1 Introduction
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about 11,000 tons, accounting for only 4% of the world total. The annual output of
food-grade monoglyceride in China is about 50 million tons, and it is mainly mixed
ester containing 50% monoglyceride. Secondly, there are food-grade sorbitol esters
(Span, Tween), sucrose esters and other small quantities. Polyglycerol esters and
monoglyceride citrate are still in the development stage.
With the development of China’s economy, the demand for food emulsifiers will
further increase. However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the development
of new varieties and in improving product quality.
➇ Paper Industry
Although the paper industry is not a traditional application area for oleochemicals,
the development of the paper industry today offers good opportunities. In 1998,
the total demand for paper and paperboard in China was 32.57 million tons, but the
annual output was 27.5 million tons, and the self-sufficiency rate was 84.4%. China’s
per capita consumption is around 25 kg/a, which is less than half of the global
average. Poor product quality, low grades, low wood pulp ratio (about 10%) and
backward technical equipment are the main problems in the paper industry. However,
the backwardness of the papermaking auxiliary industry is also a key reason. For
example, it is reported that the annual output of paper chemicals in Western Europe
is above 1.3 million tons, with an output value of 3.7 billion US dollars; China’s
output is only 50,000 tons, and the output value is 36 million US dollars. Among the
additives in the paper industry may be related to oleochemicals including deinking
agents, defoamers, lubricants, water repellents and the like. The secondary utilization
of waste paper and three uses are one of the development trends of the current paper
industry. The utilization rate of waste paper in developed countries has exceeded
50%, and China currently only accounts for 1/3. The deinking agent used for waste
paper recycling is mainly a surfactant, and the current consumption is only 200 tons,
which is expected to increase exponentially. Defoamers mainly use kerosene, while
higher education defoamers such as ethylene bis-stearic acid and polyethylene glycol
esters are not widely accepted for economic reasons.
1.2.2 The Prospect of Oil Plant Industry Development
1.2.2.1 Industrial Development and Applications of Plant Oils
and Their Bio-Based Oleochemicals
In the concepts for new products, performance, product safety and product economy
criteria are equally important. They are taken into account already when the raw
materials base for a new industrial product development is defined. Here, renewable
resources gain again after the earlier “green trend” in the 1980s—increasing attention
as an alternative raw materials source compared to fossil feedstock. The industrial
use of carbohydrates, proteins and plant oils aligns perfectly with the principles of
Responsible Care and is an important part of green chemistry and sustainability in
37
about 11,000 tons, accounting for only 4% of the world total. The annual output of
food-grade monoglyceride in China is about 50 million tons, and it is mainly mixed
ester containing 50% monoglyceride. Secondly, there are food-grade sorbitol esters
(Span, Tween), sucrose esters and other small quantities. Polyglycerol esters and
monoglyceride citrate are still in the development stage.
With the development of China’s economy, the demand for food emulsifiers will
further increase. However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the development
of new varieties and in improving product quality.
➇ Paper Industry
Although the paper industry is not a traditional application area for oleochemicals,
the development of the paper industry today offers good opportunities. In 1998,
the total demand for paper and paperboard in China was 32.57 million tons, but the
annual output was 27.5 million tons, and the self-sufficiency rate was 84.4%. China’s
per capita consumption is around 25 kg/a, which is less than half of the global
average. Poor product quality, low grades, low wood pulp ratio (about 10%) and
backward technical equipment are the main problems in the paper industry. However,
the backwardness of the papermaking auxiliary industry is also a key reason. For
example, it is reported that the annual output of paper chemicals in Western Europe
is above 1.3 million tons, with an output value of 3.7 billion US dollars; China’s
output is only 50,000 tons, and the output value is 36 million US dollars. Among the
additives in the paper industry may be related to oleochemicals including deinking
agents, defoamers, lubricants, water repellents and the like. The secondary utilization
of waste paper and three uses are one of the development trends of the current paper
industry. The utilization rate of waste paper in developed countries has exceeded
50%, and China currently only accounts for 1/3. The deinking agent used for waste
paper recycling is mainly a surfactant, and the current consumption is only 200 tons,
which is expected to increase exponentially. Defoamers mainly use kerosene, while
higher education defoamers such as ethylene bis-stearic acid and polyethylene glycol
esters are not widely accepted for economic reasons.
1.2.2 The Prospect of Oil Plant Industry Development
1.2.2.1 Industrial Development and Applications of Plant Oils
and Their Bio-Based Oleochemicals
In the concepts for new products, performance, product safety and product economy
criteria are equally important. They are taken into account already when the raw
materials base for a new industrial product development is defined. Here, renewable
resources gain again after the earlier “green trend” in the 1980s—increasing attention
as an alternative raw materials source compared to fossil feedstock. The industrial
use of carbohydrates, proteins and plant oils aligns perfectly with the principles of
Responsible Care and is an important part of green chemistry and sustainability in