Industrial scale production of Oleo-chemicals from Coconut Oil

Oleo chemicals are chemicals derived from biological oils or fats. Though the same chemicals can be derived from petroleum (petrochemicals) as is being widely followed, the natural Oleo chemicals offer a cleaner and cheaper production route than the petrochemical route. The natural route also promises a variety of diversification routes as well as valuable co-products and by-products. The hydrolysis or alcoholysis of oils or fats form the basis of the oleo chemical industry. The formation of basic oleo chemical substances like fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), fatty alcohols, fatty amines and glycerols are by various chemical and enzymatic reactions. The growth of oleo chemicals in the past few decades has been quite phenomenal, parallel to the rapid growth of the petrochemical industry. The oleo chemical industry is fairly well developed and its future secure because of a reliable supply of raw materials. The world¿s fats and oils output has been growing rapidly over the past few decades, far beyond the need for human nutrition. This book will be especially useful for Chemical Engineers, Chemical Technologists, Food Technologists and for Industrialists & Entrepreneurs.