Hi All

I have had numerous replies clarifying the difference between Diatomaceous
Earth and Bentonite.
Thank you all for the information.

I have some thoughts about using bentonite...When this is used to clarify
wine it is mixed in thoroughly and it flocculates. As this flocculation
settles to the bottom it drags with it any suspended particles in the wine.
This all happens at room temperature.

Our beeswax is solid at this "normal" temperature...If we mix bentonite with
water at say 80 degrees C, will it still flocculate? Would the resulting
suspension be alkaline and saponify the beeswax?

Some years ago I read of a method of purifying beeswax using wax melted in
10% water with a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide added (at just less than
boiling point) the H2O2 boiled vigorously with very small bubbles wetting
any particles that were in suspension in the wax. (there also may have been
a bleaching action due to the H2O2).

This sounds dangerous to me...Does anyone have any experiance of this
technique?

Best Regards, Dave Cushman
G8MZY
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website...Beekeeping and Bee Breeding
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman