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Squalane
Chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Squalane is the organic compound with the formula ((CH3)2CH(CH2)3CH(CH3)(CH2)3(CH2)3CH(CH3)(CH2)2)2. A colorless hydrocarbon, it is the hydrogenated derivative of squalene, although commercial samples are derived from nature.[3] In contrast to squalene, due to the complete saturation of squalane, it is not subject to auto-oxidation. This fact, coupled with its lower costs and desirable physical properties, led to its use as an emollient and moisturizer in cosmetics.[4]
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Sources and production
Squalene was traditionally sourced from the livers of sharks, with approximately 3000 required to produce one ton of squalane.[5] Due to environmental concerns, other sources such as olive oil, rice and sugar cane have been commercialized, and as of 2014 have been supplying about 40% of the industry total.[5]
In sugar cane squalane manufacturing, farnesene is produced from fermentation of sugarcane sugars using genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains.[5] Farnesene is then dimerized to isosqualene and then hydrogenated to squalane.[5][6]
In olive squalane manufacturing, squalene is extracted from olive oil residues in a green chemistry process, and is then hydrogenated into squalane.[7]
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Uses in cosmetics
Squalane was introduced as an emollient in the 1950s.[5] The unsaturated form of squalene is produced in human sebum and the livers of sharks.[8][9] Squalane has low acute toxicity and is not a significant human skin irritant or sensitizer.[10][11]
Miscellaneous information
The hydrogenation of squalene to produce squalane was first reported in 1916.[12][5]
References
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