View source for Candelilla wax

'''Candelilla wax''' is a [[wax]] derived from the leaves of the small [[Candelilla]] shrub native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, ''Euphorbia cerifera'' and ''[[Euphorbia antisyphilitica]]'', from the family ''[[Euphorbiaceae]]''. It is yellowish-brown, hard, brittle and opaque to translucent.

== Composition and production==
With a [[melting point]] of 68.5–72.5 °C, candelilla wax consists of mainly [[hydrocarbon]]s (about 50&nbsp;%, chains with 29–33 carbons), [[ester]]s of higher molecular weight (20–29&nbsp;%), free acids (7–9%), and [[resin]]s (12–14%, mainly [[triterpenoid]] esters). The high hydrocarbon content distinguishes this wax from carnauba wax.<ref name=Ullmann>Uwe Wolfmeier,Hans Schmidt, Franz-Leo Heinrichs, Georg Michalczyk, Wolfgang Payer,Wolfram Dietsche, Klaus Boehlke, Gerd Hohner, Josef Wildgruber "Waxes" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002. {{DOI|10.1002/14356007.a28_103}}.</ref>  It is insoluble in water, but soluble in many organic [[solvent]]s such as [[acetone]], [[chloroform]], [[benzene]].

The wax is obtained by boiling the leaves and stems with dilute [[sulfuric acid]], and the resulting "cerote" is skimmed from the surface and further processed. In this way, about 900 tons are produced annually.

== Uses ==
It is mostly used mixed with other waxes to harden them without raising their melting point.  As a [[food additive]], candelilla wax has the [[E number]] E&nbsp;902 and is used as a [[glazing agent]]. It also finds use in [[Cosmetics|cosmetic]] industry, as a component of [[lip balm]]s and lotion bars. One of its major uses was a [[binder (material)|binder]] for [[chewing gum]]s.

Candelilla wax can be used as a substitute for [[carnauba wax]] and [[beeswax]]. It is also used for making [[varnish]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
* [http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v30je12.htm Candelilla wax (WHO food additives series 30)]

{{E number infobox 900-909}}

[[Category:Art materials]]
[[Category:Food additives]]
[[Category:Painting materials]]
[[Category:Waxes]]

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