NEW CANDELILLA (EUPHORBIA ANTISYPHILITICA) WAX PRODUCTION FROM A GREEN, ECONOMICAL AND NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHODOLOGY

Abstract

A non-destructive method was used to extract the components of candelilla wax obtained by boiling it in an aqueous sodium chloride solution at high temperature. The aerial parts of the candelilla plant (Euphorbia antisyphilitica, i.e., without roots) were placed in a stainless steel container with a 0.05% sodium chloride solution at boiling temperature and atmospheric pressure until exhaustion. The supernatant (candelilla wax) was separated during the process and allowed to solidify at room temperature. The remaining water was removed by evaporation at room temperature. The extraction yield was 4.84T ± 0.85%, with chemical characteristics determined by infrared spectroscopy showing a mixture of alkanes and long-chain esters, and the absence of alcohols and long-chain fatty acids. The melting point of the new wax was 65°C.68°C for the main components and having a final temperature of the long chain esters of approximately 93.5°C.