Lube-Tech PUBLISHED BY LUBE: THE EUROPEAN LUBRICANTS INDUSTRY MAGAZINE C6 to C16 composition in common VO sources
Figure 2: C6 to C16 composition in common vegetable oil sources as Palm oil, Palm Kernel oil and Coconut oil.
However, these choices are often constrained by the availability of these building blocks. Linear fatty acids with chain lengths longer than six carbons (e.g., heptanoic – C7, caprylic – C8, capric – C10) are typically sourced from oleochemicals such as palm kernel oil, coconut oil, or castor oil. Since shorter-chain fatty acids are not abundantly present in vegetable oils, these fatty acids such as valeric acid (C5) are usually derived from petrochemicals. Notably, both oleochemical and petrochemical sources contain little to no caproic acid (C6), which limits the possibility of producing larger volumes at a competitive price. Consequently, POE products based on C6 are not widely available in the market. As a versatile building block, caproic acid can unlock novel opportunities for synthetic ester design, paving the way for more sustainable and innovative applications as the demand for eco-friendly materials keep growing.
No.157 page 2
Since 2019, ChainCraft has been advancing the production of medium-chain fatty acids using its patented non-GMO fermentation technology at its demonstration plant in Amsterdam, which boasts a capacity of 2,000 tons per year. Looking ahead, the company is gearing up to launch its full-scale plant in the North of the Netherlands by 2027, with an impressive annual capacity of 20,000 TPA. At full capacity, approximately 12,000 TPA of this output will be X-Craft®
C6 caproic acid, produced with
a low carbon footprint and sustainable practices. By repurposing food waste into high-demand compounds like caproic acid (C6), this technology offers a sustainable solution that addresses environmental concerns while opening up new industrial possibilities.
This study investigates the benefits and performance of X-Craft®
C6 caproic acid and highlights the potential of this missing molecule to bridge the gap in formulations, enhancing the versatility and performance of POE products. For comparison, fatty acids with similar carbon numbers, valeric acid (C5) and heptanoic acid (C7), were selected as references. Three distinct pentaerythritol-based POEs were synthesised using each fatty acid molecule (C5, C6, and C7). The synthesised POEs were characterised and compared, demonstrating X-Craft®
C6’s potential to
deliver advantageous physical properties, such as low viscosity, reduced volatility, and improved pour point, for specific applications within the lubricants industry.
Evaluating pour point, volatility, and viscosity The three POE molecules were synthesised through
Figure 3: Esterification of pentaerythritol and caproic acid (C6) to pentaerythritol tetrahexanoate.
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LUBE MAGAZINE NO.186 APRIL 2025
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