– Composition:
– Carnauba wax consists mostly of aliphatic esters, diesters of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, ω-hydroxycarboxylic acids, and fatty alcohols.
– Compounds are derived from acids and alcohols in the C26-C30 range.
– Carnauba wax is distinctive for its high content of diesters and methoxycinnamic acid.
– It is sold in grades of T1, T3, and T4 based on purity level achieved through filtration, centrifugation, and bleaching.
– Properties:
– Used in automobile waxes, shoe polishes, dental floss, food products, and polishes for musical instruments.
– Hypoallergenic and emollient properties make it suitable for cosmetics and skincare products.
– Used in surfboard waxes, leather treatments, pharmaceutical coatings, and as a mold release agent.
– Preferred finish for briar tobacco pipes and for waterproofing leather products.
– Commonly used in paper coatings and as a thickener in cosmetics.
– Production and export:
– Brazil produced 22,409 tons of carnauba wax in 2006, with major exporters refining the wax for global distribution.
– Top exporters include Pontes, Brasil Ceras, Foncepi, and Carnauba do Brasil.
– Major destinations for exported carnauba wax include the United States, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, and Italy.
– The Initiative for Responsible Carnauba aims to promote ethical production practices and biodiversity preservation.
– Collaborations with local NGOs have led to the development of good practice manuals and educational videos for workers.
– Technical characteristics:
– INCI name: Copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax.
– Melting point: 82–86°C, higher than beeswax.
– Relative density: ~0.97, making it one of the hardest natural waxes.
– Practically insoluble in water or ethyl alcohol.
– Soluble in ethyl acetate or xylene when heated.
– References:
– Various sources like The Chambers Dictionary, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, and Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry provide information on carnauba wax.
– The Initiative for Responsible Carnauba and the Union for Ethical BioTrade have been involved in promoting ethical practices in the carnauba industry.
– Manuals of good practices and educational materials have been developed in collaboration with local NGOs and international organizations.
– Studies and reports on the properties and uses of carnauba wax are available from multiple sources.
– The importance of ethical sourcing and labor conditions in carnauba production is highlighted in various publications.
Carnauba (/kɑːrˈnɔːbə, -ˈnaʊ-, -ˈnuː-, -nɑːˈuː-/; Portuguese: carnaúba [kaʁnaˈubɐ]), also called Brazil wax and palm wax, is a wax of the leaves of the carnauba palm Copernicia prunifera (synonym: Copernicia cerifera), a plant native to and grown only in the northeastern Brazilian states of Ceará, Piauí, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Maranhão and Bahia. It is known as the "Queen of Waxes". In its pure state, it is usually available in the form of hard yellow-brown flakes. It is obtained by collecting and drying the leaves, beating them to loosen the wax, then refining and bleaching it. As a food additive, its E number is E903.
