[tak201]

Is it possible to produce oleochemicals from cottonseed oil? If yes, can we produce all types of oleochemicals from cottonseed oil? Cottonseed is abundant in my region (Southwest Asia) and I was wondering if one could produce oleochemicals.

[Arkcon]

Can you define oleochemicals?  Do you mean hydrocarbons and other petrochemicals?  There has been tons of research in that direction since the time of the world wars.  It is uncommon for it to be economically feasible, although fortunately, not absolutely impossible.

[tak201]

Thanks for your reply.
Oleochemicals are chemicals derived from plant and animal fats. They are analogous to petrochemicals derived from petroleum.

The formation of basic oleochemical substances like fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), fatty alcohols, fatty amines and glycerols are by various chemical and enzymatic reactions. Intermediate chemical substances produced from these basic oleochemical substances include alcohol ethoxylates, alcohol sulfates, alcohol ether sulfates, quaternary ammonium salts, monoacylglycerols (MAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), structured triacylglycerols (TAG), sugar esters, and other oleochemical products.

[Enthalpy]

Would cottonseed oil be cheaper than corn oil, even if cottonseed is produced locally and corn oil imported? As a gut feeling, they must compete as a feedstock for chemicals, as both contain much polyunsaturated oils, both mainly linoleic acid.