Global InformationOleochemistry information
Oleochemistry is the study of vegetable oils and animal oils and fats, and oleochemicals derived from these fats and oils. The resulting product can be called oleochemicals (from Latin: oleum "olive oil"). The major product of this industry is soap, approximately 8.9×106 tons of which were produced in 1990. Other major oleochemicals include fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty alcohols and fatty amines. Glycerol is a side product of all of these processes.[1] Intermediate chemical substances produced from these basic oleochemical substances include alcohol ethoxylates, alcohol sulfates, alcohol ether sulfates, quaternary ammonium salts, monoacylglycerols (MAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), structured triacylglycerols (TAG), sugar esters, and other oleochemical products.
As the price of crude oil rose in the late 1970s,[2] manufacturers switched from petrochemicals to oleochemicals[3] because plant-based lauric oils processed from palm kernel oil were cheaper. Since then, palm kernel oil is predominantly used in the production of laundry detergent and personal care items like toothpaste, soap bars, shower cream and shampoo.[4]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Bornscheuerwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Haupt, D. E.; Drinkard, G.; Pierce, H. F. (1984). "Future of petrochemical raw materials in oleochemical markets". Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 61 (2): 276. doi:10.1007/BF02678781. S2CID 95637088.
- ^ Akaike, Yoshiteru (1985). "Other oleochemical uses: Palm oil products". Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 62 (2): 335–340. doi:10.1007/BF02541401. S2CID 94948265.
- ^ Dewaet, F. (1985). "Quality requirements from a consumer's point of view (oleochemical products)". Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 62 (2): 366–371. doi:10.1007/BF02541406. S2CID 97742057.