Studies of waxes. VI. The n‐acids of carnauba wax

Abstract

Summary The proportion of normal acids among the acids of carnauba wax has been found, by a chromatographic separation method, to be 38%. The normal acid mixture has been separated into its components by amplified distillation of the methyl esters, which revealed the presence of the acids of even carbon number from C 18 to C 30 . The acids were identified by their melting points, long crystal spacings, and crystal habit. An estimate of their relative amounts is as follows: C 18 , 3%; C 20 , 11.5%; C 22 , 9%; C 24 , 30%; C 26 , 12%; C 28 , 16.5%; C 30 , 7%.