Factors affecting levels of calcium compounds in New Zealand woolgrease

摘要

Calcium soaps are found inNewZealand woolgreases at varying levels. These soaps contain acids of wool wax origin and are formed during the woolscouring process. Several factors contribute to woolgrease calcium (Ca) soap levels but the most important one relates to the wool type being scoured. Slipe wool of any sort contaminated with Ca from lime sulphide depilatory, lambs wool with the #x201C;milk tip#x201D; intact and produced by the sliping process or shorn, and wools excessively contaminated with mud and dirt can be sources of Ca, which eventually appears as Ca soaps in the recovered woolgrease. The concentration of the woolscouring liquors and creams recovered during primary centrifuging can also have an effect on Ca soap levels in woolgrease.