Lanolin Alcohol

About This Product

Lanolin alcohol is produced by saponifying anhydrous lanolin to split its esters, then separating the alcohol fraction from the fatty acids. It carries CAS number 8027-33-6 and the INCI name Lanolin Alcohol, and is supplied as pale yellow to amber waxy flakes or a semi-solid. The fraction is dominated by sterols, principally cholesterol and lanosterol, together with triterpene and aliphatic alcohols. Cholesterol is the key component: it is one of the three lipid classes that make up the skin's own barrier, alongside ceramides and free fatty acids, which is why the material is so well tolerated and so effective at supporting a damaged barrier. Functionally it is a strong water-in-oil emulsifier, able to hold several times its own weight of water in a stable dispersion within an oil phase, and it is used to convert simple ointment bases into absorption bases that can carry aqueous actives. It also acts as a superfatting agent, a pigment dispersant and a stabiliser for wax systems. It is the fraction of lanolin most associated with contact sensitivity, so purified low-residue grades are specified where that matters. It is used in ointments and absorption bases, creams and barrier products, lipsticks and colour cosmetics, hair care, and in industrial rust-preventive coatings. Bio Green Wax supplies lanolin alcohol to specification on hydroxyl value, acid and saponification value, melting range, colour and pesticide residues.