PRODUCTS

FATTY ALCOHOLS

Fatty Alcohols are used emulsifiers and thickeners in cosmetics.
Fatty Alcohols are used intermediate in the production of fatty alcohol ethoxylates and sulfates.
Fatty Alcohols are used lubricants and plasticizers in industrial applications.

CAS Number: 67762-27-0 (for mixed C12-18 fatty alcohols, specific CAS numbers vary with chain length)
EC Number: 267-008-6 (commonly referenced for mixed fatty alcohols)
Molecular Formula: Varies (General formula: CnH2n+1OH)

SYNONYMS:
Fatty Alcohols, Long-chain Alcohols, Aliphatic Alcohols, Lauryl Alcohol (C12), Myristyl Alcohol (C14), Cetyl Alcohol (C16), Stearyl Alcohol (C18), Oleyl Alcohol (C18:1)

Fatty Alcohols are The Perfect Building Blocks for Emulsifiers and Surfactants.
Like fatty acids, fatty alcohols consist of long hydrocarbon chains with an alcohol group at the end.
This structure also lends fatty alcohols special properties – one of which is their emulsifying capacity.

This makes them ideal building blocks for the production of emulsifiers and tensides.
Emulsifiers are crucial for the stabilisation of water-oil mixtures, while tensides in detergents are used to dissolve any dirt.
A fatty alcohol is a long-chain aliphatic or linear alcohol that is used as a raw material in the production of specialty chemicals derived from ethylene oxide.

Fatty Alcohols are produced through the hydrogenolysis of fatty acids and fatty esters, which undergo sequential reduction to the corresponding fatty alcohol through an intermediate fatty aldehyde.
"Fatty Alcohols" is a descriptor in the National Library of Medicine's controlled vocabulary thesaurus, MeSH (Medical Subject Headings).

Descriptors are arranged in a hierarchical structure, which enables searching at various levels of specificity.
Fatty Alcohols are derived from vegetable oils and are available in various fractions.
The most important market for natural Fatty Alcohols; especially mid-cut and long chain alcohols, is for household detergents.

Fatty Alcohols are generally applied as a derivative for surfactants and detergent products.
Natural fatty alcohols are derived from vegetable oils and have a chemical composition featuring an even number of carbon atoms per molecule, whereas synthetic fatty alcohols, derived from petroleum products, may have an odd number of carbon atoms per molecule.

Synthetic fatty alcohols can generally be substituted for natural fatty alcohols in the manufacture of certain downstream products.
A substantial majority of fatty alcohols worldwide are converted into surfactants or “surface active agents” which are the basic materials used in the production of laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and other household cleaning products.

Fatty Alcohols are generally categorized as short chain (C6-10), mid-cut (C12-14) and long chain (C16-18), depending on the number of carbon atoms contained in each molecule
Natural fatty alcohols are derived from vegetable oils and have a chemical composition featuring an even number of carbon atoms per molecule, whereas synthetic fatty alcohols, derived from petroleum products, may have an odd number of carbon atoms per molecule.

A substantial majority of fatty alcohols worldwide are converted into surfactants or “surface active agents” which are the basic materials used in the production of laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and other household cleaning products.
Fatty Alcohols are generally categorized as short chain (C6-10), mid-cut (C12-14) and long chain (C16-18), depending on the number of carbon atoms contained in each molecule

Fatty alcohols (or long-chain alcohols) are usually high-molecular-weight, straight-chain primary alcohols, but can also range from as few as 4–6 carbons to as many as 22–26, derived from natural fats and oils.
The precise chain length varies with the source.

Some commercially important fatty alcohols are lauryl, stearyl, and oleyl alcohols.
Fatty Alcohols are colourless oily liquids (for smaller carbon numbers) or waxy solids, although impure samples may appear yellow.
Fatty alcohols usually have an even number of carbon atoms and a single alcohol group (–OH) attached to the terminal carbon.

