Palm oil industry is one of the major agro-industries in Thailand. The country ranks third in the world for palm oil production, with a comprehensive supply chain, including oil palm growers, crude and refined palm oil mills, and related sectors such as biodiesel, food processing, and chemicals.
In the process of converting oil palm into edible palm olein and biodiesel, valuable by-products like palm fatty acids and glycerin are produced. Utilizing these by-products can enhance industry revenue and promote a circular economy. This project aims to convert the palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) into green industrial detergents, adding value to by-products and transforming the traditional vegetable oil industry into a modern oleochemical industry, driving sustainable development.
The project consists of three key components:
- Developing a Green Process: Replacing toxic sulfuric acid with non-toxic methane sulfonic acid (MSA) to convert palm fatty acids into methyl ester sulfonate (MES), a surfactant used as the active cleaning ingredient in industrial detergents.
- Scaling-Up Production: Implementing the green process in a 300-liter reactor to ensure commercial-scale feasibility.
- Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis: Conducting comprehensive economic evaluations of each product developed to ensure financial viability.
The project will deliver prototypes and prototype processes for producing industrial detergents, paving the way for future commercialization.
A collaboration has been formed with PPP Green Complex Public Company Limited, Thailand’s leader in sustainable palm oil production, to drive this initiative forward. This project is funded by the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC).