Plant wax crystals display platelet-like morphology

• Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy was used to image wax oleogels.
• Crystal morphology of waxes was previously reported as needle-like.
• We report that all three wax types have a platelet morphology.
• Surface area, roughness, and chemistry will influence oil binding capacity.

Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy was used to image de-oiled 2% rice bran wax, sunflower wax, and candelilla wax oleogels. Contrary to previous reports on the morphology of plant-based waxes, all three species appear as platelets. These findings contest previous theories about the dependency of oil gelation on a needle-like morphology and development of an entangled network, and suggest that surface effects such as surface area and surface roughness may contribute to oil binding capacity.

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