OLEOCHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA

- RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT &

COMMERCIALIZATION
Dr. Yeong Shoot Kian,
Malaysian Palm Oil Board
Introduction of MPOB and its Function
• MPOB is the premier government agency entrusted to
serve the country’s oil palm industry.
• Its main role is to promote and develop national
objectives, polices and priorities for the well being of the
Malaysian oil palm industry.
 Organisation Chart
Director General

Deputy Director General (Services) Deputy Director General (R&D)

Finance, Mgmt & Biological Research

Information
Development Integration Research &
Tech. & Corp. Extension Services (IRED)
Economics & Services
Industry Engineering & Processing
Development Research (E&P)
Product Development
Licensing & Research & Advisory Services
Enforcement (PDAS)
Advanced Oleochemicals
Technology Division (AOTD)
Advanced Biotechnology and
Breeding Centre (ABBC)
 Objective of AOTD
AOTD is a division in the Malaysian Palm Oil Board
(MPOB).

 It was established on May 18, 2004 with the objectives:

 To conduct R&D in non-food applications of palm oil

and palm oil products

 To conduct R&D to add value to palm-based basic

oleochemicals

 To commercialize the R&D findings

 To provide advisory and technical services in the

oleochemical sector
Units and their Functions

Synthesis and Process Consumer

Quality and
Product Engineering Product
Environmental
Development and Design Development
Assessment
Unit Unit Unit
OLEOCHEMICALS
Chemicals derived from natural oils/fats - could be of
animal, marine or vegetable oil sources
Derived from breaking the oils/fats into corresponding
constituents, i.e. fatty acids, glycerol, fatty esters, etc.
Normal process involves hydrolysis or transesterification
Oleochemicals industry in Malaysia started in 1979/1980.
Today 2.6 million tonne capacity.

6
Source:www.oleosolutions.com
 World Oils & Fats: Production in 2013
(189.7 million tonnes)
Animal Fats, 9%
Others, 13%
Coconut Oil, 2% Palm & Palm
Kernel Oil, 33%

Sunflower Oil,
7%
Rapeseed Oil,
13% Soybean Oil,
23%

Source: Oil World, 2013

 Global Oleochemicals Market, 2013
Projected growth
18.1
Rest of the million
world, 14% tonnes
Europe, 6%
18%
13.5
million
Asia Pacific, tonnes
68%

• Global oleochemical markets are being led by 2013 2018 (F)

• surging demands for renewable based products,
• favorable government initiatives
• shifting consumer preferences for sustainable solutions.
• Asia Pacific led by Indonesia, China, and Malaysia, with advantaged feedstocks and
markets, account for nearly 70% of the global markets and 60% of the total capacity.

Source: http://www.specchemonline.com/articles/view/oleochemicals-opportunities, 1 Aug 2014

Importance of Palm Oil & Its Derivatives

Source of food (global food security): 80%

Oleochemicals: 15%

Biofuels: 2%

Renewable energy source: Potential remains largely

untapped through palm biomass

Source: Basiron, 2013

 Palm Oil in Malaysia, 2013
CPO CPKO
19.22 mil 2.27 mil
tonnes tonnes
mesocarp kernel

Fatty acid Fatty acid

composition composition
equivalent to equivalent to
tallow coconut

Mesocarp
Kernel
 Number of Oleochemical Plants & Capacities:
2013 (tonne/year)
State In Operation Not In Operation Under Planning Total
No Capacity No Capacity No Capacity No Capacity
Johore 6 608,900 0 0 0 0 6 608,900
Penang 3 791,325 0 0 0 0 3 791,325
Selangor 6 817,746 0 0 0 0 6 817,746
Other 1 365,000 1 16,000 1 60,000 3 441,000
States
Malaysia 16 2,582,971 1 16,000 1 60,000 18 2,658,971

Source: MIDA/MPOB, 2014

 Export Volume of Palm Oil Products: 2013
Finished Products Other Products
Biodiesel
1% 2%
1%
Palm Kernel
Cake Oleochemical
10% 11%

Palm
Kernel Oil
4% Palm Oil
71%

Total Volume, Mil tonnes: 2.57

Source: MPOB, 2014 Total Value, RM Mil: RM 61,363.35

• Export remains predominantly upstream driven since past 5 years

• However, downstream provides a more lucrative per unit revenue stream, approximately 41%
more than produce from the upstream sector (source: http://m.thestar.com.my, 21 June 2014)
Malaysian Export Volume of Oleochemical
Products, 2013
Others
1%

Soap Noodles
15% Fatty Acids
Glycerine 33%
13%

Methyl Ester
19% Fatty Alcohol
19%

Total volume, Mil tonnes: 2.73

Total value, RM Mil: 9,297.66
12 National Key Economic Areas
Palm Oil & Rubber
(NKEAs)
EPP 1: Accelerating the replanting and new
planting of Oil Palm

EPP 2: Improving Fresh Fruit Bunch Yield

EEP 3: Improving Worker productivity

EPP 4: Increasing the Oil Extraction Rate

EPP 5: Developing Biogas Facilities at Palm

Oil Mills

EPP 6: Developing High Value Oleo

Derivatives and Bio-based Chemicals

EPP 7: Commercialising Second Generation

Biofuels

EPP 8: Expediting Growth in Food & Health

Segment
Source: http://etp.pemandu.gov.my/Sectors_in_Focus-@-
Overview_of_NKEAs.aspx, 4 August 2014
 Target of EPP 6

Gross National Income by 2020 (mil): Projected Jobs by 2020:

RM5,813.50 5858

• This EPP Attempts to shift focus of production from basic oloechemicals

to higher value oleo derivatives.
• Focus development of 6 key products:
i. Agro chemicals v. Glycerol derivatives
ii. Surfactants vi. Bio-based chemicals
iii. Bio-lubricants
iv. Bio-polyols
 The downstream non-food sector consists of a value chain of basic
oleochemicals, oleo-derivatives and finally, the consumer/industrial end-
products
Basic Oleo-
Oleo-derivatives End products
chemicals

Soap noodle Esters

Fatty acids

Surfactants Amines

Dimeric Acids Metal Soap

Fatty alcohols

Azelaic Resins Agrochemicals

Methyl Esters Bio lubricants Bio-polyols

Glycerol Fatty Alcohol

derivatives Amide

Glycerine
Others …..

