaks contained C₄₄–C₆₄ and C₄₅–C₅₉ wax esters, respectively. Rice bran wax was mainly a mixture of saturated esters of C₂₂ and C₂₄ FA and C₂₄ to C₄₀ aliphatic alcohols, with C₂₄ and C₃₀ being the predominant FA and fatty alcohol, respectively. The alcohol portion of the wax esters also contained small amounts of branched and odd carbon number fatty alcohols.     

Identification of Unique Aldehyde Dimers in Sorghum Wax Recovered after Fermentation in a Commercial Fuel Ethanol Plant

Sorghum wax can be extracted from the surface of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) kernels. It is composed mostly of a mixture of unsaturated C₂₈ and C₃₀ alkanes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and fatty aldehydes. Like carnauba wax, sorghum wax is a hard wax with a high melting point and it has potential edible and industrial applications. The yield of sorghum wax from the surface of sorghum kernels is 0.2–0.5 g of wax per 100 g of kernels. Sorghum wax can also be recovered from the “distillers oil” which is obtained after fermentation of sorghum (milo) or sorghum/corn blends in dry grind fuel ethanol plants. This distillers sorghum wax can potentially be obtained in yields of up to 10% by chilling the distillers oil to precipitate the wax and then recovering it via centrifugation or filtration. Like sorghum kernel wax, distillers sorghum wax is mainly composed of C₂₈ and C₃₀ alkanes, alcohols, and aldehydes in the molecular weight (MW) range of 350–450. However, we found that 7–49% w/w of distillers sorghum wax is composed of larger wax components with MW of 799–912. Analysis via high-resolution atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI) and gas chromatography with electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/MS-EI) resulted in exact mass data and fragmentation patterns that suggested that these high MW compounds are monounsaturated fatty aldehyde dimers, likely formed by aldol condensation. Further confirmation supporting the GC/MS data for the aldol reaction was obtained by comparison with similar aldol products.     

Aldehydes in grain sorghum wax

Improved knowledge of the properties, composition, and analysis of grain sorghum wax would assist in efforts for industrial application of this product. Wax extracted from grain sorghum, harvested in 1996 in Nebraska, using hot hexane was fractionated with silica gel column chromatography using a series of mixtures of hexane, chloroform, methanol, and acttic acid. During TLC analysis of the sorghum wax, a dark band, which did not appear in carnauba wax, was found between was esters and TAG. This dark band fraction was the primary component, representing more than 40% of the total sorghum wax weight. The purpose of this study was to chemically characterize the dark band. The fraction containing the dark band was subjected to borohydride reduction and autoxidation by exposure to air. The borohydride reduction gave a dark band at the fatty alcohol position on TLC, whereas the oxidized sample showed a dark band at the FA position, strongly suggesting the original dark band contained aldehydes. NMR and GC-MS data confirmed that this fraction contained a saturated C₂₈ aldehyde.     

Leaf wax of oats

Leaf wax of oats (Kelsey variety) consists of hydrocarbons (5%), esters (10%), free alcohols (45%), free acids (2.5%), β-diketone (5.5%), hydroxy-β-diketones (2.5%), and unidentified (29%). Wax on leaf blades contains more free alcohols than wax on leaf sheaths, and wax on the flag leaf sheath contains more β-diketone than wax on the rest of the plant. Principal hydrocarbons are C₂₉, C₃₁, and C₃₃. The esters, mainly C₄₄–C₄₈ and C₅₂, are probably C₁₈–C₂₂ and C₂₆ esters of hexacosanol. Free alcohols are almost entirely hexacosanol. The β-diketone is hentriacontane-14, 16-dione. Hydroxy β-diketones are a mixture of 5-, 6- and 7-hydroxyhentriacontane-14, 16-diones in the proportions 58∶35∶7. The wax also contains a small amount (0.5%) of 1,16-hexacosanediol. IRCC No. 13472.     

