Biological Chemistry - Berezov T. T., Korovkin B. F. 1998

Chemistry of Lipids
Waxes

Waxes are esters of Higher Fatty acids and higher monohydric or dihydric alcohols containing from 16 to 22 carbon atoms. Their general formulas can be represented as follows:

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In these formulas, R, R', and R" represent potential radicals.

Waxes can be Components of the sebum covering Skin, wool, and feathers. In plants, waxes account for 80% of all Lipids that form the protective film On the surface of leaves and fruits. It is also known that waxes are normal metabolites in certain microorganisms. Natural waxes (such as beeswax, spermaceti, and lanolin) typically contain, In addition to the aforementioned esters, varying amounts of free fatty acids, alcohols, and Hydrocarbons with 21-35 carbon atoms.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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