Fatty alcohols: Characteristics
Why a 70:30 chain blend suits detergents best
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Fatty alcohols are sold by chain-length blend and purity. C12-C14 blends (often 70:30) go to surfactants; C16-C18 blends to cosmetics. Low carbonyl and hydrocarbon content matter for colour and odour in consumer products.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxyl value | about 285-295 mg KOH/g for C12-C14 (indicative) | measures purity and average chain length | indicative |
| Chain distribution | e.g. C12 about 70%, C14 about 27% for a typical C12-C14 cut (indicative) | controls foam and solubility of derived surfactants | indicative |
| Linearity | oleo and Ziegler alcohols fully linear; oxo alcohols partly branched (indicative) | affects biodegradation and performance | indicative |
| Iodine value | below 0.3 for saturated grades (indicative) | unsaturation causes odour and colour | indicative |
Commercial grades
- C12-C14 (lauryl-myristyl) for surfactants
- C16-C18 (cetearyl) for cosmetics
- C8-C10 for plasticisers and esters
- Behenyl alcohol C22
- Oleyl alcohol
- RSPO mass-balance and segregated grades