Some of Fatty Alcohols are unsaturated and some are branched.
Fatty Alcohols are widely used in industry.
As with fatty acids, Fatty Alcohols are often referred to generically by the number of carbon atoms in the molecule, such as "a C12 alcohol", that is an alcohol having 12 carbons, for example dodecanol.

USES and APPLICATIONS of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
Fatty Alcohols Potential Applications: Personal Care (Thickener, opacifier, emollient / moisturizer),
Conditioners, Skin creams, lotions and gels, Pharmaceutical ointments, Lipsticks, Foundations/concealers, Shampoos, Moisturizers, Perfume/cologne, and Salt scrubs.

Fatty Alcohols are used industrial, Lubricant for nuts and bolts, Plastic mold lubricant/release agent, Metal production lubricants, and Liquid pool covers.
Other uses of Fatty Alcohols: Flavor enhancer in food additive, Fabric softeners, Detergent booster, Defoamer, and Intermediate thickening agent.
Fatty Alcohols are used surfactants in detergents and personal care products.

Applications of Fatty Alcohols: Explore the wide applications of our fatty alcohols in home and personal care, agriculture, crude oil exploration, emulsion polymerization, paints and coatings, perfumery chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, lubricants, and textile auxiliaries.
Potential Applications of Fatty Alcohols: Cosmetics, Cosmetic ingredients, Rubber and plastic Additives, Plasticizers, Epoxy Resin diluents, plastisol viscosity control, plasticizer for poly (vinyl chloride) resin

Fatty Alcohols is used Lubricants, Aluminum rolling lubricants, Concrete anti-spalling agents, Lubricant oil additives and plastic lubricant/mold release.
Personal Care uses of Fatty Alcohols: Creams, Lotions, Conditioners, Intermediate to Tertiary Amines and Alkyl Amines, Intermediates to Sulphates/Ethoxylates/Sulfated Ethoxylates, Production of alkyl amines, De-Foamers, Detergency booster, Polymerization stabilizers, Phosphated alcohols and Mercaptans.

Household, Industrial, & Institutional (HI&I) uses of Fatty Alcohols: Defoamers, Halides/Mercaptans, Methacrylates, Plasticizers, Polymerization stabilizers, Sulfation, Production of alkyl amines, Tertiary amines, Ethoxylates, Phosphated alcohols, Sulfated ethoxylates, Intermediate applications, Antioxidants, Epoxy resin diluent, Intermediate applications, Fabric/Textile softeners, Ink Solvents, Concrete anti-spalling agents, Blowing agent, Emulsion polymerization

Agrochemicals uses of Fatty Alcohols: Derivatized into wetting agents, Solvents, Surfactants, Penetrants, Emulsifying agents, Tertiary Amines, and Amine Oxide, Reactive intermediate for quats, and Drift reduction, Intermediates into fatty alcohol ethoxylates.
Oil and gas uses of Fatty Alcohols: For fracking and drilling additive, Carrier fluid, Rheology additives, Lubricant additives for drilling.

Fatty Alcohols are used in cleaning and emulsifying agents
Fatty Alcohols are used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, plastics, and lube oils and in textile manufacture.
Fatty Alcohols are commonly used in personal hygiene products, household cleaning products, agrochemicals, and textiles.

Fatty alcohols like octanol and decanol are often used in solvent extraction as modifiers or phase stabilizers.
Apart of surfactants, Fatty alcohols are commonly used in a range of goods, including plasticizers, solvents, flavorings, fragrances, detergents, foam stabilizers, lubricant, cosmetics, plastic intermediates, shampoo, paints and coatings, textile and leather auxiliaries and printing inks.

Synthetic fatty alcohols can generally be substituted for natural fatty alcohols in the manufacture of certain downstream products.
Apart of surfactants, Fatty alcohols are commonly used in a range of goods, including plasticizers, solvents, flavorings, fragrances, detergents, foam stabilizers, lubricant, cosmetics, plastic intermediates, shampoo, paints and coatings, textile and leather auxiliaries and printing inks.

