Kerria lacca Shellac

Shellac. Shellac is outstanding in that it is the only resin of animal origin. Shellac is a yellow, orange, or brown solid derived from lac, the secretion of the scale-like Kerria lacca insects that inhabit trees in areas of India and Thailand. To obtain the resin, twigs encrusted with the insect s secretion are cut down from the trees, the incrustation is removed from the twigs, coarsely... 

Lac is derived from lac resin, the hardened secretion of the lac insect, the only known resin of animal origin. The lac insect, Kerria lacca, formerly known as Laccifer lacca, is a natural parasite of a variety of trees in large areas of southern Asia. Three different products are derived from lac resin lac dye, lac wax, and shellac. To obtain the lac resin, twigs encrusted with the secretion of the insects are cut down from the trees, then the incrustation is separated from the twigs, washed with water, and filtered. The wax and shellac, which are insoluble in water, remain as a solid residue of the filtration, while the soluble red dye (lac) is obtained as a powder when the water from the filtered solution is evaporated. The coloring matter in lac dye is an organic compound known as laccaic acid. 

Shellac (shellac wax). S. is a hard, tough resin (mp. 65-85 °C) obtained from secretions of the female lac insect (Kerria lacca, Coccideae). Chemically S. consists of esterified carboxylic acids, especially hy-droxy fatty acids (e. g., aleuritic acid), as well as the terpenoid shellolic acid C15H20O6, Mr 296.32, mp. 204-207 °C, [a] 3 +26° (CHCI3)). S. is used in coatings for foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. 

Natural plant resins are valuable for their chemical properties and uses like the production of varnishes (transparent, hard, protective films for the finishing of wood and other materials). Varnishes are generally a combination of a resin, a drying oil, and a solvent. After resin varnishes are applied to a surface, they usually become hard as soon as the solvent evaporates. Shellac is a varnish that uses a natural resin from insects. It is mostly applied to surfaces that remain indoors. The shellac resin is secreted by a female lac insect called Kerria lacca, found in the forests of Thailand [3]. Lacquer, a coating made from the sap of the lacquer tree Rhus verniciflura, is typically more durable than shellac [4]. 

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