EXTRACTION OF STRAIGHT-CHAIN PRIMARY ALIPHATIC HIGHER ALCOHOL

PURPOSE:To industrially and advantageously extract only a straight-chain primary aliphatic higher alcohol from a mixture of higher fatty acid with a higher alcohol obtained by decomposing animal and vegetable natural waxes with saponification, by using a fluid in sub- or super-critical state as an extractant. CONSTITUTION:Animal and vegetable natural waxes (example; carnauba wax, candelilla wax, rice bran wax, etc.) is decomposed by saponification, and the obtained mixture of higher fatty acid salt with higher alcohol is extracted by using a fluid in sub- or super-critical state, i.e. a fluid in the state at near the critical temperature and the critical pressure or above (example; ethylene and CO2, especially CO2 under 60-300kg/cm at 25-100 deg.C is preferred), to separate and obtain the straight chain primary aliphatic higher alcohol (example; triacontanol, etc.). EFFECT:Separation of an extract from an extractant is readily carried out and the product is of high purity. USE:A health food, remedial purpose food, etc.