-Fatty alcohols are mainly used in the production of detergents and surfactants.
Due to their amphipathic nature, fatty alcohols behave as nonionic surfactants.
Fatty Alcohols find use as co-emulsifiers, emollients and thickeners in cosmetics and food industry.
About 50% of fatty alcohols used commercially are of natural origin, the remainder being synthetic.

Fatty Alcohols are converted to their ethoxylates by treatment with ethylene oxide:
RCH2OH + n C2H4O → RCH2(OCH2CH2)nOH
The resulting Fatty Alcohols ethoxylates are important surfactants.

Another large class of surfactants are the sodium alkylsulfates such as sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS).
Five million tons of SDS and related materials are produced annually by sulfation of dodecyl alcohol and related fatty alcohols.

HOW FATTY ALCOHOLS ARE USED IN COSMETIC AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS:
Personal care products like lotions, skin creams, shampoos, conditioners and petroleum jelly are found on store shelves and in household medicine cabinets across the globe.
While Fatty Alcohols in each product differ, it is nearly guaranteed that alcohol is one of them.

That may seem counterintuitive, because certain alcohols are known to dry the skin and scalp. B
ut not all alcohols – particularly fatty alcohols – are bad.
In fact, Fatty Alcohols are a safe, versatile, active ingredient that comes from vegetable oils and other natural sources.

At Cremer, we supply fatty alcohols in various quantities and forms to our customers who use them in the production of personal care and cleaning products.
In those applications, fatty alcohols serve several important functions.

*Emollient
You know that smooth, soft feeling you get after you apply a quality cream or lotion to your skin?
This happens when the emollients – which the fatty alcohols are used for – in the lotion create a flat layer on the surface of your skin.

*Emulsifiers
Oil and water don’t mix – unless an emulsifier is used. For skin creams and lotions, fatty alcohols act as that emulsifier.
This is what creates the familiar, rich texture of the product.

*Cosurfactants
Shampoos and conditioners are generally formulated by combining a surfactant (a detergent that creates lather) such as ammonium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate with a cosurfactant like fatty alcohol.
Fatty Alcohols can also be used as a thickener and to help lock in moisture.

PRODUCTION AND OCCURRENCE OF FATTY ALCOHOLS:
Fatty alcohols became commercially available in the early 1900s.
Fatty Alcohols were originally obtained by reduction of wax esters with sodium by the Bouveault–Blanc reduction process.

In the 1930s catalytic hydrogenation was commercialized, which allowed the conversion of fatty acid esters, typically tallow, to the alcohols.
In the 1940s and 1950s, petrochemicals became an important source of chemicals, and Karl Ziegler had discovered the polymerization of ethylene.
These two developments opened the way to synthetic fatty alcohols.

*From natural sources
Most fatty alcohols in nature are found as waxes, which are esters of fatty acids and fatty alcohols.
Fatty Alcohols are produced by bacteria, plants and animals for purposes of buoyancy, as source of metabolic water and energy, biosonar lenses (marine mammals) and for thermal insulation in the form of waxes (in plants and insects).

The traditional sources of fatty alcohols have largely been various vegetable oils, which remain a large-scale feedstock.
Animal fats (tallow) were of historic importance, particularly whale oil, however Fatty Alcohols are no longer used on a large scale.

Tallows produce a fairly narrow range of alcohols, predominantly C16–C18, while plant sources produce a wider range of alcohols from (C6–C24), making them the preferred source.

The alcohols are obtained from the triglycerides (fatty acid triesters), which form the bulk of the oil.
The process involves the transesterification of the triglycerides to give methyl esters which are then hydrogenated to produce the fatty alcohols.

Higher alcohols (C20–C22) can be obtained from rapeseed oil or mustard seed oil.
Midcut alcohols are obtained from coconut oil (C12–C14) or palm kernel oil (C16–C18).

