beeno
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,181
- Reaction score
- 234
- Location
- South East
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 5
Most of the literature and beekeepers state not to use tap water but rainwater to render wax, because the lime in tap water causes a bloom in the wax.
Others state it is the chlorine in water. "Chlorine gas dissolved in lime-water (dilute calcium hydroxide) to form calcium hypochlorite (chlorinated lime)." All tap water is chlorinated. Private water I assume does not need to be chlorinated, but presumably all private water would contain some lime?
Another explanation: "Secondary crystallization of unsaturated hydrocarbons from beeswax was determined as a primary cause. After the macroscopic solidification of beeswax from the melt, these molecules remain for months in a highly mobile, liquid-like state. This facilitates their diffusion to the surface, where they eventually crystallize, forming the 'wax bloom' effect."
Now, which is correct?
Others state it is the chlorine in water. "Chlorine gas dissolved in lime-water (dilute calcium hydroxide) to form calcium hypochlorite (chlorinated lime)." All tap water is chlorinated. Private water I assume does not need to be chlorinated, but presumably all private water would contain some lime?
Another explanation: "Secondary crystallization of unsaturated hydrocarbons from beeswax was determined as a primary cause. After the macroscopic solidification of beeswax from the melt, these molecules remain for months in a highly mobile, liquid-like state. This facilitates their diffusion to the surface, where they eventually crystallize, forming the 'wax bloom' effect."
Now, which is correct?