Properties, composition, and analysis of grain sorghum wax

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Abstract
Grain sorghum wax has been judged to be a potential source of natural wax with properties similar to carnauba wax. Approximately 0.16–0.3% (w/w) wax can be extracted from grain sorghum depending on the efficiency of the organic solvents. Although the melting points of carnauba wax and sorghum wax are similar, i.e., 78–86 and 77–85°C, respectively, they differ in acid values, i.e., 2–10 and 10–16, respectively, and saponification numbers, i.e., 77–95 and 16–49, respectively. Improved knowledge of the properties, composition, and analysis of grain sorghum wax would assist in efforts for industrial application of this product. Major components of sorghum wax are hydrocarbons, wax esters, aldehydes, free fatty alcohols, and FFA. The hydrocarbons consist mainly of C27 and C29, and the aldehydes, alcohols, and acids are mainly C28 and C30. The wax esters are mostly esters of C28 and C30 alcohols and acids.