Impurities in raw wool

Raw wool is dirty and about 50% of its weight consists of natural and other impurities (Table 1.9). In general, the finer wools such as merino contains a higher 

Type Fat and suint Sand and dirt Vegetable matter Wool fibre 

Chemically wool wax is a complex mixture of esters, diesters and hydroxy esters of high molecular weight lanolin alcohol and acids. The lanolin alcohol consists of three main types - aliphatic alcohols, sterols (such as cholesterol) and trimethyl sterols (such as lanosterols). The lanolin acid consists of four main types - normal, iso, anteiso and hydroxy acids. On exposure to the environment wool readily undergoes auto-oxidation. The reaction product (oxidised wool wax) be- 

Suint is mainly water soluble constituents of raw fleece and is normally neutral or slightly alkaline in reaction. It contains potassium and to a certain extent sodium ions. 

The cellulosic materials are finely entangled with the wool fibre and require chemical treatments for their removal. As well as the cellulose the wool burrs also contain hemi-cellulose and lignin. 

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The main impurities in raw wool are vegetable matter, removed either mechanically or destroyed preferentially with sulphuric acid, suint or dried... 

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