Squalene recovery from Uzen oil field wastewater: a novel abiotic resource
Suleimen Y.M. Trofimov A.N. Mamytbekova G.K. Kurbanaliyeva D. Akbay B. Tokay T.
2025Frontiers Media SA
Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry
2025#6
Squalene (C30H50), a triterpene hydrocarbon, a critical precursor in the biosynthesis of cell membrane steroids, is enzymatically derived via squalene synthase in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Its remarkable physicochemical properties and potent antioxidant characteristics underlie its extensive application across various sectors including nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fragrance industries. Historically, squalene has been predominantly sourced from shark liver oil and select plant oils. However, contemporary sustainable considerations have spurred pioneering investigations into unconventional reservoirs. This study reports, for the first time, the extraction of squalene from wastewater of Kazakhstan’s Uzen oil field, identifying an abiotic reservoir with significant scientific and industrial potential. In this study, wastewater samples from the Uzen oil field were collected, extracted, and the composition of dissolved volatile compounds in the extract was investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Notably, the predominant constituents were hydrocarbons, which was expected. Intriguingly, the analysis also revealed substantial quantities of squalene–a natural biomarker of oil. This unexpected discovery underscores the significant promise of this unconventional source. Copyright
compositional analysis , gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) , SARS-CoV-2 vaccine adjuvant , squalene , Uzen oil field , wastewater
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Department of Chemistry, Chemical Technology and Ecology, K. Kulazhanov Kazakh University of Technology and Business, Astana, Kazakhstan
Major Projects Support Department, KMG Engineering LLP, Astana, Kazakhstan
The Laboratory of Engineering Profile of NMR Spectroscopy, Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University, Kokshetau, Kazakhstan
Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Institute of Applied Chemistry LLP, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry
Major Projects Support Department
The Laboratory of Engineering Profile of NMR Spectroscopy
Department of Biology
Institute of Applied Chemistry LLP
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026