Effect of the carbon dioxide modifier on the lipid composition of wool wax extracted from raw wool

Abstract

Wool wax or lanolin is a unique substance secreted by sheep and forms a natural protective coating on wool fibres. It is widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. However, different systems of wool wax recovery from scouring liquour provide a dark impurified greasy product. This product has a lipid composition that differs from the wool wax present on wool fibres. The wool wax extraction method from raw wool with pressurised CO2 and different modifiers at constant pressure and temperature was studied. Thin-layer chromatography coupled to an automated flame ionisation detection system (TLC/FID) was used to analyse the different lipid classes present in the collected extracts. Moreover, a detailed structural comparison of the cholesteryl esters and hydroxycholesteryl esters was carried out by means of sub-ambient pressure chromatography mass spectrometry in the electron impact and in the ammonia positive chemical ionisation modes. For comparison, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the lanolin extracted in Soxhlet with dichloromethane and commercial cosmetic lanolin were carried out. Differences in the quantity of wool wax extraction and in the lipid composition of different wool wax extracts were detected by changing the modifier polarity.