Comparative Chemical Study of Candelilla Wax Produced by Two Different Acidic Extraction Processes

As part of Gattefossé's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and in line with green chemistry principles, a comparative analytical study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition of eight commercial batches of candelilla wax. They were obtained through two distinct extraction processes: four batches extracted using sulfuric acid (SA) which is the conventional method for candelilla wax production, and four batches extracted using citric acid (CA), proposed as a more environmentally responsible and safer alternative. Comprehensive analysis of wax constituents was performed using GC (Gas Chromatography) and HPTLC (High‐Performance Thin Layer Chromatography). Quantification revealed that triterpenes represent a significant proportion of the chemical composition of candelilla wax extracted with both two processes. Subsequently, the wax was fractionated by a large‐scale SPE (Solid Phase Extraction), and a fraction enriched in a lupane‐type triterpene was selected for purification and structural elucidation by NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy.