What Are Surfactants & Speciality Chemicals?

Surfactants are the most versatile oleochemicals. The term surfactant is derived from its quality as a surface-active agent. These molecules of surfactants are partly lipophilic(soluble in oils) and partially hydrophilic (soluble in water). They are derived by either synthetic (petrochemical) or natural (Coconut/Palm kernel oil). The plant oils through the process of esterification, hydrogenation and distillation is converted to fatty alcohols which further go through the process of alkylation/ ethoxylation or sulphonation produces different types of surfactants. They are either liquid or in paste form which varies by products.

Specialty chemicals are particularly those chemical products that are used more on functional basis or performance basis. They can be present in the form of unique molecules or a cluster of molecules known as formulation.