A waxy oil found in the head of sperm whales (almost 2000 l/440 UK galls/530 US galls per whale in Physeter catodon); solidifies in air; function unclear; formerly used as a lubricant, and in ointments and candles; name (mistakenly) means whale's sperm.
Spermaceti (from Latin sperma, seed, and cetus, whale) is a wax present in the head cavities of the Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and in the blubber of all whales. Spermaceti is extracted from whale oil by crystallisation at 6 °C, when treated by pressure and a chemical solution of caustic alkali.
Spermaceti is insoluble in water, very slightly soluble in boiling alcohol, but easily dissolved in ether, chloroform, and carbon disulfide.
A botanical alternative to spermaceti is a derivative of jojoba oil, jojoba esters, C20H41COO-C20H41 a solid wax which is chemically and physically very similar to spermaceti and may be used in many of the same applications.
Esters of cetyl alcohol and jojoba oil are used as a substitute for spermaceti.
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