Wax, White

Category

Controlled-release Agents; Stabilizing Agents; Stiffening Agents

Grade

Pharmceutical Excipients

Description

White wax consists of tasteless, white or slightly yellow-colored sheets or fine granules with some translucence. Its odor is similar to that of yellow wax but is less intense.

UNII

7G1J5DA97F

Chemical Name

White beeswax

CAS Number

8012-89-3

Synonyms

Bleached wax; cera alba; E901

Administration route

Oral; rectal, topical, and vaginal

Dosage Form

Oral capsules and tablets; rectal, topical, and vaginal preparations

Stability and Storage Conditions

When the wax is heated above 150℃, esterification occurs with a consequent lowering of acid value and elevation of melting point. White wax is stable when stored in a well-closed container, protected from light.

Source and Preparation

Yellow wax (beeswax) is obtained from the honeycomb of the bee; see Wax, Yellow. Subsequent treatment with oxidizing agents bleaches the wax to yield white wax.

Applications

White wax is a chemically bleached form of yellow wax and is used in similar applications: for example, to increase the consistency of creams and ointments, and to stabilize water-in-oil emulsions. White wax is used to polish sugar-coated tablets and to adjust the melting point of suppositories. White wax is also used as a film coating in sustained-release tablets. White beeswax microspheres may be used in oral dosage forms to retard the absorption of an active ingredient from the stomach, allowing the majority of absorption to occur in the intestinal tract. Wax coatings can also be used to affect the release of drug from ion-exchange resin beads.

Safety

White wax is used in both topical and oral formulations, and is generally regarded as an essentially nontoxic and nonirritant material. However, although rare, hypersensitivity reactions to beeswax (attributed to contaminants in the wax) have been reported.

Incompatibilities

Incompatible with oxidizing agents.