*From petrochemical sources
Fatty alcohols are also prepared from petrochemical sources.
In the Ziegler process, ethylene is oligomerized using triethylaluminium followed by air oxidation.
This process affords even-numbered alcohols:

Al(C2H5)3 + 18 C2H4 → Al(C14H29)3
Al(C14H29)3 + 3⁄2 O2 + 3⁄2 H2O → 3 HOC14H29 + 1⁄2 Al2O3

Alternatively ethylene can be oligomerized to give mixtures of alkenes, which are subjected to hydroformylation, this process affording odd-numbered aldehyde, which is subsequently hydrogenated.
For example, from 1-decene, hydroformylation gives the C11 alcohol:

C8H17CH=CH2 + H2 + CO → C8H17CH2CH2CHO
C8H17CH2CH2CHO + H2 → C8H17CH2CH2CH2OH

In the Shell higher olefin process, the chain-length distribution in the initial mixture of alkene oligomers is adjusted so as to more closely match market demand.

Shell does this by means of an intermediate metathesis reaction.
The resultant mixture is fractionated and hydroformylated/hydrogenated in a subsequent step.

PROPERTIES OF FATTY ALCOHOLS:
*Non-ionic surfactant properties
*Moisturizing and emollient characteristics
*Biodegradable and environmentally friendly

BENEFITS OF FATTY ALCOHOLS:
*Renewable source (derived from natural fats and oils)
*Versatile applications across industries
*Improves product texture and stability

NUTRITION OF FATTY ALCOHOLS:
The metabolism of fatty alcohols is impaired in several inherited human peroxisomal disorders, including adrenoleukodystrophy and Sjögren–Larsson syndrome.

FATTY ALCOHOLS TYPES AND UTILIZATIONS:
Although fatty alcohols are found in most personal care products, they aren’t all the same.
Here are some different types of fatty alcohols we supply to our partners and how they might be used:

Cetyl Alcohol – Derived from palm oil and used to create the right consistency in skincare and haircare products.
Stearyl Alcohol – Also derived from palm oil and used to stabilize foaming properties in hair care products.

Cetearyl Alcohol – This compound is a blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols.
Lauryl Alcohol – Also known as dodecanol, this alcohol is often used as a base in surfactants and as a thickener and foam control agent in soap and personal care products.

FATTY ALCOHOLS:
Aliphatic alcohols occur naturally in free form (component of the cuticular lipids) but more usually in esterified (wax esters) or etherified form (glyceryl ethers).
Several alcohols belong to aroma compounds which are found in environmental or food systems.

They are found with normal, branched (mono- or isoprenoid), saturated or unsaturated of various chain length and sometimes with secondary or even tertiary alcoholic function.

An unusual phenolic alcohol is found as a component of glycolipids in Mycobacteria.
Some cyclic alcohols have been described in plants.

Fatty Alcohols are classification according to the carbon-chain structure is given below.
*Normal-chain alcohols
*Branched-chain alcohols
*Phenolic alcohols
*Cyclic alcohols

– Normal-chain alcohols
The carbon chain may be fully saturated or unsaturated (with double and/or triple bonds), it may also be substituted with chlorine, bromine or sulfate groups.
Some acetylenic alcohols have been also described.

Saturated alcohols
Unsaturated alcohols
Acetylenic alcohols
Sulfated alcohols

– Saturated alcohols
Free fatty alcohols are not commonly found in epicuticular lipids of insects, although high molecular weight alcohols have been reported in honeybees.
Long-chain alcohols also have been reported in the defensive secretions of scale insects.

Typically, insects more commonly produce lower molecular weight alcohols.
Honeybees produce alcohols of 17–22 carbons, which induce arrestment in parasitic varroa mites.

Various fatty alcohols are found in beeswax, insect wax and in the waxy film that plants have over their leaves and fruits. Among them, octacosanol (C28:0) is the most frequently cited.

Policosanol is a natural mixture of higher primary aliphatic alcohols isolated and purified from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum, L.) wax, whose main component is octacosanol but contains also hexacosanol (C26:0) and triacontanol or melissyl alcohol (C30:0).

Triacontanol, first isolated in 1933 from alfalfa wax, was determined to be a natural plant growth regulator and is widely used to enhance the yield of various crops around the world.

Triacontanol has been reported to increase the growth of plants by enhancing the rates of photosynthesis, protein biosynthesis, but these effects are not the same in every plant species.