Comparison of some commercial waxes by gas liquid chromatography

Volatile components (hydrocarbons, monoesters, free acids as methyl esters and free alcohols as acetates) of seven unhydrolyzed commercial waxes-ouricury, carnauba, Chinese insect, lac, esparto, candelilla and Japan wax—have been analyzed and compared by gas liquid chromatography. Though appreciable portions of the waxes were nonvolatile, the results were sufficient to distinguish the seven waxes completely. Methanolysis products were analyzed directly by gas liquid chromatography, and the results agreed with those previously obtained for hydrolysis products of these waxes. Ouricury wax gave 18% C₂₄−C₃₄ αω-diols and 4% C₂₄−C₃₂ ω-hydroxy acids, in addition to 28% C₂₀−C₃₂ aciods and 17% C₂₂−C₃₄ alcohols, on methanolysis. NRCC No. 13387.     

Chemical structure of long-chain esters from “sansa” olive oil

The major objective of this study was to determine the chemical structure of long-chain esters present in lower-grade olive oil. The classes of esters composing the hexanediethyl ether (99∶1) extract of the wax fraction from a pomace olive oil were: (i) esters of oleic acid with C₁−C₆ alcohols, (ii) esters of oleic acid with long-chain aliphatic alcohols in the range C₂₂−C₂₈ and (iii) benzyl alcohol esters of the very long-chain saturated fatty acids C₂₆ and C₂₈. The analysis and the structure assignments were carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and by comparison with synthetic authentic model compounds. This work provided precise data on the chemical nature of the wax esters present in olive oil and should represent a means to detect adulteration of higher-grade olive oil with less expensive pomace olive oil and seed oils.     

Cuticular lipids of insects: V. Cuticular wax esters of secondary alcohols from the grasshoppersMelanoplus packardii andMelanoplus sanguinipes

Wax esters of secondary alcohols constitute 18–20% of the cuticular lipid extract ofMelanoplus packardii and 26–31% of the cuticular lipids ofMelanoplus sanguinipes. The total number of carbons in the wax esters range from 37–54 with 41 predominating in both species. The fatty acids ofM. packardii wax esters are 16∶0, 18∶0, 14∶0, 20∶0 and 12∶0 in decreasing quantity. The fatty acids ofM. sanguinipes wax esters are 18∶0, 20∶0, 16∶0 22∶0, 14∶0, 19∶0 and 17∶0 in decreasing quantity. The secondary alcohols from the wax esters ofM. packardii are C₂₅, C₂₃ and C₂₇ in decreasing quantity, and the secondary alcohols of theM. sanguinipes are C₂₃, C₂₅, C₂₁, C₂₇, C₂₄, C₂₂ and C₂₆ in decreasing quantity. Each secondary alcohol consists of two to four isomers with the hydroxyl group located near the center of the chain. Montana Agriculture Experiment Station, Journal Series No. 332.     

The structural constituents of carnauba wax

Type 1 yellow carnauba wax has been separated into its structural constituents. Analyses of these constituents by a variety of conventional techniques has shown the composition to be: hydrocarbon 0.3–1%, aliphatic esters 38–40%, monohydric alcohols 10–12%, ω-hydroxy aliphatic esters 12–14%,p-methoxycinnamie aliphatic diesters 5–7%,p-hydroxycinnamic aliphatic diesters 20–23%, an uncombined triterpene type diol 0.4% and uncombined acids and other unknown constituents 5–7%. Type 4 carnauba wax, the common wax of commerce, was found to be essentially the same as Type 1, with the exception that for Type 4, the cinnamic esters were highly polymerized and none of the uncombined triterpene diol could be isolated. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, New Orleans, April 1970.     

