Vegetable Oils and Fatty Acids: Sustainable Raw Materials for Industry

Liba Chem offers the chemical industry two main categories of plant-based raw materials: vegetable oils and fatty acids. Versatile, sustainable and customisable solutions to meet the specific needs of each application sector.

Vegetable oils are a key resource for numerous industrial sectors. Extracted from oilseeds or other parts of plants, they are glycerol esters composed of various mixtures of fatty acids. Although not water-soluble, they dissolve perfectly in organic solvents, making them versatile for a wide range of applications.

Global consumption of castor oil has grown by over 10% in recent years, with forecasts predicting further expansion. The reason? Its biological and ‘green’ characteristics, which make it ideal for eco-sustainable production processes. Its extraordinary versatility allows for the development of bespoke formulations tailored to each customer’s specific needs, supporting research and development projects that are increasingly focused on sustainability.

Fatty acids (FA), on the other hand, are aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, which are fundamental components of almost all complex lipids and of vegetable and animal fats.

When they are not bound to other molecules, they are referred to as free fatty acids (FFA) or non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA).

If you would like to find out more about Libachem’s product range, visit the products page on the website or fill in the contact form for a personalised consultation.