Sperm whale oil analysis by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

• Published in: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
• Main Authors: Spencer, G. F., Tallent, W. H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1973
• Subjects: Sperm whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf02640490; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1007%2FBF02640490; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1007/BF02640490

Abstract Gas liquid chromatography of winterized sperm oil showed that its wax esters with even carbon numbers range from C 24 to C 42 and are present in quantities resembling a normal distribution curve with C 34 as the mean. Between these even‐numbered wax esters, ones with odd chain lengths were eluted. Triglycerides, similarly present in a normal distribution pattern, ranged from C 42 to C 58 and also included traces of odd chain species. The component acids and alcohols were analyzed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and double bond positions in the monoenoid components were established. Branched chain and odd chain constituents, both saturated and unsaturated, were detected among both alcohols and acids. These moieties, when combined with those having even chains, are responsible for the wax esters and triglycerides with odd carbon numbers.