Oleochemicals

Oleochemicals are chemicals derived from oils and fats. They are analogous to petrochemicals which are chemicals derived from petroleum.

 
Oleochemicals or derivatives based on C12-C14 and C16-C18 chain lengths have a variety of uses. Tallow and coconut oil have been the traditional raw materials used for the production of C16-C18 and C12-C14 chain lengths respectively. While tallow is produced by the developed countries such as the United States and the world has to rely on the Asia Pacific region for the supply of the laurics oils which are the C12-C14 source. The Philipines has been the main supplier of lauric oils.

 
The hydrolysis or alcoholysis of oils and fats formed the basis of the oleochemicals industry. The five basic oleochemicals are fatty acids, fatty Methyl esters, fatty alcohol, fatty nitrogen compounds and glycerin.
1.Fatty Acids
High temperature and high pressure splitting of Palm Oil or Palm kernel Oil to produce crude fatty acids and glycerin as a by product.
Distillation of the crude fatty acids to produce distilled or fractionated fatty acids which is a high purity fatty acids.
2.Fatty Methyl Ester
Transesterification of Palm oil or Palm Kernel Oil with Methanol to produce crude methyl ester and glycerin as a by product.
Distillation of the methyl ester to produce distilled or fractionated fatty methyl ester.
3.Fatty Alcohol
Hydrogenation of distilled or fractionated methyl ester at high temperature and pressure in the presence of catalyst to produce crude fatty alcohol.
Distillation to produce distilled fatty alcohol.
4.Fatty Nitrogen Compounds
The most common fatty nitrogen compounds are fatty amides, nitriles, amines and quartenary ammonium compounds
The most important of these compound is quartenary ammonium compounds colloquially known as ¡¥quats¡¦ which is used in softeners.
5.Glycerin
Glycerin is a valuable co-product of the oleochemicals industry.
It has many applications such as in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry.