The chromatographic analysis of spermaceti

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The alkyl esters of spermaceti can be analysed directly by high temperature gas chromatography on a 10% Silicone Elastomer E301 column following the injection of the whole wax. The validity of the technique was established by initial chromatographic work on the isolated alkyl ester fraction and its saponification products. In three commercial wax samples, four homologues C28 (hexadecyl dodecanoate), C30 (hexadecyl tetradecanoate), C32 (hexadecyl hexadecanoate) and C34 (hexadecyl octadecanoate), accounted for 86–89% of the total alkyl esters. Variation in the ester homologue content is produced only by variations in the fatty acid homologue content.