Differential scanning calorimetry index for estimating level of saturation in transesterified wax esters

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of fatty esters can give valuable information on melting characteristics and heats-of-fusion enthalpy (ΔH). A series of jojoba liquid wax esters was constructed by transesterifying native jojoba oil with 5–50% completely hydrogenated jojoba wax esters. This series, when subjected to a standardized DSC tempering method with heating/cooling cycles, exhibited an excellent correlation for level of saturation based on area changes in endothermic ΔH. Endothermic events were recorded for native (ΔH_A) and completely hydrogenated (ΔH_C) jojoba wax esters. A third endotherm, ΔH_B, was observed when they were transesterified. Based on a multiple regression program, the best fit (R²=0.98) using ΔH data was: % saturation=16.847–0.162 (ΔH_A)+0.209 (ΔH_B)+0.600 (ΔH_C). Standard errors for predictions were approximately 1.045 at 0% saturation, 0.770 at 25% saturation, and 1.158 at 50% saturation. Endothermic events A, B, and C each represent the respective diunsaturated, mounounsaturated, and saturated contents of wax esters in the transesterified blends. This was verified by measuring the dropping points for both the native and completely hydrogenated wax esters. These findings provide an index which can predict the degree of saturation in transesterified wax ester blends and serves as a research tool in process and product developments. Presented at the 1995 AOCS Meeting, May 7–11, 1995, San Antonio, Texas. Retired.     

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of hydroxy stearates and their properties

Hydroxy fatty acid (HFA) esters of long-chain alcohols, such as hydroxy stearates, have potential applications from lubricants to cosmetics. These esters were synthesized enzymatically to overcome the problems associated with chemical processes. An immobilized lipase, Rhizomucor miehei, was employed as catalyst in the esterification reaction between hydroxy-stearic acid as a source of HFA and monohydric fatty alcohols (C₈–C₁₈). The yields of esters were in the range of 82–90% by conducting the reactions at 65±2°C, 2–5 mm Hg pressure, and 10% lipase concentration. The products were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, and some of their analytical characteristics were determined.     

Composition of the surface lipids of pea leaves (Pisum sativum)

Surface lipid of pea leaves (Pisum sativum var. Frosty) was analyzed with column, thin layer and gas liquid chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy. It contained 42%n-hentriacontane and 7.3%n-hentriacontan-16-ol. About 5% was wax esters, C₄₀–C₅₀ consisting of primarily C₂₆ and C₂₈ alcohols and C₁₆–C₂₂ acids. Almost 5% was aldehydes, mainly C₂₆ and C₂₈. Primary alcohols, chiefly C₂₆ and C₂₈, made up 20% of the surface lipid.     

Purification and identification of rice bran oil fatty acid steryl and wax esters

Fatty acid steryl esters (FASE) and wax esters (WE) of rice bran oil (RBO) have potential applications in cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical formulations. FASE and WE were extracted from RBO by a modified Soxhlet extraction using hexane as the solvent. FASE and WE were then separated by storage in acetone at 10°C for 24 h. The FASE fraction was further purified by silica, gel column chromatography. The contents and compositions of FASE and WE, as well as their saponified products, were identified by GC and GC-MS. The identification of FASE and WE was carried out by comparing the retention time of GC peaks and mass spectral analysis with standards synthesized in our laboratory. FASE and WE accounted for ca. 4.0% of crude RBO, of which 2.8–3.2% and 1.2–1.4% are FASE and WE, respectively. GC-MS of FASE showed five major peaks. Major FA in the FASE fraction were linoleic acid and oleic acid, which were esterified with 4-desmethyl, 4-monomethyl, and 4,4-dimethyl sterols. The contents of 4-desmethylsterol, 4-monomethylsterol, and 4,4-dimethylsterol esters in crude RBO were 76.1, 8.7, and 15.1%, respectively. WE of RBO consisted of both even and odd carbon numbers ranging from C₄₄ to C₆₄. The major constituents were, saturated esters of C₂₂ and C₂₄ FA and C₂₄ to C₄₀ aliphatic alcohols, with C₂₄ and C₃₀ being the predominant FA and fatty alcohol, respectively. The advantages of using a modified Soxhlet extraction over column chromatography are less solvent usage and larger sample size per batch with shorter operation time.     

