What is the main compound of spermaceti?

What is the main compound of spermaceti?

cetyl palmitate
Spermaceti is said chiefly to consist of cetyl palmitate together with a small proportion of esters of other fatty acids, including lauric, myristic and stearic1,2.

What is used as a substitute for spermaceti?

Esters of cetyl alcohol and jojoba oil are used as a substitute for spermaceti.

What is the function of the spermaceti organ in sperm whales?

The spermaceti organ is an organ present in the heads of toothed whales of the family Physeteroidea, in particular the sperm whale. This organ contains a waxy liquid called spermaceti and is involved in the generation of sound.

Is the sperm whale The largest predator?

The sperm whale or cachalot (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia.

What kind of lipid is spermaceti?

Abstract. The lipid structure of the spermaceti organ of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon) has been investigated in an attempt to clarify its possible function. The major lipid classes present were wax ester and triglyceride, and their fatty acid compositions have been determined by gas-liquid chromatography.

What is synthetic spermaceti?

Spermaceti Wax is waxy liquid harvested from Whales, and when the industry realized that there was a demand for a more friendly approach they created the synthetic alternative, Cetyl Esters Wax, which is produced from coconut.

Is ambergris the same as spermaceti?

Spermaceti solidifies in cool air to form a wax once used for candles and cosmetics. Sperm whales are also the source of ambergris, a secretion in the gut produced in response to irritation by the beaks of squids, an important prey.

Why was spermaceti so valuable?

While spermaceti was only one of the products removed from the sperm whale, its importance in artificial lighting and its significance in the increased hunting of the sperm whale marks it as a major factor in the history of whaling. Spermaceti was also significant for reasons unrelated to lighting.

Are blue whales extinct?

Endangered (Population increasing)Blue whale / Conservation status

What is whale oil made of?

whale oil, also called train oil, any oil derived from any species of whale, including sperm oil from sperm whales, train oil from baleen whales, and melon oil from small toothed whales. From the 16th century through the 19th century, whale oil was used principally as lamp fuel and for producing soap.

Is spermaceti a oil?

Spermaceti wax is extracted from sperm oil by crystallisation at 6 °C (43 °F), when treated by pressure and a chemical solution of caustic alkali.