Abstract:

For the comprehensive utilization of cochineal and the development of new insect wax resource, several common organic solvents were taken to extract cochineal wax. Xylene and carbon tetrachloride were two efficient solvents for the extraction of cochineal wax with a yield of 2.95% － 2.97%. A cochineal wax product with 85.0 ℃ melting point and 80.4% whiteness could be obtained from the xylene extract by the single-stage treatment with absolute ethanol, while the three-stage treatment with xylene, petroleum ether and ethanol yielded a product with 84.3 ℃ melting point and 82.2% whiteness. The melting point and the whiteness of the two products both were similar to those of other common insect wax products.

Key words: cochineal, wax, extraction, isolation, purification