Identification of beeswax and its falsification by the method of infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Keywords: Wax Paraffin Ceresin Spectroscopy Falsification Introduction. The purpose of the research was to determine the characteristics of the infrared spectra of reflection and absorption of beeswax, as well as wax with the content of impurities in it, in particular paraffin and ceresin. Materials and methods. Natural beeswax, paraffin, ceresin, as well as their mixtures were investigated by infrared spectroscopy of reflection and absorption using Infrapid-61, Luminar 5030 and SPECORD M-80 spectrometers. Results and discussion. Infrared reflection spectra from smooth surfaces of samples (paraffin, ceresin, wax, a mixture of beeswax and ceresin, a mixture of wax paraffin and ceresin, a mixture of wax and paraffin) have a similar structure. There are two clearly expressed maxima at wavelengths of 1510 and 1581 nm. The ratio R w (1581)/R w (1510) varies from 1.115 to 1.265. The smallest value corresponds to natural beeswax, and the maximum value is ceresin. After shredding the sample, the infrared spectral diffuse reflections did not undergo significant changes, the most intense spectral maxima did not change its position, but the redistribution of spectral lines by intensity was happened out. There were pronounced differences in the region from 1723 to