Scheme for the identification of sperm whale oil and its products in commercial formulations and in leather articles

Abstract

A method is described in which sperm whale oil and its derivatives can be identified both in isolation and when incorporated into leather as a fat-liquor. The sperm whale oil is separated into its constituent waxes and triglycerides, which are, in turn, hydrolysed to fatty acids and alcohols and fatty acids and glycerol, respectively. Gas-liquid chromatograms of its components are obtained and identification is made from a study of the pattern of peaks. The effects of sulphation and hydrogenation on the chromatographic patterns are discussed, as are the differences between the patterns obtained with sperm whale oil and spermaceti.