Oleochemical

Oleochemicals are chemicals derived from biological oils or fats. They are analogous to petrochemicals which are chemicals derived from petroleum. The hydrolysis or alcoholysis of oils or fats form the basis of the oleochemical industry.

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The formation of basic oleochemical substances like fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), fatty alcohols, fatty amines and glycerols are by various chemical and enzymatic reactions. Intermediate chemical substances produced from these basic oleochemical substances include alcohol ethoxylates, alcohol sulfates, alcohol ether sulfates, quarterner ammonium substances, monoacylglycerols (MAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), structured triacylglycerols (TAG) and sugar esters.

Applications

Hydrolysis

The hydrolysis of the triglycerides composing oils and fats produces fatty acids and glycerol:

RCOOCH₂-CHOOCR-CH₂OCOR + 3 H₂O → 3 RCOOH + HOCH₂-CHOH-CH₂OH

The addition of base helps the reaction proceed to completion.

Transesterification

If oils or fats are made to react with an alcohol (R'OH) instead of with water, the process is alcoholysis. It is also called transesterification, because the glycerol fragment of the fatty acid tri-ester is exchanged for that of another alcohol. Thus, the products are fatty acid esters and glycerol:

RCOOCH₂-CHOOCR-CH₂OCOR + 3 R'OH → 3 RCOOR' + HOCH₂-CHOH-CH₂OH

The fatty acid or fatty esters produced by these methods may be transformed. For example, hydrogenation converts unsaturated fatty acids into saturated fatty acids. The acids or esters can also be reduced to give fatty alcohols.