– Unsaturated alcohols
Some fatty alcohols have one double bond (monounsaturated).
Their general formula is:
CH3(CH2)xCH=CH(CH2)y-CH2OH

The unique double bond may be found in different positions: at the C6: i.e. cis-6-octadecen-1-ol (petroselenyl alcohol), C9 i.e cis-9-octadecen-1-ol (oleyl alcohol) and C11 i.e cis-11-octadecen-1-ol (vaccenyl alcohol).
Some of these alcohols have insect pheromone activity.

As an example, 11-eicosen-1-ol is a major component of the alarm pheromone secreted by the sting apparatus of the worker honeybee.
In zooplankton, the cis-11-docosen-1-ol (22:1 (n-11) alcohol) is not only present in high proportion in wax esters (54 to 83%) but may be also predominant in free form (75-94% of free alcohols) in ctenophores.

This presence is unexplained because pathways for conversion and catabolism of fatty alcohols in ctenophores are still unknown.
Some short-chain unsaturated alcohols are components of mushroom flavor (“mushroom alcohols”), such as 1-octen-3-ol, t2-octen-1-ol, and c2-octen-1-ol.

– Acetylenic alcohols
Natural acetylenic alcohols (alkylynols) and their derivatives have been isolated from a wide variety of plant species, fungi and invertebrates.
Pharmacological studies have revealed that many of them display chemical and medicinal properties.

Monoacetylenic alcohols : were isolated from culture of Clitocybe catinus (Basidiomycetes) and the study of their structure revealed the presence of two or three hydroxyl groups

Usually high-molecular-weight, straight-chain primary alcohols, but can also range from as few as 4 carbons, derived from natural fats and oils, including lauryl, stearyl, oleyl, and linoleyl alcohols.

PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
Chemical Name: Fatty Alcohols
Molecular Formula: Varies (General formula: CnH2n+1OH)
EC Number: 267-008-6 (commonly referenced for mixed fatty alcohols)
CAS Number: 67762-27-0 (for mixed C12-18 fatty alcohols, specific CAS numbers vary with chain length)
Appearance: Waxy solids or oily liquids, depending on chain length
Melting Point: -20°C to 80°C (varies by chain length)
Boiling Point: Above 200°C
Density: 0.8-0.85 g/cm³ (depends on composition)
Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents
Flash Point: Typically >150°C
Flammability: Non-flammable under standard conditions

FIRST AID MEASURES of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
-Description of first-aid measures
*General advice:
Show this material safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
*If inhaled:
After inhalation:
Fresh air.
*In case of skin contact:
Take off immediately all contaminated clothing.
Rinse skin with
water/ shower.
*In case of eye contact:
After eye contact:
Rinse out with plenty of water.
Call in ophthalmologist.
Remove contact lenses.
*If swallowed:
After swallowing:
Immediately make victim drink water (two glasses at most).
Consult a physician.
-Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed.
No data available

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
-Environmental precautions:
Do not let product enter drains.
-Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Cover drains.
Collect, bind, and pump off spills.
Observe possible material restrictions.
Take up dry.
Dispose of properly.
Clean up affected area.

FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
-Extinguishing media:
*Suitable extinguishing media:
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Foam
Dry powder
*Unsuitable extinguishing media:
For this substance/mixture no limitations of extinguishing agents are given.
-Further information:
Prevent fire extinguishing water from contaminating surface water or the ground water system.

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
-Control parameters:
--Ingredients with workplace control parameters:
-Exposure controls:
--Personal protective equipment:
*Eye/face protection:
Use equipment for eye protection.
Safety glasses
*Body Protection:
protective clothing
*Respiratory protection:
Recommended Filter type: Filter A
-Control of environmental exposure:
Do not let product enter drains.

HANDLING and STORAGE of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
-Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
*Storage conditions:
Tightly closed.
Dry.

STABILITY and REACTIVITY of FATTY ALCOHOLS:
-Chemical stability:
The product is chemically stable under standard ambient conditions (room temperature) .
-Possibility of hazardous reactions:
No data available