Aleuritic acid is a major ingredient in shellac, constituting about 35% of it.
Aleuritic acid
is also known as red lac acid, shellac acid Red lac resin is a polyester
compound made
by multi - hydroxyl fatty acid and sesquiterpene acid, among which multi-
hydroxyl fatty
acid is lac acid. Shellac acid is the main component of the composition of
natural
shellac, and a part of lac resin, it is a white crystalline that takes 20%
-30%, molecular
formula is C16H32O5, contains three free hydroxyl and one free carbonxyl,
and its also
called 9,10,16 - trihydroxy palmiticacid. It is used as a starting material in
the perfume
industry for the preparation of musk aroma. Aleuritic acid has a wide range
of
applications, not only can be used as macro cyclic musk fragrance
compounds,
prostaglandin, insect pheromones, cyclic ureide, nutritional energy material,
it also can
be applied in UV resistance, radiation resistance, heat-resistant
aeronautic/aerospace
materials and equipment. Its traits are soluble in hot water, methanol,
ethanol, and
isopropanol; insoluble in cold water, ether, petroleum ether, and carbon
disulfide.
Aleuritic acid is pretty odorless and is physically detectable as a fine white
powder.