30
J. Chen et al.
For example, in China, metal soaps accounted for three-quarters of the 45,000 tons
of heat stabilizers produced in 1996.
Dimer acid is an additional product of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid
and linolenic acid under thermal or catalytic conditions [26]. The polymerization
product of fatty acids has been found for nearly 80 years. After the Second World
War, the United States used tall oil fatty acid as raw material to realize the industrial
production of dimer acid. At present, the yield of dimer acid is about 40,000 to 50,000
tons. The primary use of dimer acid is to produce reactive polyamide resins, which
are excellent epoxy resin curing agents. Another important use is in the production of
non-reactive polyamide resins. They have good adhesion to cellophane and polyolefin
films, Therefore, it is widely used in such special printing inks. Other uses for dimer
acid are metal preservatives, gasoline additives, synthetic lubricating ester additives
and coatings. China has only begun to develop dimer acid since the 1970s. There are
problems of the small scale of production and unstable quality, and it still mainly
relies on imports. According to China’s economic development, the demand for
dimer acid should be optimistic. The key issue is to improve the quality and reduce
costs.
Market Trends: After the analysis above, we can see that the traditional products
account for the majority in the fatty acid market; they are being replaced by new
products; the rough processed products are the majority while the technical content
is low, and the added value of the products is also low. Therefore, the prospect
of the market is not optimistic. The further development of the fatty acid industry
depends on the development of high value-added deep processing products and the
development of new application areas.
➁ Fatty alcohol market
Yield: Fatty alcohol is the second largest variety of basic oleochemicals, and is also the
main breed that drives the growth of the oleochemical industry. According to reports,
in 1995 the global production of fatty alcohol was 1,244,500 tons, and increased by
4.65%. Among them, synthetic alcohol was 649,000 tons, with a growth rate of 1.6%;
natural alcohol was 575,500 tons, with a growth rate of 9.76%. If estimated at a 4%
growth rate, the production of fatty alcohol in 2000 should be about 1.5 million tons,
and the synthetic alcohol and natural alcohol will be equally divided.
Uses: Most fatty alcohols are used to produce daily chemical products. 70% fatty
alcohol is used to produce anionic, nonionic surfactants such as AS, AE, AES, and
APG. 4% is used as a raw material for cosmetics, 8% is used as a lubricant, and
the rest is processed into an emulsifier, a demulsifier, a petroleum additive, a fabric
treatment agent, etc.
Market Trend: As one of the main raw materials for anionic and nonionic surfactants, the fatty alcohol industry will continue to grow with the further development
of the surfactant industry.
The speed of development depends on two aspects of competition: the competition
between fatty alcohol and LAB. As the main active of detergents. LAS has a slight
advantage in performance/price index. On the other hand, fatty alcohol derivatives are
in a favorable position in terms of environmental adaptability, resource renewability
J. Chen et al.
For example, in China, metal soaps accounted for three-quarters of the 45,000 tons
of heat stabilizers produced in 1996.
Dimer acid is an additional product of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid
and linolenic acid under thermal or catalytic conditions [26]. The polymerization
product of fatty acids has been found for nearly 80 years. After the Second World
War, the United States used tall oil fatty acid as raw material to realize the industrial
production of dimer acid. At present, the yield of dimer acid is about 40,000 to 50,000
tons. The primary use of dimer acid is to produce reactive polyamide resins, which
are excellent epoxy resin curing agents. Another important use is in the production of
non-reactive polyamide resins. They have good adhesion to cellophane and polyolefin
films, Therefore, it is widely used in such special printing inks. Other uses for dimer
acid are metal preservatives, gasoline additives, synthetic lubricating ester additives
and coatings. China has only begun to develop dimer acid since the 1970s. There are
problems of the small scale of production and unstable quality, and it still mainly
relies on imports. According to China’s economic development, the demand for
dimer acid should be optimistic. The key issue is to improve the quality and reduce
costs.
Market Trends: After the analysis above, we can see that the traditional products
account for the majority in the fatty acid market; they are being replaced by new
products; the rough processed products are the majority while the technical content
is low, and the added value of the products is also low. Therefore, the prospect
of the market is not optimistic. The further development of the fatty acid industry
depends on the development of high value-added deep processing products and the
development of new application areas.
➁ Fatty alcohol market
Yield: Fatty alcohol is the second largest variety of basic oleochemicals, and is also the
main breed that drives the growth of the oleochemical industry. According to reports,
in 1995 the global production of fatty alcohol was 1,244,500 tons, and increased by
4.65%. Among them, synthetic alcohol was 649,000 tons, with a growth rate of 1.6%;
natural alcohol was 575,500 tons, with a growth rate of 9.76%. If estimated at a 4%
growth rate, the production of fatty alcohol in 2000 should be about 1.5 million tons,
and the synthetic alcohol and natural alcohol will be equally divided.
Uses: Most fatty alcohols are used to produce daily chemical products. 70% fatty
alcohol is used to produce anionic, nonionic surfactants such as AS, AE, AES, and
APG. 4% is used as a raw material for cosmetics, 8% is used as a lubricant, and
the rest is processed into an emulsifier, a demulsifier, a petroleum additive, a fabric
treatment agent, etc.
Market Trend: As one of the main raw materials for anionic and nonionic surfactants, the fatty alcohol industry will continue to grow with the further development
of the surfactant industry.
The speed of development depends on two aspects of competition: the competition
between fatty alcohol and LAB. As the main active of detergents. LAS has a slight
advantage in performance/price index. On the other hand, fatty alcohol derivatives are
in a favorable position in terms of environmental adaptability, resource renewability