DEFINITION

Yellow Wax is the purified wax from the honeycomb of the bee [Apis mellifera L. (Fam. Apidae)]. It is obtained after the honey has been removed by draining or centrifuging. The combs are melted with hot water, steam or solar heat, and the melted product is filtered to generate Yellow Wax. It consists primarily of a mixture of esters of fatty acids and fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons, and free fatty acids; minor amounts of free fatty alcohols are also present.