1,Physiochemical properties of octacosanol
Trade name: octacosanol, octacosyl alcohol or policosanol
Scientific name: 1-Octacosanol
Octacosanol-1
n-Octacosanol
Popular name: Montanyl alcohol
koranyl alcohol
Molecular formula: C₂₈H₅₈O
Chemical formula: C₂₈H₅₇OH or CH₃(CH₂)₂₆CH₂OH
Molecular weight: 410.77
State: White ceroid solid, white powder, white scaly crystal, odorless, flavorless
Properties:Nonhygroscopic, resistance to light, heat, acid, alkali, reducing agent, good biodegradability
Specific gravity: 0.7830g/ml(85°C),0.8445(d204)
Chain length: 62.3Å
Acetyl number: 123.19
Hydroxyl value: 136.59
Freezing point: 82.6°C
Melting point: 83.2-83.6°C(purity≥97%)
Boiling point: 175°C(2.7Pa), 190°C(10Pa), 227°C(100Pa)
Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in solvents including n-butyl alcohol,isopropyl alcohol, aether, chloroform, butyl acetate, ethanol, benzene,light petroleum, sec-butyl alcohol, cyclohexane, acetone and methanol etc.. Octacosanol's solubility in 50°C acetone is 1.7%.
Toxicity:Octacosanol has no toxicity. Safety is better than that of common salt.

2, Natural resources of octacosanol
Octacosanol is natural long chain fatty alcohol. Higher alcohol, taking octacosanol as representative, seldom exists in free state.
High grade fatty alcohol is widely used in the nature, almost in all creatures. It is widely in lipid of plant, animal and insects. Long chain fatty alcohol exists in the root, stem, leaf, skin, seed of plant, marrow and body of gland of mankind and animal, and lipid of insects.

3, Physiological functions and uses of octacosanol
Octacosanol is a kind of functional food additive. Functions: enhance physical and brain power, energy and stamina, improve stress ability and rapid response, improve metabolic rate, cardiac muscle nutrition , reduce blood pressure etc..

4, Market application prospect of octacosanol
Octacosanol is the nutrition auxiliary, and the best additive for health products, cosmetics and feedstuffs. Products with octacosanol is often made into tablet, pill, capsule, candy, chocolate, cake and drinks etc.. Octacosanol has been well sold in the US and Japan for more than ten years. In 1996, sales volume of octacosanol reached 1 billion yen.