THE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS - IFEAT

FROM BIOMATERIALS TO OLEOCHEMICALSBy definition, oleochemicals are chemicals fromthe oil, which may be natural or fossil-based. Arange of oleochemicals is produced via chemicalprocesses from coconut oil and palm kernel oil.These oleochemicals include fatty acids, fattyacid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycol ethers, fattyamides, fatty amines, as well as soap. Some ofthese basic chemicals serve as ingredients in themanufacture of other industrial products such asemulsifiers, surfactants and lubricants withspecific applications in the cosmetics, detergentsand other chemical industries. However, few ofthem find uses in the flavour and fragranceindustries.From biomaterials to oleochemicals• Oleochemicals from coconut oil and palm kernel oil –e.g. fatty acids of C8-C14, fatty acid methyl esters,fatty alcohols, glycerine• Oleochemicals – mainly used as basic industrial rawmaterials, some in cosmetics, hardly as aromachemicals• Current industry status – chemical processes, hightemperature, high pressure, high energy consumption,catalysts (acids, alkali, heavy metals), environmentalissuesOleochemicals derived from natural fats and oils can be termed “natural”, however, the chemicalprocesses involved in their production are not necessarily environmentally friendly. The chemicalprocesses include acid hydrolysis, esterification, transesterification and hydrogenation, among others.High temperature, high pressure, high energy consumption and/or catalysts (acids, alkali and heavymetals) are often indispensible part of the chemical processes.THE BIOPROCESSGiven the inherent environmental issuesassociated with the chemical processes, there is aneed to call for environmentally more friendlyalternative processes. Biotransformation by wayof microbial fermentation and enzymaticbiocatalysis is one promising biotechnologicalmethod. Coconut oil and palm kernel oil aresuitable biomaterials for enzymatic (lipase)biotransformation into value-add aromachemicals. Lipase-catalysed reactions can beperformed under mild conditions of much lowertemperatures, normal atmospheric pressure, lessenergy consumption, no heavy metals and noacids/no alkali. Furthermore, lipase-catalysedThe bioprocess• Biotransformation – use of enzyme (lipase) to convertcheap precursors (oil) to value-add products (esters)• Mild conditions – lower temperature, normalatmospheric pressure, less energy consumption, noheavy metals, no acids/alkali, green chemistry, moreenvironmentally friendly• More costly – enzymes, lower yields (vs. chemicalsynthesis)• Balance – cost, environment, clean label andmarketabilitybiotransformation of coconut oil and palm kernel oil into esters is an one-step process(transesterification or alcoholysis). The higher costs of enzymes may be compensated for by re-use ofimmobilized lipases, clean label, better marketability and price premium. A balance between cost andenvironment should be struck.189