Chemical Properties
Squalene belongs to the group of triterpenoids. Oily liquid. After absorbing oxygen in the air, it is transformed into viscous liquid resembling linseed oil. Melting point -38 ° C, boiling point 280 ° C (17 mm Hg), specific gravity 0.8128 (15/4 ° C), refractive index 1.4965, in cyclohexane UV λmax < 226 nm. Soluble in ether, petroleum ether, acetone and carbon tetrachloride and other fat-soluble solvents, slightly soluble in ethanol and glacial acetic acid, almost insoluble in water. Has a slight pleasant odor. Decomposes when distilled under normal pressure. Gradually absorbs oxygen and resinates when placed in air.
Uses
Spinacene can be used for its antioxidant properties using its essential oils derived from its leaves and stem, including, effective larvacides
Uses
squalene is like squalane, squalene replenishes skin lipids while softening and smoothing. It helps maintain the skin in good condition. When used in hair care products, it serves as a hairconditioning and anti-static agent.
Definition
squalene: An intermediate compoundformed in the synthesis ofcholesterol; it is a hydrocarbon containing30 carbon atoms. The immediateoxidation of squalene tosqualene 2,3-epoxide is the last commonstep in the synthesis of sterolsin animals, plants, and fungi.
Biological Activity
Squalene takes part in metabolism as precursor for synthesis of steroids and structurally quite similar to β-carotene, coenzyme q10, vitamins K1, E, and D. As a secosteroid, vitamin D biosynthesis is also regulated by squalene. Moreover, being precursor for each steroid family makes squalene a crucial component of the body.
Synthesis
Squalene is generally extracted from shark liver oil by distillation. Pure squalene at atmospheric pressure 350 C boiling, and partially decomposed, therefore, must be distilled under reduced pressure, or liver oil direct distillation, or first saponification of liver oil, will not be saponified for distillation. Now give an example of direct distillation: 170 ml of liver oil for decompression distillation, when the internal temperature of 85 ~ 140 , the vacuum degree of 6 ~ 1.2Pa, the first fraction began to appear, this is a yellow oily, about 40 ml. When the internal temperature rises to 190 ~ 206 , the vacuum degree of 0.8 ~ 0.4Pa, the collection of the second fraction, about 78 ml. will be the second fraction of yellow oily for the Decompression fractional distillation, when the internal temperature was 190 and the vacuum degree was 0.53 Pa, about 20 ml of light yellow oily material appeared. When the temperature was increased to 195-200C and the vacuum degree was 0.4-0.13 Pa, about 35 ml of colorless transparent oily material was collected, which was squalene
