Cuticular wax from flax processing waste with hexane and super critical carbon dioxide extractions

The waste material produced when flax fiber is processed has potentially valuable co-products. The dust was extracted with CO2 under super critical fluid extraction (SCFE) conditions or hexane to isolate the cuticular waxes that contain policosanols. Policosanol is a general term for long chain alcohols and have been shown to improve blood chemistry. SCFE yielded 7.4% wax compared with 4.0% with hexane. There were slight but statistical differences in extract compositions for C-20, C-22, and C-26 alcohols and larger significant differences for C-16, C-18, and C-20 fatty acids depending upon the extraction methods used. Recovery of wax from the waste produced from flax processing can provide an attractive value added product with positive health benefits.