Corn wax, as a kind of vegetable wax, is a by-product of the corn oil
industry. In this study, the corn wax was purified from the corn oil
refineries. The composition and physicochemical properties of corn wax
were studied to provide theoretical guidance for the production and
application of corn wax. The results showed that the purity of corn wax
was higher than 95%, and the corn wax ester ranged from C42 to C58,
with C46, C44, and C48 being predominant. The fatty acid carbon atom of
corn wax was in the range of 16-30, with higher percentages of C20, C22,
and C24. The fatty alcohol of corn wax was in the range of C20-C32 and
dominated by C22, C24, C30, and C23. The physicochemical properties of
corn wax were also determined and compared with other vegetable and
animal waxes to get a more comprehensive understanding of corn wax. The
results showed that corn wax was a green and healthy natural resource
with great potential for application in food, health care, and medicine.