Oleochemical 292102 219768424 2008-06-16T20:12:58Z 12.135.78.234 /* Applications */ '''Oleochemicals''' are [[chemical]]s derived from biological [[Vegetable oil|oil]]s or [[fat]]s. They are analogous to [[petrochemical]]s which are chemicals derived from [[petroleum]]. The [[hydrolysis]] or [[alcoholysis]] of oils or fats form the basis of the oleochemical industry. 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== The most common application of oleochemicals is biodiesel production. Fatty acids are esterified with an alcohol, commonly [[methanol]] to form methyl esters. Another common application is production of detergents; [[lauric acid]] is used to produce [[sodium lauryl sulfate]], the main ingredient in many personal care products. Other applications include the production of lubricants, green solvents, and bioplastics. ==Hydrolysis== The hydrolysis of the [[triglyceride]]s composing oils and fats produces [[fatty acid]]s and [[glycerol]]: :RCOOCH<sub>2</sub>-CHOOCR-CH<sub>2</sub>OCOR + 3 H<sub>2</sub>O &rarr; 3 RCOOH + HOCH<sub>2</sub>-CHOH-CH<sub>2</sub>OH The addition of [[base (chemistry)|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 ester]]s and glycerol: :RCOOCH<sub>2</sub>-CHOOCR-CH<sub>2</sub>OCOR + 3 R'OH &rarr; 3 RCOOR' + HOCH<sub>2</sub>-CHOH-CH<sub>2</sub>OH The fatty acid or fatty esters produced by these methods may be transformed. For example, [[hydrogenation]] converts [[unsaturated fatty acid]]s into [[saturated fatty acid]]s. The acids or esters can also be [[Redox|reduced]] to give [[fatty alcohol]]s. {{organic-chemistry-stub}} [[Category:Lipids]] [[nl:Oleochemie]] [[su:Oléokimia]]