Synthetic fatty acids

Manufacture of fatty acids from petroleum and natural gas is a large industry worldwide and has important implications in the U.S. Eastern Europe produces an estimated 1.2 billion pounds by air oxidation of hydrocarbons compared to an estimated 956 million pounds of natural fatty acids from the U.S., in 1978 (exclusive of tall oil fatty acids). The enormous production of SFA’s in Eastern European countries and in Russia is done by continuous air oxidation of fresh and recycled mixed aliphatic hydrocarbons. Since the products contain proportions of odd-numbered straight chain acids, they have not been used edibly, but have been applied to the manufacture of industrial products such as soap, lubricants, plasticizers and the like. Another European approach (Liquichimica, Italy) for SFA is the caustic fusion (and oxidation) of branched chain alcohols produced by carbonylation and reduction of olefins. American potential technology is diversified but has not yet been translated to production scale, presumably because of the plentiful supply of natural fats and oils that is available.