The Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera or Morella cerifera) is a woody shrub found throughout the Southeastern United States. The waxy berries, leaves, and stems all have a distinctive fragrance, and wax extracted from the berries has traditionally been used to make scented candles for Christmas decorations. Additionally, the Wax Myrtle is a popular herbal remedy for increasing circulation, stimulating prespiration, and keeping bacterial infections in check. Our current efforts are focused on identifying the compounds extracted from the berries and leaves, that are believe to be in the ester family, via gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). We are currently comparing the use of isothermal versus temperature gradients for peak resolution and background stability. Additionally, reproducability of manual injections versus automated injections will be presented. Our efforts are intended for the development of an organic and analytical labortory experiment for undergraduate students.

Method development for the analysis and identification of fragrant compounds in M. cerifera, the southern wax myrtle

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.