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Sperm oil replacements: Synthetic wax esters from selectively hydrogenated soybean and linseed oils
Author(s) -
Bell E. W.,
Gast L. E.,
Thomas F. L.,
Koos R. E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02655167
Subject(s) - wax , hydrogenolysis , degree of unsaturation , organic chemistry , linseed oil , chemistry , catalysis , soybean oil , wax ester , fatty acid , fatty alcohol , yield (engineering) , lubricant , food science , materials science , metallurgy
and Summary Synthetic wax esters with properties similar to those of sperm whale oil have been prepared entirely from soybean and linseed oils. the synthesis required: (a) selective hydrogenation of the oils with copper‐on‐silica gel catalyst, (b) hydrogenolysis of fatty acids to fatty alcohols with copper‐cadmiumchromium catalyst, and (c) esterification of hydrogenolysis products to yield predominantly long chain fatty esters which contained unsaturation in both the alcohol and acid moieties. Similarity of physical and chemical properties indicate that these wax esters are possible replacements for sperm oil. After sulfurization, the wax esters also have potential as extreme pressure lubricant additives.