FOCUS ON c SURFACTANTS llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

A MONTHLY REPORT FROM GORDON HOLLIS

JANUARY 2002

In this issue

PRODUCTS 2-5

Linear alkylbenzene (LAB)

Long chain alcohols

Oleochemicals

Long chain olefines

Alkoxylates

Amines

Cationics

Toiletries

Fragrances

New developments

Phosphates and replacements

Bleaches

HEALTH CARE 5

Diethanolamine a carcinogen

ENZYMES 5

Enthusiasm for enzymes in dishwashing detergents

MARKETS 5-6

G companies may skid on alrrwdown

NEWS 6-8

FIELDS OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

It is always difficult to identify what might reasonably be called the most interesting item in a publication such as this one. Topics covered are invariably many and varied thereby reflecting the widespread properties of surfactants and associated products as well as the consequent variety of chemical types and structures involved.

This issue makes reference to a group of alpha olefines having carbon chain lengths much higher than normally used. Cl 6/C18 is the upper limit found in regular application on a commercial scale. References to higher numbers, however, up to about the C20-24 range, are to be found in the literature with applications in certain outlets. Carbon numbers higher than these are much less common. This month, however, the C26-C30 is referred to in rendering waxes of improved linearity, reactivity and purity.

These products have apparently already reached the manufacturing stage. Capacities in the 8-l 0,000 tonnes/y range for C26-C30 indicate confidence in their future usage in cosmetics, metalworking fluids and detergents.

In the cationic field, tallow amine derived surfactants are mentioned in two examples of industrial application. One such is in the herbicide field and due to be introduced in February 2002. Inclusion of the sut-factant in the spray mix is said to improve product uptake under optimum conditions. The other, in the fertiliser coating field, uses cationic surfactants based on

hydrogenated tallow amines. Perhaps the most fascinating

development reported this month, however, is a Chinese situation involving caustic soda of which some 5M tonnes/y are said to be consumed though apparently 7M tonnes are annually produced. Research designed to use this surplus has led to a sodium metasilicate which it is claimed can be used as a replacement for sodium tripolyphosphate, as well as application in a plethora of other outlets.

This situation, of course, reminds us of the problem characterising the detergent industry from the early 1960s onwards in the western world in which the use of polyphosphates in detergent formulations gave rise to algal growth problems in North America and parts of Europe. Alternative products emerged from the consequent research and the problem is no longer critical. In much of the rest of the world it probably never has been.

None the less, any new product which can actually or potentially replace a problem ingredient is of genuine interest provided all the required properties of the formulations in use can be achieved satisfactorily at an acceptable price. This last condition has often proved fatal as also has availability of key raw materials. In the current situation, this can be expected to be of less significance. Further developments will be awaited with interest.

Gordon Hollis

SURFACTANTS SURFACTANTS SURFACTANTS SURFACTANTS