Oxea completed an upgrade of its carboxylic acids production facility in Oberhausen, Germany, the company announced Friday, increasing the facilitys output of short-chain fatty acids. The new production capacity was not disclosed, but could lead to expanded supply of ester-based lubricants.
Oxea, which is part of the Oman Oil Company, claims its new investment increases the companys global supply reliability. Dr. Oliver Borgmeier, Oxeas vice president of operations and derivatives for Europe and China, said in a news release that the upgrade enables additional units to produce [Oxeas] short-chain fatty acids, and significantly improves the overall output of acids across [its] multisite, multi-products acids platform. Examples of the short-chain fatty acids include propionic acid, butyric acid and isobutyric acid.
Carboxylic acid is combined with alcohol to create synthetic esters through a chemical process known as the esterification reaction.
Having additional units to produce these fatty acids may help ester producers, suggested Tyler Housel, head of the Lexolube division at Zschimmer and Schwarz. Housel elaborated, Additional synthetic ester production capacity is coming online to meet the growing demand for synthetic esters in lubricants and other markets. Unless the fatty acid supplies can keep pace, the future growth potential of synthetic esters will be limited. Housel believes adding raw material supplies will assist the market to reach its full potential.
As synthetics esters have grown, demand for short-chain carboxylic acids has increased, and there is a reasonable balance between supply and demand, Housel told Lube Report in an interview. At present, the market is a little tight for some carboxylic acid feedstocks, but it is not excessive, he continued. Due to his companys supply agreements he was unable to elaborate on specific market details on a product-by-product basis.
Lexolubes synthetic esters can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as food grade lubricants, high-temperature greases, metalworking fluids, fire-resistant hydraulic fluids and textile and compressor applications.
Oxea expects to make further investments in its global production platforms. This upgrade at our Oberhausen site is just the first step towards further enhancement of our carboxylic acid capabilities in the short- and mid-term, said Executive Vice President of Derivatives Cristbal Ascencio in a press release. We will further strengthen Oxeas comprehensive carboxylic acids portfolio across all products and markets, which also include lubricants and synthetic fluids.