Chromatographic isolation of the original constituents of natural waxes. The composition of ouricuri wax

Summary A chromatographic method was developed which separated a known mixture of alleged wax constituents into four groups,viz., dotriacontane, octadecyl stearate and stearone, octadecanol, and stearic acid on especially prepared alumina. This adsorbent, when prepared fresh, did not give a satisfactory separation of spermaceti wax. On re‐use after regeneration by exhaustive washing with methanol and water, spermaceti wax was resolved into esters (95.4%), alcohols (2.6%), and acids (1.2%). A resolution of ourieuri wax into four major classes (nine fractions) was obtained on alumina (M. Woelm, aniontrophie, pII4) of lesser adsorptive activity than the two previous preparations. Two of the latter fractions were further resolved on silica gel. There isa priori evidence that the constitutents of natural plant waxes do not conform rigidly to the pattern of mixtures of simple normal esters. An estimated composition of ouricuri wax (in per cent) is hydrocarbons 1.3, simple esters 23.5, hydroxy‐mono‐esters 22.4, hydroxy‐di‐esters 17.2, hydroxy‐aeidie‐poly‐esters 5.4, free acids 8.7, free alcohols 3.0, resins 14.8, moisture 1.4, and ash 0.4.