Composition of wax esters,triglycerides and diacyl glyceryl ethers in the jaw and blubber fats of the Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)

The lower jaw fat of the Amazon River dolphinInia geoffrensis contains 52.8% wax ester, 44.7% triglyceride and 2.5% diacyl glyceryl ether, while its dorsal blubber fat is >98% triglyceride. Examination of the intact lipids, the derived fatty acids and the derived fatty alcohols by gas chromatography reveals that the blubber triglycerides show characteristics of freshwater fish fats, but the jaw fat lipids have several distinctive features. Jaw fat wax esters, triglycerides and diacyl glyceryl ethers are all rich in C₁₀, C₁₂ and C₁₄ fatty acids and contain no polyunsaturated acids. The fatty alcohols in the wax esters are over 90% saturated. The major carbon numbers in the jaw fat triglycerides (C₃₈–C₄₆) are considerably lower than those of the blubber triglycerides (C₄₈–C₅₄). The possible adaptation of the jaw lipids for use in the underwater echolocation process of this dolphin is discussed.     

Fatty acids,fatty alcohols,wax esters,and methyl esters fromCrambe abyssinica andLunaria annua seed oils

Crambe abyssinica andLunaria annua, members of the Cruciferae family, have seed oil glycerides containing ca. 55–65% of C₂₂ and C₂₄ unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids were prepared by saponification; fatty alcohols, by sodium reduction of glycerides; liquid wax esters, byp-toluenesulfonic acid-catalyzed reaction of fatty acids with fatty alcohols; and methyl esters, by reaction of fatty acids with diazomethane. Solid hydrogenated glyceride oils and wax esters were compared with several commercial waxes. Chemical and physical constants were determined for the seed oils and their derivatives. Position of unsaturation in theCrambe fatty acids was determined by gas chromatographic analysis of the permanganate-periodate degradation products. The major dicarboxylic acid was brassylic (C₁₃), proving the docosenoic acid to be erucic. Presented in part at the AOCS meeting in New Orleans, La., 1962. A laboratory of the No. Utiliz. Res. & Dev. Div., ARS, U.S.D.A.     

Gas-chromatographic analysis of the aliphatic fractions of brown coal wax

The individual composition of the fractions of wax isolated from brown coal from the Sergeevskoe deposit was studied using gas chromatography. It was found that the aliphatic constituents of wax are C₁₄–C₄₂ n-alkanes with high coefficients of oddness, C₁₄–C₃₀ saturated alcohols, C₁₄–C₃₆ higher fatty acids, and esters. The contribution of unsaturated compounds was found. The structure and formation conditions of coal are considered.     

Studies of jasmine wax: II. Use of the wax fractions in producing enriched cleansing cream and as a fixative for soap perfumes

The primary alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and part of the wax esters were used as fixatives for the odor in soap perfume. Statistical analysis proved the sutiability of this fraction for this purpose. The hydrocarbons and the free fatty acid fractions were used to replace carnauba wax in the production of an enriched cleansing cream. The triangle panel test proved that this fraction could replace carnauba wax without affecting the quality of that type of cleansing cream.     

Distinctive medium chain wax esters,triglycerides, and diacyl glyceryl ethers in the head fats of the pacific beaked whale,Berardius bairdi

