LAO demand still flat

FOCUS amphiphiles in oil/water, supercritical carbon dioxide/water and halocarbon/water phases, as well as aqueous systems, has been studied, highlighting the critical role of surfactant chemical structure in optimizing the stability of novel interfaces. Many real-life formulations contain mixtures of surfactants with polymers, and the interaction between the two can significantly modify the behaviour of the individual components in solution and at interfaces, sometimes beneficially, sometimes deleteriously. Peter Griffiths of Cardiff University outlined the range of techniques employed to characterize and understand these important interactions. Randall Hill of Dow Corning (USA) discussed the role of surfactants in wetting and spreading and, in particular, the behaviour of some trisiloxane polyoxyethyleneoxide surfactants that manifest the unusual phenomenon of ‘superwetting’. Recent work has revealed the existence of a critical wetting concentration well above the CMC. The superwetters were used to illustrate various time-dependent and spatial variation effects on wetting behaviour. Finally, Peter Dowding of Infineum UK Ltd considered the stabilization of colloidal suspensions and how the structure of the stabilizing surfactant affects the resultant stability and solubilization capacity of the dispersion. Surfactants adopt an optimal curvature in the formation of a stabilized suspension; recent work has shown that amphiphilic molecules called ‘linkers’, which segregate near either the head- or the tail-group of the surfactant, can modify this curvature in a similar way to cosurfactants. The structure, and therefore properties, of the surfactant layer can also be modified by chemically linking head-groups to form dimeric Gemini-type surfactants or even polymeric surfactants. Moreover, if the colloidal media is being used as a site for organic or inorganic reactions, then introducing functionality into the surfactant in this way can also tailor the properties of the reaction products within the colloid. Caroline Edser

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RAW MATERIALS Linear alkylbenzene Gulf Petroproducts in LAB feedstock talks Gulf Petroproducts is involved in talks with gas-to-liquids (GTL) players in Qatar for feedstock supplies for its linear alkylbenzene (LAB) project in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The company is hoping to source n-paraffin from GTL plants rather than building its own nparaffin plant. It had been negotiating with Saudi Aramco for the supply of kerosene, a feedstock for producing n-paraffin, but it does not consider the kerosene price competitive compared with building a LAB plant that uses nparaffin from GTL plants. Gulf Petroproducts will first build an 80,000 tonnes/y LAB plant using n-paraffin from GTL plants and will only proceed with its own n-paraffin unit at a later date. Talks with Saudi Aramco about the supply of kerosene are ongoing. The $125-130 M LAB project is scheduled to start up in 2Q 2006. Asian Chemical News, 31 May 2004, 10 (447), 19

Alpha-olefins Alpha-olefins – a question of balance Linear alpha-olefin (LAO) production technologies can generate products with an even number of carbon atoms, from C4 (butene-1) to C30+ (triacontene). The LAOs produced have applications in various sectors, and include polyethylene comonomers (C4-C8); synthetic lubricants (C10); detergents (C12C14); oilfield chemicals and papersizing agents (C16-C18); lubricant additives (C20+) and wax rheological modifiers (C24+). A potential for market imbalance is becoming apparent as PE comonomer growth is outpacing that of higher fractions. New process technologies are being developed for the production of just the lower fractions. They include Sabic/Linde’s Alpha-Sablin process, which should be commercialized in the medium term, Axens’ Alphaselect and UOP’s Linear-1. New butene-1 production facilities are being opened

in Antwerp, Belgium, by Degussa (Oxeno) and in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, by Petrokemya. Reference is made to the various LAO processes being utilized by the main producers. European Chemical News, 31 May 2004, 80 (2102), 16-18

LAO demand still flat Global operating rates for linear alpha-olefins have declined over the past 2 years by 5 percentage points to around 75%. Demand for LAOs in 2003 remained flat. Demand from the detergent sector declined during 2003, due to substitution from cheaper alternatives. No new capacity is being considered in the near future. Oils and Fats International, May 2004, 20 (3), 10

Oleochemicals New fatty acid plants A 350 tonnes/d fatty acid plant is to be built by Palm-Oleo Sdn Bhd of Malaysia in Zhangjiangang, Shanghai, China. It will produce fractionated fatty acids, glycerine and soap chips. The plant will increase Palm-Oleo’s splitting capacity to over 1000 tonnes/d. NatOleo is building a 700 tonnes/d fatty acids plant in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. CMB is to provide fat splitting units at both plants, which are each expected to begin commercial production in 2H 2005. Oils and Fats International, May 2004, 20 (3), 11

MDEX Annual Palm and Lauric Oils Conference The main issues raised at the MDEX Annual Palm and Lauric Oils Conference during Mar 2004 included global production and consumption, and the use of discriminatory import duties. Global vegetable oil production is expected to rise by around 5 M tonnes this year with consumption predicted to increase by 4 M tonnes; however, production growth is very dependent on weather. Production of oil in India is expected to fall from 6.890 M tonnes in 20032004 to 5.85 M tonnes in 2004-2005. The country’s per capita consumption will total 10.92 kg in the current year. Oil imports by India are predicted to decline by 600,000 tonnes to 4.8 M JULY 2004