Wool wax

[ABM Nazmul Islam]

The grease obtained from the wool of sheep during the cleaning or refining
process is rich in wax esters (of 1- and 2-alkanols, and 1,2-diols), sterol esters, triterpene alcohols,
and free acids and sterols. The nature of the product varies with the degree and type of processing
involved, but can contain up to 50% wax esters and 33% sterol esters. A high proportion of the
sterol component is lanosterol. The fatty acid components are mainly saturated and iso- and
anteiso-methyl-branched-chain.