lanolin
A widely occurring crude preparation of
cholesterol and its esters. Some lanolins are
derived by solvent extraction from the sebaceous
glands of wooled sheepskins. The molten wax is
washed with alkaline (carbonate) solutions
followed by water alone. When pure, lanolin is
white and odorless, has excellent emulsifying
properties and does not readily turn rancid. It
has a softening range of 58 to 62° C.
Lanolin is employed as one of the constituents of
leather dressings, and is valuable because of its
powers of penetration, its favorable softening
range, and its ability to supply body to the
dressing. Also called "wool wax." (218 , 235 )
![[CoOL]](/icons/sm_cool.gif){kind=icon}