Editing Beeswax (section)

==Uses==
Candle-making has long involved the use of beeswax, which burns readily and cleanly, and this material was traditionally prescribed for the making of the [[Paschal candle]] or "Easter candle". Beeswax candles are purported to be superior to other wax candles, because they burn brighter and longer, do not bend, and burn cleaner.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Honey Bee Hobbyist: The Care and Keeping of Bees|last=Norman|first=Gary|publisher=BowTie Press|year=2010|isbn=978-1-933958-94-1|location=California, US|pages=160}}</ref> It is further recommended for the making of other candles used in the [[liturgy]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01347a.htm 'Altar Candles"], 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia</ref>  Beeswax is also the candle constituent of choice in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].<ref>[http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/02/use-of-candles-in-orthodox-church.html], Use of Candles in the Orthodox Church</ref><ref name=Ullmann>Uwe Wolfmeier, Hans Schmidt, Franz-Leo Heinrichs, Georg Michalczyk, Wolfgang Payer, Wolfram Dietsche, Klaus Boehlke, Gerd Hohner, Josef Wildgruber "Waxes" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002. {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a28_103}}.</ref>

Refined beeswax plays a prominent role in art materials both as a binder in [[Encaustic painting|encaustic paint]] and as a stabilizer in [[oil paint]] to add body.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The artist's handbook of materials and techniques|last1=Mayer|first1=Ralph|last2=Sheehan|first2=Steven|isbn=978-0670837014|edition=Fifth edition, revised and updated|publisher=Viking|location=New York|oclc=22178945|year=1991|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/artistshandbooko00maye_0}}</ref>

Beeswax is an ingredient in surgical [[bone wax]], which is used during surgery to control bleeding from bone surfaces; [[shoe polish]] and [[furniture polish]] can both use beeswax as a component, dissolved in turpentine or sometimes blended with [[linseed oil]] or [[tung oil]]; modeling waxes can also use beeswax as a component; pure beeswax can also be used as an organic [[surfboard wax]].<ref>[http://www.morenature.com/raw-beeswax-uses.html 'Raw Beeswax Uses"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106110135/http://www.morenature.com/raw-beeswax-uses.html |date=2013-11-06 }}, MoreNature</ref> Beeswax blended with pine [[rosin]] is used for [[waxing]], and can serve as an adhesive to attach reed plates to the structure inside a [[squeezebox]]. It can also be used to make [[Cutler's resin]], an adhesive used to glue handles onto cutlery knives. It is used in Eastern Europe in egg decoration; it is used for writing, via [[resist dyeing]], on [[batik]] eggs (as in ''[[pysanky]]'') and for making beaded eggs.
Beeswax is used by [[percussionist]]s to make a surface on [[tambourine]]s for thumb rolls. It can also be used as a metal injection moulding binder component along with other polymeric binder materials.<ref>[http://www.enggpedia.com/chemical-engineering-encyclopedia/dictionary/chemical-processes/1793-metal-injection-molding-process-mim 'Metal Injection Molding Process (MIM)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510045029/http://enggpedia.com/chemical-engineering-encyclopedia/dictionary/chemical-processes/1793-metal-injection-molding-process-mim |date=2012-05-10 }}, 2012 EngPedia</ref>
[[Image:Kurps in Warsaw-11-Niedzwiedzcy-Pasieka.jpg|thumb|Beeswax candles and figures]]

Beeswax was formerly used in the manufacture of phonograph cylinders. It may still be used to seal formal legal or [[royal decree]] and academic parchments such as placing an awarding stamp [[imprimatur]] of the university upon completion of postgraduate degrees.

Purified and bleached beeswax is used in the production of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The three main types of beeswax products are yellow, white, and beeswax absolute. Yellow beeswax is the crude product obtained from the honeycomb, white beeswax is bleached or filtered yellow beeswax, and beeswax [[Absolute (perfumery)|absolute]] is yellow beeswax treated with alcohol. In food preparation, it is used as a coating for [[cheese]]; by sealing out the air, protection is given against spoilage (mold growth). Beeswax may also be used as a food additive [[E number|E901]], in small quantities acting as a [[glazing agent]], which serves to prevent water loss, or used to provide surface protection for some fruits. Soft gelatin capsules and tablet coatings may also use E901. Beeswax is also a common ingredient of natural chewing gum. The wax monoesters in beeswax are poorly hydrolysed in the guts of humans and other [[mammals]], so they have insignificant nutritional value.<ref name="toxicity">[http://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/scientific_output/files/main_documents/615.pdf Beeswax absorption and toxicity]. Large amounts of such waxes in the diet pose theoretical toxicological problems for mammals.</ref> Some birds, such as [[honeyguide]]s, can digest beeswax.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Downs |first1=Colleen T |last2=van Dyk |first2=Robyn J |last3=Iji |first3=Paul |title=Wax digestion by the lesser honeyguide Indicator minor |journal=Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology |date=September 2002 |volume=133 |issue=1 |pages=125–134 |doi=10.1016/s1095-6433(02)00130-7|pmid=12160878 }}</ref> Beeswax is the main diet of [[Lesser wax moth|wax moth]] larvae.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dadd |first1=R.H. |title=Beeswax in the nutrition of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) |journal=Journal of Insect Physiology |date=December 1966 |volume=12 |issue=12 |pages=1479–1492 |doi=10.1016/0022-1910(66)90038-2|bibcode=1966JInsP..12.1479D }}</ref>

The use of beeswax in skin care and cosmetics has been increasing. A German study found beeswax to be superior to similar barrier creams (usually mineral oil-based creams such as [[petroleum jelly]]), when used according to its protocol.<ref>
{{cite journal
 |author1=Peter J. Frosch |author2=Detlef Peiler |author3=Veit Grunert |author4=Beate Grunenberg |date=July 2003
 | title = Wirksamkeit von Hautschutzprodukten im Vergleich zu Hautpflegeprodukten bei Zahntechnikern – eine kontrollierte Feldstudie. Efficacy of barrier creams in comparison to skincare products in dental laboratory technicians – a controlled trial.
 | journal = Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft
 | volume = 1
 | issue = 7
 | pages = 547–557
 | doi = 10.1046/j.1439-0353.2003.03701.x
 | language = de
 | quote = Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the use of after-work moisturizers is highly beneficial and under the chosen study conditions even superior to barrier creams applied at work. This approach is more practical for many professions and may effectively reduce the frequency of irritant contact dermatitis.
 | pmid = 16295040
 |s2cid=70532469 }}
</ref>
Beeswax is used in [[lip balm]], [[lip gloss]], [[hand cream]]s, salves, and moisturizers; and in cosmetics such as [[eye shadow]], blush, and [[eye liner]]. Beeswax is also an important ingredient in [[moustache wax]] and [[hair pomade]]s, which make hair look sleek and shiny.

In oil spill control, beeswax is processed to create [[Petroleum Remediation Product]] (PRP). It is used to absorb oil or petroleum-based pollutants from water.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spacefoundation.org/space_technology_hal/petroleum-remediation-product/ |title=Petroleum Remediation Product |website=spacefoundation.org |date=November 3, 2017 |access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref>
{{Further|Beeswax wrap}}