Pristane is a natural saturatedterpenoidalkane obtained primarily from shark liver oil, from which its name is derived (Latinpristis, "shark"). It is also found in the stomach oil of birds in the order Procellariiformes and in mineral oil and some foods.[2] Pristane and phytane are used in the fields of geology and environmental science as biomarkers to characterize origins and evolution of petroleum hydrocarbons and coal.[3]
It is used as a lubricant, a transformer oil, an immunologic adjuvant, and an anti-corrosion agent, biological marker, plasmocytomas inducer and in production of monoclonal antibodies.
Biosynthetically, pristane is derived from phytol and is used as a biomarker in petroleum studies.[7]Tocopherols represent an alternate sedimentary source of pristane in sediments and petroleum.[8]
Toxicity of pristane is alleviated by aconitine.[9]
References
^"pristane - Compound Summary". PubChem Compound. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. 26 March 2005. Identification and Related Records.
^Chung, J.-G; Garrett, L.R; Byers, P.E; Cuchens, M.A (1989). "A survey of the amount of pristane in common fruits and vegetables". Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2 (1): 22–7. doi:10.1016/0889-1575(89)90058-6.
^Brooks, J. D.; Gould, K.; Smith, J. W. (April 1969). "Isoprenoid Hydrocarbons in Coal and Petroleum". Nature. 222 (5190): 257–259. doi:10.1038/222257a0. S2CID4151186.
^Hunt, John M; Philp, R.Paul; Kvenvolden, Keith A (2002). "Early developments in petroleum geochemistry". Organic Geochemistry. 33 (9): 1025–52. doi:10.1016/S0146-6380(02)00056-6.
^Goossens, H; De Leeuw, J. W; Schenck, P. A; Brassell, S. C (1984). "Tocopherols as likely precursors of pristane in ancient sediments and crude oils". Nature. 312 (5993): 440–2. Bibcode:1984Natur.312..440G. doi:10.1038/312440a0. S2CID4329068.