Physicochemical properties of Ethiopian Beeswax, the case of South Wollo zone, Amhara Region

The study was conducted in three purposively selected districts of South Wollo Zone, Tehulederie, Kalu and Dessie Zuria, intended to analyze the physicochemical properties of beeswax produced in 2015/6. Twenty-six beeswax samples were collected being sourced from honey extract, ‘Tej sefef', old combs and purchased beeswax blocks and analyzed at Sekota Dry land Agricultural Research Center laboratory according to the standard protocols of Ethiopian Beeswax specification ET-1203-2005 developed by Quality Standard Authority of Ethiopia in 2005. The laboratory result showed that the compositional content of beeswax collected from the study areas falls within the range of good quality parameters set for national and world standards. Except for ash content, there is no significant compositional content variation (P>0.05) between the sampled districts. However, there is significant variation (P<0.05) between beeswax samples based on the source from which they were obtained. The mean values are specific gravity (0.9552±0.0034), melting point (61.5628±1.50080 C), refractive index (1.4439±0.0004), ash content (0.0345±0.0429%), total volatile matter (0.5491±0.2488%), acid value (18.9155±2.7735), saponification value (91.1901±22.3015), ester value (72.0619±20.2859), and ester to acid ratio (3.7211±0.8569). However, melting point, saponification value, ester value and ester to acid ratio values of purchased beeswax samples and beeswax samples from old combs of absconded colonies showed lower result than the national and international limit. In general, this study identified physicochemical properties of the beeswax in the study areas and contributed to the information on beeswax quality of Ethiopia suggesting legal intervention on controlling purchasing of beeswax in bulk.