1 Introduction
29
1.2.1.1 Application of Industrial Oils in the Market of Basic
Oleochemicals
➀ Fatty Acid Market
Yield: Fatty acids are the most abundant of the basic oleochemicals. According to
incomplete statistics, global fatty acid production has been above 3.3 million tons in
recent years (including about 10,000 tons of tall oil fatty acids). Uses: A considerable
part of fatty acids are used directly, such as for the production of candles, cosmetic
bases and surface treatment agents for fillers. About 40% of the fatty acids produced
in Europe and the United States are used for soap making, and Japan accounts for
about 20%. Malaysia also has nearly 200,000 tons of fatty acids used in the production
of soap. Therefore, it is estimated that the global fatty acid used in the soap making
industry is more than 1 million tons.
Processed products of fatty acids include fatty acid esters, aliphatic nitrogen compounds, metal soaps and dimer acids [25]. Fatty acid sugar is produced by transesterification of fats and oils, with a global production of 500,000 to 1 million tons.
Most of the methyl esters are currently converted to fatty alcohols by hydrogenation.
Methacetate (MES) has been used as a detergent raw material with an annual output
of about 50,000 tons. One potential area of application for methyl vinegar is biofuels.
The relevant technical issues have been resolved, mainly depending on the competition with petroleum fuels and environmental legislation. Fatty acid esters such as
higher alcohols, polyhydric alcohols and sorbitol are widely used as emulsifiers,
greases, plasticizers and so on. Merely, the annual production of food emulsifiers is
around 300,000 tons.
Aliphatic nitrogen-containing compounds primarily reflect derivatives of amides
and amines; their main raw materials for cationic and amphoteric surfactants. In the
early 1990s, the production of fat nitrogenous materials was estimated to be around
700,000 tons. Later, because of the constraints of environmental conditions, the
demand for bis-tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride was sharply reduced in Europe,
and the esters were replaced. The amine is still a fatty acid derivative. According to
reports, the production of fatty amines in Europe in 1998 was 175,000 tons, which
is 18.3% of fatty acid production. North American production is around 200,000
tons. The production of fatty amines in China has also been around 15,000 tons. In
addition to alkanolamides, imidazolines, etc., the global production is estimated to
be around 700,000 tons.
Metal soaps (fatty acid heavy metal salts such as lead salts, barium salts and zinc
salts) are used as heat stabilizers in plastic processing. According to reports, there
are 7% of fatty acids in Europe and the United States used to reconstitute metal
soaps. In Japan, due to the development of the plastics industry, the consumption of
fatty acids in metal soaps is as high as 2 l%. It is estimated that developed countries
consume 150,000 tons of fatty acids in this area. However, due to the toxicity of
heavy metal salts and environmental safety issues, metal soaps are being gradually
replaced. However, in developing countries, they are still the largest heat stabilizers.
29
1.2.1.1 Application of Industrial Oils in the Market of Basic
Oleochemicals
➀ Fatty Acid Market
Yield: Fatty acids are the most abundant of the basic oleochemicals. According to
incomplete statistics, global fatty acid production has been above 3.3 million tons in
recent years (including about 10,000 tons of tall oil fatty acids). Uses: A considerable
part of fatty acids are used directly, such as for the production of candles, cosmetic
bases and surface treatment agents for fillers. About 40% of the fatty acids produced
in Europe and the United States are used for soap making, and Japan accounts for
about 20%. Malaysia also has nearly 200,000 tons of fatty acids used in the production
of soap. Therefore, it is estimated that the global fatty acid used in the soap making
industry is more than 1 million tons.
Processed products of fatty acids include fatty acid esters, aliphatic nitrogen compounds, metal soaps and dimer acids [25]. Fatty acid sugar is produced by transesterification of fats and oils, with a global production of 500,000 to 1 million tons.
Most of the methyl esters are currently converted to fatty alcohols by hydrogenation.
Methacetate (MES) has been used as a detergent raw material with an annual output
of about 50,000 tons. One potential area of application for methyl vinegar is biofuels.
The relevant technical issues have been resolved, mainly depending on the competition with petroleum fuels and environmental legislation. Fatty acid esters such as
higher alcohols, polyhydric alcohols and sorbitol are widely used as emulsifiers,
greases, plasticizers and so on. Merely, the annual production of food emulsifiers is
around 300,000 tons.
Aliphatic nitrogen-containing compounds primarily reflect derivatives of amides
and amines; their main raw materials for cationic and amphoteric surfactants. In the
early 1990s, the production of fat nitrogenous materials was estimated to be around
700,000 tons. Later, because of the constraints of environmental conditions, the
demand for bis-tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride was sharply reduced in Europe,
and the esters were replaced. The amine is still a fatty acid derivative. According to
reports, the production of fatty amines in Europe in 1998 was 175,000 tons, which
is 18.3% of fatty acid production. North American production is around 200,000
tons. The production of fatty amines in China has also been around 15,000 tons. In
addition to alkanolamides, imidazolines, etc., the global production is estimated to
be around 700,000 tons.
Metal soaps (fatty acid heavy metal salts such as lead salts, barium salts and zinc
salts) are used as heat stabilizers in plastic processing. According to reports, there
are 7% of fatty acids in Europe and the United States used to reconstitute metal
soaps. In Japan, due to the development of the plastics industry, the consumption of
fatty acids in metal soaps is as high as 2 l%. It is estimated that developed countries
consume 150,000 tons of fatty acids in this area. However, due to the toxicity of
heavy metal salts and environmental safety issues, metal soaps are being gradually
replaced. However, in developing countries, they are still the largest heat stabilizers.