Natural wax is derived by biogenesis in a sustainable process and is physically refined without any chemical transformation. Hence natural waxes can be considered truly as natural response even organic in particular cases. Natural waxes show unrivaled well-balanced compositions leading to great performances for all kind of applications and offer exceptional properties in diverse systems in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and household consumer goods. Especially properties refer to oil gelling and retention as well as to viscosity build-up and structuring. An array of different sensory profiles and textures can be achieved and surface gloss can be altered as well. Sources of natural wax are candelilla shrub, brazilian palm, surface of cotton fibe, rice bran oil, soybean oil, byproduct of sugar cane etc.
Real natural waxes according to our understanding are re growing, derived by biogenesis in a sustainable process and will be truly natural. Natural waxes show unrivalled well-balanced compositions leading to great performances for all kind of applications. They offer exceptional properties in diverse systems in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and household consumer goods.
Special properties refer to oil gelling and oil retention as well as to viscosity build-up and structuring. An array of different sensory profiles and textures can be achieved and surface gloss can be altered as well. Natural waxes are composed around a basic principle which is a unique mix of long-chain, linear and even-numbered aliphatic mono-esters. Partially varying amounts of linear hydrocarbons, free wax acids like bees wax, free wax alcohols respectively. For cosmetic applications in particular berry wax and some further more exotic waxes such as myrtle, mimosa, green tea, jasmine, rose, lotus and orange blossom wax are also used.
Technology development efforts for natural wax are there has been a view that the traditional vegetable based waxes have limitations in terms of hardness, fragrance, ductibility and melt point range compared to paraffin waxes. Performance concerns about vegetable based wax formulations previously deterred their wider use in major applications such as candles and corrugated boxes. Recent technology developments can overcome the limitations of traditional vegetable waxes such as brittleness and cracking and enable them to compete with paraffin wax in a broader and bigger portion of the industry for products such as candles, cosmetics and corrugated boxes. In recent years, interest has been increasing in usage of soy wax and soy wax blends for cosmetic and toiletry formulations. Soywax, hydrogenated soybean oil that is used as renewable and biodegradable alternative to paraffin wax in candle-making, was investigated for its tendency of producing soot and potentially harmful organic volatilesParaffin wax, it is argued, is also a natural wax because it comes from the ground and is renewable. However, because it does not meet our working definition it is not considered a natural wax. Paraffin wax is by far the most widely used wax for the petroleum jelly production. Basically, paraffin wax is a petroleum product that has gone through a refining process. The end result is a product that is solid at room temperature. Within the refining process, waxes can be classified as fully refined wax, semi-refined wax, scale wax and slack wax.
Global demand for waxes reached an estimated 9,590 million lbs in 2010. Mineral waxes including petroleum account for an estimated 85% of this global demand, with synthetic waxes accounting for 11% and animal and vegetable waxes, accounting for 4%. As petroleum waxes account for a significant portion of the wax supply, this study's primary focus will be petroleum wax supply. Although, for many years, petroleum wax was considered a by-product of lubricant basestock production, it has come onto its own over the last decade and is considered by most refiners to be a relatively high-margin product and is often an important contributor to the overall profitability of the refinery. However, the fate of petroleum wax supplies is largely outside the control of the wax industry. Wax supplies are tied to regional basestock quality requirements and this is independent of wax supply and demand.
