Name: What is Wax Ester? What do wax esters do? What is wax ester used for?
Uploaded: 2026-01-22T22:17:34.000Z
Duration: 49 s
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Wax esters are a type of lipid compound made up of one fatty acid linked to one fatty alcohol via an ester bond.

They're found in a variety of living organisms, including plants, animals and bacteria.

Wax esters are particularly abundant in surface coatings like human skin oils and plant cuticles, serving to waterproof and protect.

They are also found in biological lubricants like the preen oil birds used to groom their feathers in the ocean.

Certain species of phytoplankton and zooplankton produce wax esters, which are energy dense and allow them to survive long periods without food.

Industry Wax esters have potential applications in cosmetics, lubricants and biodiesel because they're biodegradable and renewable.

They're an area of active research for sustainable alternatives to petroleum based products.