Spermaceti

Spermaceti (from Greek sperma, seed, and Latin cetus, whale) is a wax present in the head cavities of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Originally mistaken for the whales' sperm (hence the name), spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head and connected to its nasal passage. Its biological function is uncertain.

Spermaceti is extracted from sperm oil by crystallisation at 6 °C (43 °F), when treated by pressure and a chemical solution of caustic alkali. Spermaceti forms brilliant white crystals that are hard but oily to the touch, and are devoid of taste or smell, making it very useful as an ingredient in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants. The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient, especially in cerates and ointments.

Properties

Spermaceti is insoluble in water, very slightly soluble in cold alcohol, but easily dissolved in ether, chloroform, carbon disulfide, and boiling alcohol. Spermaceti consists principally of cetyl palmitate (the ester of cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid), C₁₅H₃₁COO-C₁₆H₃₃.

A botanical alternative to spermaceti is a derivative of jojoba oil, jojoba esters, C₁₉H₄₁COO-C₂₀H₄₁, a solid wax which is chemically and physically very similar to spermaceti and may be used in many of the same applications. Esters of cetyl alcohol and jojoba oil are used as a substitute for spermaceti.

Spermaceti processing

Spermaceti was gathered during whaling and was considered a valuable resource by whalers due to the high price that could be fetched for it. The sperm whale's head was either brought on deck or lashed to the side of the ship where the whalemen would cut a hole in the case. The spermaceti could then be drawn out by bucket or a whaleman would enter the hole and manually remove the fluid. Accounts suggest that this procedure changed little from the earliest days of sperm whaling to the advent of modern technology in the 20th century.^[1] Once gathered the spermaceti would be placed in barrels for the voyage home. A large whale could have as much as 500 gallons.

Biological function

Currently there is no agreement on what biological purpose spermaceti serves. It might be used as a means of altering the whale's buoyancy, since the density of the spermaceti alters with its phase.^[2] There is a hypothesis that it is used to focus sound waves to stun its prey. Another hypothesis is that it is used as a cushion to protect the sperm whale's delicate snout while diving.^[3][4]

References

• David R. Carrier, Stephen M. Deban and Jason Otterstrom, The face that sank the Essex: potential function of the spermaceti organ in aggression, Journal of Experimental Biology '205:'1755–1763, 2002.
• Dolin, Eric Jay (2007). Leviathan, The History of Whaling in America. W.W. Norton & Co.. ISBN 978-0-393-6057-7. 

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.