Extraction of lanolin oil from Ethiopian sheep Wool

One of the purposes of a research for the chemical engineer is to contribute to knowledge. Therefore this project was conducted to analyse and summarize the characterization & extraction of lanolin oil from Ethiopian sheep wool from three different breeds with different age groups and sex. Lanolin oil is a natural and renewable substance secreted from sebaceous gland attached to the root of each wool fiber in the basal layer of the sheep¿s skin. It has industrial applications like in the leather making process, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals (like cancer treatment), and lubricant industries. Physical and chemical analyses were made to characterize both the sheep wool and the extracted lanolin oil .The major part of the project, the oil extraction process, was conducted using two methods of extraction, namely chemical and water extraction methods; the main difference being the solvent used for the extraction process in the apparatus used. Finally, efficiency was compared among the three different breeds based on the time consumed, energy and yield . The research is intended for researcher and business person who is looking for untapped renewable raw material source with minimum waste.