Oleochemical/oleochemistry industry

G. Dieckelmann and H. J. Heinz, The Basics of Industrial Oleochemistry, Oleochemicals Consulting International, D-4330 MuUieim (Ruhr)-Saam, 1988. 

Coconut oil is one of the most important raw materials for the oleochemical industry. The whole range of its fatty acid composition is used as the starting material for a wide variety of oleochemical products. Fatty acids are the building blocks that, with proper selection and application of oleochemistry, are converted to higher valued products. 

In fat chemistry ( oleochemistry ) no considerable application of homogeneous catalysis and of industrial importance is known so far [1], One reason for this is the modest reactivity of the starting chemicals. Oleochemicals are molecules with a long carbon chain. The double bonds of unsaturated fatty compounds are always in internal positions. Hence, the steric hindrance of oleochemicals is often very high, and the coordination to metal complexes is made difficult. In addition all fatty compounds contain a substituent with a heteroatom such as carboxyl, ester, aldehyde, alcohol, or amine groups. These substituents often react with organome-tallic compounds and can inactivate the catalyst. 

Historically, industrial oleochemistry began when Ernst Twitched at Emery (now Cognis and Emery Oleochemicals) in Cincinnati successfully performed... 

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