Alternative method for measuring beeswax content in propolis from the Netherlands

Abstract A convenient method has been developed for the separation and determination of beeswax in propolis from beehives located in the Netherlands. The method is based on differences in specific density and involves the adding of water and microwave heating of a propolis sample. After cooling to room temperature, the resulting three phase system provides a full separation of the beeswax from the propolis in the upper layer. This layer can easily be collected to quantify the authentic beeswax content of the raw propolis sample. Confirmation of the identity of beeswax isolated from propolis with this procedure, was obtained using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR). Propolis samples from 27 Dutch apiaries from various locations were analyzed using this method. The beeswax content varied between 1.0 and 42.5% with an average of 11.1%. This method may also serve for the de-waxing of raw propolis prior to the isolation of biologically active compounds to be used in medicinal products.