Fatty Alcohols

Fatty alcohols are aliphatic chains with a hydroxyl group (-OH) on the terminal carbon. Our natural fatty alcohols are derived from natural fats and oils by hydrogenating the corresponding fatty methyl ester and subsequent fractionation. Synthetic fatty alcohols are produced from ethylene using the Ziegler reaction, which yields a chemically identical linear primary alcohol with an even-numbered carbon chain. Univar Solutions offers a full line of straight-chain primary fatty alcohols, from 12 carbons to 18 as well as custom blends.

Natural Fatty Alcohols

Natural fatty alcohols (or long-chain alcohols) are straight-chain primary alcohols, ranging from C12 to C18. They are derived from natural fats and oils, including coconut, palm, palm kernel, and rapeseed, by hydrogenating the corresponding fatty methyl ester and subsequent fractionation. The precise chain lengths vary with the triglyceride source. See all options that Univar Solutions offers.

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Synthetic Fatty Alcohols

Our synthetic fatty alcohols are high-purity, ethylene-based primary fatty alcohols that are physically and chemically equivalent to natural oleochemicals made with coconut and palm kernel oil. With even number carbon chains that range from C12 to C18, Alfol alcohols undergo all the chemical reactions typical of primary alcohols. These include esterifications, ethoxylation, sulfation, oxidation, and many others. Their purity and linearity enable consistently high product yields.

Synthetic fatty alcohols are excellent alternatives to natural fatty alcohols, for which consistent supply can be hampered by environmental and regulatory issues. With an ethylene-based feedstock and U.S. production, Alfol products offer stable supply and, in some cases, less cost. See all options that Univar Solutions offers.

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