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Research into beeswax quality and purity is underway
- Announcements
MANS researchers are combining WaxoNext screening with laboratory analyses to assess the functional properties and chemical purity of wax used to make beeswax foundation.
The International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża is carrying out the next stage of a project to comprehensively assess wax used in the production of beeswax foundation.
Each sample undergoes a carefully planned preparation process. The wax is melted, shaped into uniform specimens, conditioned under controlled conditions and assessed using WaxoNext. The measurements show how far the material’s physical, mechanical and thermal properties differ from those of natural reference wax.
Advanced laboratory testing is taking place in parallel. Using QuEChERS sample preparation and liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, the researchers analyse a panel of 550 active substances, including residues of veterinary medicines, insecticides and fungicides.
Combining the two approaches allows researchers to assess two distinct but complementary aspects of wax quality: • its functional and processing properties; • its chemical residue burden.
The research addresses questions important to beekeepers: whether foundation has properties similar to natural wax, whether it contains chemical residues, and whether its origin and production method affect its final quality.
This is applied research whose results can be used directly in apiaries, testing laboratories and beeswax foundation manufacturing facilities.
