A rapid micromethod for the quantitative analysis of jojoba wax and its components

A method for the routine determination of jojoba wax ester composition and the ethanolysis products of these esters is described. In the recommended procedure, single or half seeds are crushed onto filter paper disks to provide duplicate 10–20 mg samples of the wax. One paper is extracted with petroleum ether for wax ester analysis and the second sample is transesterified in a sealed bottle using 5% HCl in ethanol at 80 C for 1–2 hr. This preparation is extracted with NaCl and petroleum ether, neutralized with potassium bicarbonate and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. The fatty acid ethyl esters and free alcohols are determined by gas chromatography (GC). The method requires only small amounts of seed material, provides duplicate samples of the wax, simplifies the ethanolysis procedures and reduces the time needed for the removal of the acid catalyst.