~ 20% of world
ETP - target 40% derivatives Additional GNI RM 5.8 billion (2020)
capacity
 Global Trends

Green Chemistry

• Environmental awareness and

sustainability practices, e.g. RSPO.
• New uses and applications based on
green products

Source: Kongkrapan et al., PIPOC 2011

 Soybean
Palm Oil- Oil-based
based Polyols
Polyols
BIO-
POLYOL
Castor Oil-
based
Polyols

Canola Oil-
based
Polyols
History of Development of Palm based
Polyol in MPOB
• Currently the most common commercially available polyol
 PETROLEUM BASED POLYOL
• Global awareness of depleting petroleum resources
 Find new type of polyol
• BIO-BASED POLYOL - palm based polyol
• Concept of using palm oil and palm oil products as the
starting material
• Taking the full advantage of natural based product
• Availability of feed stock in this region
R&D Activity
• Early 90s – initiated the R&D
• Process to convert PO  EPO  Polyol
• Process to convert PO  EPO already developed in 80s
• Initially tried to work with Mr Dennis Porter of Natural
Resources Group (UK)
• But things didn’t work out
• Through JICA’s contact - learned about PU formulations
from Mitsui Chemicals
• July 1992 - obtained our first PU mushroom
• Everyone was excited
• 1994 - signed agreement with InterMed Sdn Bhd
• 1996 - patented our process in Malaysia, Indonesia,
Singapore
• 2000, July - commissioned our 1 tonne capacity polyol
pilot plant
 Palm Oil-based Polyols

• Raw materials : oils, esters

• Process : epoxidation and alcoholysis
• Specifications : wide range of viscosities, hydroxyl
numbers & functionalities
• Applications : wide range of PU field
  PALM-BASED POLYOL
PILOT PLANT (1 TONNE)

 Commissioned in July
2000

 Homegrown technology

500 to 800 kg/batch

More polyols
are being
developed
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 Properties of Palm-based Polyols
Palm-based Patent No./Patent
OHV, mg KOH/g Viscosity @ 25ºC, cP
polyol Application No.

POP Pioneer 110-150 4800-7500

PI20070797 and US
POP Primer 140-180 11000-15000 2008-0293913-A1

POP Premier 64-90 500-700

Poly-EG 130-150 5000-10000 MY-114189-A

US 7,629,478 B2 and CN
PolyMO 180-220 500-1000
1962601B/ PI 20055231

25
Palm Based Polyols
 Green & Bio-Polyol Market 2012 vs 2018
Green & Bio-Polyol Market, 2012 vs 2018 Green & Bio-Polyol Market Volume by Type
($ Million) of Polyols, 2012 vs 2018 (Metric tonnes)
1200 1000
1053.3 1023.8 874.4
900
1000 887
800
800 700

Metric tonnes
$ Million

585.1 600
600 496.9 463.9 479.7
500
400 400
300 230.2
200 64.4112.8 144.3
200
0 100
North Europe Asia ROW 0
America Pacific Polyether Polyols Polyester Polyols
2012 2018 2012 2018

Source: Marketsandmarkets, 2014

 Manufacturers for Palm Oil-based
Polyols in Malaysia
Producer Capacity
(Tonnes per annum)
Maskimi Polyol 21,900
Polygreen Chemicals 10,000
Wansern 10,000
Biotechnology
Total 41,9000

28 Source: UTECH 2010

Application of Polyols
Automotive

Adhesives, Sealants & Binders

Palm Polyurethane
Coatings & Elastomers

Building & Constructions

Palm Polyol
Footwear

Appliances
Feedstocks
 Chemically complex polymeric materials
formed by the reaction of isocyanates with
compounds containing active hydrogen
Polyurethane

Usually requires:
Surfactant, catalyst, cross-linking agent and
blowing agent

H R'
O

H O

R N C O R N C O R'
catalyst/heat

30
 PU MARKET: Global

2010 NAFTA total production 2.85 million tonnes*

2010 World wide total production 13.65 million tonnes

Source: Sendijarevic, V., 2011

31
*Source: Research and Markets, Plastermart.com, Aug 30, 2011
 PU MARKET: Asia-Pacific Region

32 Source: IAL Consultants, 2011

Palm-Based Flexible Foam
- Slabstock & Automotive Components
 Flexible Foams

Pillow and seating foams

34 Carpet underlay Pad dash panel

Palm-Based Rigid & Memory Foam
Bio-based Polyurethane Foams developed in
collaboration with Local Industries
Rapid Installation - DIY Structural Purpose -PU Beam

• Rigid – insulation and

ornamental products
Cargo Insulated with PU (Cargo Ceiling & Wall Insulated with PU
Texture)

Aesthetic Designs for Decorative Panels

36
Palm-Based Coating, Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers
Interested party