Jojoba wax

[ABM Nazmul Islam]

The jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis), which grows in the semi-arid regions of Mexico
and the U.S.A., is unique in producing wax esters rather than triacylglycerols in its seeds, and it
has become a significant crop. It consists mainly of 18:1 (6%), 20:1 (35%) and 22:1 (7%) fatty
acids linked to 20:1 (22%), 22:1 (21%) and 24:1 (4%) fatty alcohols. Therefore, it contains C38 to
C44 esters with one double bond in each alkyl moiety. As methylene-interrupted double bonds are
absent, the wax is relatively resistant to oxidation.