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R. Tesser et al.
esters, including saturated or unsaturated and both could be used in the preparation
of functional groups including hydroxyl groups, epoxide groups or glycerol. Four
areas were covered by this work: 1—biodegradable surfactants, 2—safer fungicides,
3—bio-based plastics and plasticizers, preferably biodegradable, 4—paintings and
coatings that do not lead to the air pollution (release of volatile organic compounds).
Keywords Oleochemicals · Plant oils · Surfactants · Fungicides · Plasticizers ·
Plastics · Paintings and coatings
8.1 Introduction: An Overview on Oleochemistry Products
Similarities between fossil oil, which is considered as a non-renewable source of
energy, and plant oil, that would be further processed to reach quality standard as
biofuel, a renewable source of energy, was reported in many studies. Annually, of the
world’s transport fuels, 4% was biofuels and this percentage is increasing dramatically [237]. The demand for plant oil will probably double by 2030 but the plant oil
production may not cover such needs. Therefore, the exploration of novel plant oil
sources has become increasingly important in order to make up this future plant oil
shortfall [237]. As a general consideration, products derived from oleochemical processes have favourable price, performance and safety criteria and must be seriously
considered also for future product development. Renewable resources have often
been shown to have many advantages when compared with petrochemical raw materials and can, therefore, be considered ideal candidates for new product synthesis
and the ideal raw material basis.
Vegetable oils and fats are important constituents of human and animal foodstuffs
and are nowadays gaining more and more relevance as raw materials in the production
of different useful industrial chemicals. Certain fats and oils are industrially used and
are important renewable resources compared to fossil and mineral raw materials,
whose availability will become restricted in the near future. In particular, plant oils
are long-chain fatty acid esters that can be obtained from agricultural crops. They
may be saturated or unsaturated, and may bear functional groups, such as hydroxyl
groups, epoxide groups or glycerol. They are used in many applications ‘as is’, or
as ‘supports’ or additives in formulations for complex use. However, technological
developments have made it possible to transform plant oils directly into a multitude
of ‘biological’ industrial products, such as biosolvents, biodetergents, biolubricants,
bio-plastics, biomaterials and biosurfactants [87].
Worldwide results from oleochemistry show that the use of vegetable fats and oils
allows the development of competitive, powerful products, which are both consumer
and environment friendly.
Recently, new findings in oleochemical industry, brought to new products in different fields such as: surfactants, additive for cosmetic formulations, polymer plasticizers and additives, lubricants components, modified epoxides, etc. In many of
R. Tesser et al.
esters, including saturated or unsaturated and both could be used in the preparation
of functional groups including hydroxyl groups, epoxide groups or glycerol. Four
areas were covered by this work: 1—biodegradable surfactants, 2—safer fungicides,
3—bio-based plastics and plasticizers, preferably biodegradable, 4—paintings and
coatings that do not lead to the air pollution (release of volatile organic compounds).
Keywords Oleochemicals · Plant oils · Surfactants · Fungicides · Plasticizers ·
Plastics · Paintings and coatings
8.1 Introduction: An Overview on Oleochemistry Products
Similarities between fossil oil, which is considered as a non-renewable source of
energy, and plant oil, that would be further processed to reach quality standard as
biofuel, a renewable source of energy, was reported in many studies. Annually, of the
world’s transport fuels, 4% was biofuels and this percentage is increasing dramatically [237]. The demand for plant oil will probably double by 2030 but the plant oil
production may not cover such needs. Therefore, the exploration of novel plant oil
sources has become increasingly important in order to make up this future plant oil
shortfall [237]. As a general consideration, products derived from oleochemical processes have favourable price, performance and safety criteria and must be seriously
considered also for future product development. Renewable resources have often
been shown to have many advantages when compared with petrochemical raw materials and can, therefore, be considered ideal candidates for new product synthesis
and the ideal raw material basis.
Vegetable oils and fats are important constituents of human and animal foodstuffs
and are nowadays gaining more and more relevance as raw materials in the production
of different useful industrial chemicals. Certain fats and oils are industrially used and
are important renewable resources compared to fossil and mineral raw materials,
whose availability will become restricted in the near future. In particular, plant oils
are long-chain fatty acid esters that can be obtained from agricultural crops. They
may be saturated or unsaturated, and may bear functional groups, such as hydroxyl
groups, epoxide groups or glycerol. They are used in many applications ‘as is’, or
as ‘supports’ or additives in formulations for complex use. However, technological
developments have made it possible to transform plant oils directly into a multitude
of ‘biological’ industrial products, such as biosolvents, biodetergents, biolubricants,
bio-plastics, biomaterials and biosurfactants [87].
Worldwide results from oleochemistry show that the use of vegetable fats and oils
allows the development of competitive, powerful products, which are both consumer
and environment friendly.
Recently, new findings in oleochemical industry, brought to new products in different fields such as: surfactants, additive for cosmetic formulations, polymer plasticizers and additives, lubricants components, modified epoxides, etc. In many of