Production of fatty alcohols

Fatty alcohols are predominantly produced by catalytic hydrogenation of fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters, or triglycerides derived from vegetable or animal oils. In this process, the carboxyl groups of the fatty acid derivatives are converted with H₂ into linear or branched fatty alcohols, which serve as essential building blocks for surfactants, plasticizers, lubricants, and specialty chemicals. The conversion is typically carried out in liquid-phase reactors at elevated pressure and temperature, often based on the Lurgi process or comparable industrial hydrogenation technologies.

R–COOR′ + 2 H₂ → R–CH₂OH + R′–OH
(Fatty acid ester → fatty alcohol + alcohol)

Copper chromite and copper-based hydrogenation catalysts are mainly used for fatty alcohol production due to their high activity, selectivity, and thermal stability. Our recommended catalysts for efficient fatty alcohol synthesis include:

• HyMax 220, HyMax 700: Copper chromite hydrogenation catalysts with high acid stability, ideally suited for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of fatty acid esters to fatty alcohols.
• HySat 350, 370, 400, 401, 205: Copper-based hydrogenation catalysts, including chromium-free formulations, optimized for the selective hydrogenation of esters and aldehydes to alcohols and therefore well suited for fatty alcohol and oxo alcohol processes.
• HyFlex 260: A catalyst from the HyFlex series that can be applied as a selected base or precious metal catalyst in fatty alcohol and oxo alcohol processes, particularly in combination with copper-based catalyst systems.

These catalyst systems enable high selectivity, long catalyst lifetimes, and cost-efficient production of fatty alcohols from both fossil and renewable raw materials