Various chemical tests were conducted on beeswax by White, Riethof and Kushnir (1960). In particular, the percentage of hydrocarbons ("PHC") in each sample of wax was determined.
Main concern of that study: The average percentage of hydrocarbons in microcrystalline wax (a synthetic commercial wax) is 85%. Suppose that beeswax is diluted with a certain percentage of microcrystalline wax. Can this be detected?
J. White, M. Riethof and I. Kushnir (1960). Estimation of microcrystalline wax in beeswax. J. Assoc. Offic. Anal. Chem. 43, pp. 781-790.
