E905 (Microcrystalline wax) is a purified product based on saturated hydrocarbons, with a small amount of cyclic, straight-chain hydrocarbons, a residue of the oil as raw material. It is produced through a number of refining steps: propane deasphalting, propane furfural refining, oil purification of ketone benzene, white clay refining, hydrotreatment and cooling of the resulting product.

It takes the form of a refined, odourless and tasteless wax with a white to yellowish colour. Slightly soluble in hot ethanol, soluble in benzene, chloroform, ether.

What it is used for and where

Food

Ingredient listed in the European food additives list as E905, a coating agent.

Microcrystalline wax for food use is subdivided by colour, PAH classification, oil content and melting point into five grades: 70, 75, 80, 85, 90.

Cosmetics

Used as an adhesive and emulsifying stabiliser often replacing paraffin wax as it has shown better elastic characteristics and less sticky adhesion.

Binder agent. Ingredient that is used in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products as an anti-caking agent with the function of making the product in which it is incorporated silky, compact and homogenous. The binder, either natural such as mucilage, gums and starches or chemical, may be in the form of a powder or liquid.

Emulsion stabilizer. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsion stabilisers improve the formation and stability of single and double emulsions. It should be noted that in the structure-function relationship, molar mass plays an important role.

Opacifying agent. It is useful into formulations that may be translucent or transparent to make them opaque and less permeable to light.

Viscosity control agent. It controls and adapts viscosity to the required level for optimal chemical and physical stability of the product and dosage in gels, suspensions, emulsions, solutions. 

Other uses

Pharmaceutical, electrical, packaging industry, polishing, fruit (e.g. for polishing apples). as a coating agent.

Typical commercial product characteristics Microcrystalline Wax