Lipids were extracted from the mandibular fat body (jaw), the fatty forehead (melon), and the dorsal blubber of a Pacific beaked whale (Berardius bairdi) and separated into lipid classes by preparative thin layer chromatography. The head fats were mixtures of wax esters and triglycerides with a very small amount of diacyl glyceryl ether. The blubber fat contained 97% was ester and 3% triglyceride. Gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of the intact lipid classes indicated an unusually low C₂₆–C₃₀ range for most of the jaw and melon wax esters compared to the more normal C₃₂–C₄₀ molecules found in the blubber. Distinctive lower molecular weight C₂₄–C₄₀ triglycerides occurred in the head fats vs. the usual C₄₄–C₅₈ range in the blubber. Most diacyl glyceryl ethers were in the C₃₅–C₄₆ range, below the molecular weight of hexadecyldipalmitoyl glyceryl ether (C₄₈). GLC of the derived fatty acid methyl esters showed that the lower molecular weight neutral lipids in the head fats were due to high levels of iso-10∶0, n−10∶0, iso-11∶0, iso-12∶0, n−12∶0, and iso-13∶0 acids. The wax ester fatty alcohols and the alkoxy chains of the glyceryl ethers were mostly the C₁₄–C₂₀ chain lengths commonly observed in marine organisms. The distinctive medium chain neutral lipids in the jaw and melon fats of this whale may be related to the postulated acoustical role of these tissues in echolocation.     

Occurrence,function and biosynthesis of wax esters in marine organisms

Wax esters occur as a major lipid-type in at least 30 species of marine animals, distributed among 17 orders and 3 phyla. They are of limited usefulness as a chemotaxonomic character, since only in two suborders, the calanoid copepods, Calanoidei, and the toothed whales, Odontoceti, do the wax esters occur in all members so far examined. In bony fishes their occurrence in muscle correlates better with mesopelagic habitat and vertical migration patterns than with taxonomy. Homologs with 21 to 44 total carbon atoms have been reported, but the usual range for the wax esters in copepods and fish is C₃₀–C₄₂. In fishes the muscle wax esters contain predominantly one and two double bonds per molecule, while in roe lipids up to 65% of the homologs contain three or more double bonds. The component alcohols are saturated and monounsaturated, with 16∶0 and 18∶1 as the usual major constituents. The fatty acids are more diverse, but 18∶1 is most often the main component, and 16∶1 and 20∶1 are frequent major constituents; polyunsaturated acids make up 1–12% in fish muscle and whale oils and up to 45% in fish roe wax esters. Possible functions of the wax esters are for buoyancy, as energy reserves and for thermal insulation. In vitro, various tissues of marine bony fishes synthesize wax esters from long chain alcohols and fatty acids, without activation. A competing pathway for the long chain alcohols in vivo is their catabolic oxidation to the corresponding fatty acids. The key to the accumulation of wax esters is to be sought in the metabolism of the long chain alcohols, their biosynthesis and esterification vs. their catabolism. Presented at the 60th AOCS Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April 1969, as part of a Symposium on Natural Waxes.     

Factors affecting analytical values of beeswax and detection of adulteration

Various factors that could affect analytical values for beeswax, and so also detection of adulteration, have been investigated. Ester value determination was checked using synthetic monoesters. Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of overheated wax confirmed that free acids decreased on heating and also showed loss of unsaturated hydrocarbons and of monoesters. The saponification cloud point detected as little as 1% of a paraffin mp 83 C (chain length C₂₀–C₆₀) but only 6% or more of a paraffin mp 53 C (chain length C₂₀–C₃₅). Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the hydrocarbon fraction of waxes containing these paraffins detected 1% of either paraffin, but only the low melting paraffin was estimated accurately. The presence of 2.5% of carnauba wax in beeswax was detected and estimated by gas liquid chromatography. Issued as NRCC No. 13173.     

Physico‐chemical properties of wax esters synthesised from corresponding alcohols using hydrobromic acid and hydrogen peroxide action

Symmetrical wax esters were prepared directly from the C₁₄–C₂₂ alcohols using HBr and H₂O₂. Conversion of alcohol up to 98% was obtained. Physical properties such as melting point, refractive index, viscosity and specific gravity were determined for these wax esters at different temperatures. The physical properties of the synthetic wax esters were compared with those of some commercial samples of wax esters. The physical properties of the wax esters can be manipulated by starting with commercially available mixtures of alcohols.