Challenges to a mature industry: Marketing and economics of oleochemicals in Western Europe

Abstract

Basic oleochemicals are produced by splitting and further reactions of oils and fats: fatty acids, glycerine, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty alcohols and amines. The last two are included in the list of oleochemical raw materials, primarily because of their importance in the preparations of further derivatives. The wide range of derivatives of oleochemical raw materials such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, quaternary ammonium compounds and soaps are summarized. Oleochemicals such as fatty alcohols and glycerine from oils and fats have equivalents on the basis of petrochemicals. Using the customary terminology, petrochemical products are referred to as “synthetics.” The are included in the present discussion because in the application of oleochemical raw materials the origin of the material is often less important than the structure. Oleochemistry can be regarded as a mature branch of chemistry, with many applications for its products, but with few completely new fields. The challenge and the opportunities for oleochemistry today lie in the changing economic and ecological conditions. Availability and price development of oils and fats are discussed with particular reference to European conditions, for these are the prerequisites if oleochemicals are to be competitive and are to improve their chances in the marketplace. The importance and development of the oleochemical raw material fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters, glycerine, fatty alcohols and amines are considered on the basis of historical data. In considering future developments of oleochemicals, the capacity, demand and the possible influence of petrochemistry or crude oil is discussed. The highly developed oleochemical raw materials industry is a flexible supplier of medium‐to long‐chain fatty alkyl groups. These facts, together with the well organized supply lines for raw materials and the considerable potential of these renewable raw materials, could provide the necessary conditions for the oleochemical raw materials industry to fulfil its future tasks on a larger scale. This could arise, for example, due to the partial substitution of petrochemical surfactants, if this should become necessary as a result of developments in the price and availability of crude oil, or on grounds of ecological factors.

Epoxidized vegetable oil and bio‐based materials as PVC plasticizer

“…Some examples for the chemical modification of oleochemical compounds are the unsaturated bonds in seed oils. This could be chemically modified to improve their physical properties in order to be used in various applications . Moreover, Secondary OH group, as in castor oil becomes vital industrial raw material due to the presence of hydroxyl group .…”

Modification of olefinic double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids and other vegetable oil derivatives via epoxidation: A review

“…Glycerol is later added to the list (Richtler and Knaut, 1984), since it is produced in large amounts as a by-product in the formation of fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) due to the dramatic increase in biodiesel demands and as an important material with many uses (Gunstone and Hamilton, 2001).…”

“…The other reactive site that can be found in some of the fatty acids (see example of palm oil fatty acids in Figure 1) of vegetable oils is the olefinic double bond. About 90% of the oleochemical reactions occur at the carboxylic group and only 10% represents reactions involving the alkyl chain of fatty acids (Richtler and Knaut, 1984).…”

Opportunities for the Development of The Oleochemical Industry of Coconut Products

“…Oleochemical products and their derivatives. [12] E3S Web of Conferences 361, 02024 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202236102024 IConARD 2022…”