Chemical Composition and Basic Characteristics

Chinese insect wax is a type of animal wax, specifically belonging to the insect wax category. It is a high-molecular-weight compound primarily composed of esters formed from cerotic acid (C26H52O2) and ceryl alcohol (C26H54O). The main component, known as ceryl palmitate, gives the wax its distinct properties. Chinese insect wax is white, odorless, tasteless, oily, and glossy, with a hard yet brittle texture. At room temperature, it exists as a crystalline solid with a density of 0.97 at 15°C and a melting point ranging from 81 to 83°C. It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents such as ether, benzene, chloroform, methanol, and carbon tetrachloride.

Processing and Extraction

The extraction of Chinese insect wax involves boiling the wax-laden insects, commonly known as wax flowers, in water. The higher the boiling temperature, the more wax is extracted, and the better the quality. During the boiling process, the wax bags are turned 2 to 3 times until they become soft. Then, they are pressed using wax sticks or clamps to extract the wax contained within the insect residue. This process is repeated multiple times until only black foam, indicating the wax has been fully extracted, remains. The extracted wax undergoes further purification, including tightening the wax bags multiple times and cooling the wax in water to form raw wax blocks, which are then refined into higher-grade waxes through additional processing steps.

Classification and Refinement

Chinese insect wax can be classified into several types based on its processing stage and quality, including first-grade rice-core wax, second-grade and third-grade horse-tooth wax, as well as head wax, second wax, and third wax. The refinement process involves mixing these different types of wax in specific proportions, heating them until melted, and then pouring the molten wax into molds to cool and solidify. To improve the whiteness of the rice-core wax, cold water is added during the melting process. The finished wax is then trimmed and polished to remove impurities and bubbles, resulting in a high-quality product.