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~,~e-CESIO .....

~. ~ Environment key topic for 900

TI 3rd CESIO International Sur-factanrs Congress and Exhibi-tion, held in London during June,

Featured three-and-a-half days of talksfocusing on all aspects of the surfac-tarns industry, as well as an exhibitionof over 40 booths plus poster sessions.

More than 900 persons from 40countries attended the congressorganized by the Group for OrganicSurfactants and Intermediate Products(GOSIP), the United Kingdom mem-ber of CESIO. Themes of technical

sessions centered on economics. rawmaterials. syntheses. applications.environmental issues and toxicology.Plenary talks, which began each day'sprogram at the 3rd CESIO Interna-tional Surfactants Congress and Exhi-bition, provided a look at the detergentindustry in the United States, Japan.and Europe. as well as marketingpressures generally facing surfactants.

Also featured wasa full-day seminaron life cycle analysis (LeA), reflectinggrowing pressures on the industry con-

The U.S. detergent industryinteracting with the technical segmentof the regulatory community." Brennersaid the industry has sponsored, andcontinues to sponsor, extensive envi-ronmental and human safety research.

However, he pointed out the needto educate consumers on the healthbenefits of using cleaning products.

"Never forget, after all, that deter-gents are products of the chemicalindustry. And, in the mind of the pub-lic, the chemical industry does nOIcommand much favor," Brenner said,advocating consumer education inschools and through electronic media."The detergent industry will have to goeven much further than it already has10develop an educated consumer."

Looking toward the year 2000, hesaid. "Detergents will remain underscrutiny simply because of theirimmense usage and the involvement oflarge volumes of water both duringand after use. Environmental questionsfocusing on products and packagingwill continue to shape the future andwill stimulate the development of newproducts and packaging systems."

Speaking on "The U.S. DetergentIndustry Toward the Year 2000,"Theodore Brenner, president of TheSoap and Detergent Association(SDA), noted the growing impor-tance of environmental and safetyissues in the United States.

"The detergent industry is facingmounting pressure concerning the envi-ronmental impact of products," Brennersaid, adding, "Detergents provide theideal environmental target and will con-tlnue to be a target as long as waterquality remains a national priority."

Ongoing national legislative initia-tives cover clean air and water, con-sumer product safety, occupationalsafety and health, toxic substances,pesticide control, solid and hazardouswaste, waste dumps, animal rights.right-to-know and packaging, he said.

Actions to ban phosphates. forinstance, have led 10product reformula-tions. Enzymes. meanwhile. are findinggrowing use in detergents. Noting thatSDA has carefully established a reputa-tion for credible research "based onsound science that is invaluable when

ceming the environment The seminarwas organized jointly by the Society ofEnvironmental Toxicology and Chem-istry (SETAC) and GOSlP. In addition,there was a half-day technical sympo-sium on the interactions of polycar-boxylates and surtactenrs.

During opening ceremonies,GOSIP chairperson John Burfordnoted the program included trends anddevelopments in the industry "not onlyfrom a scientific point of view butalso to relect the growing importance

INFORM. Vol. 3, no. 9 rsectereer 1992)

Raw materialsDr. Izumi Yamane. a senior consul-tant for Lion Corporation since retir-ing from that finn, spoke on "Deter-gent Raw Materials and Ecologies inJapan." Yamane also noted thegrowing importance of environmen-tal issues and concern for preservingnatural resources.

Technological innovations in Japanduring the past 30 years, due in pan toecological concerns, have included thedevelopment of a-olefinsulfonate(ADS) surfactants, the introduction ofnonphosphate powder detergents withhigh zeolite content, the emergence ofconcentrated detergents and, mostrecently, the manufacture and use of u-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters. Concen-trated compact powder detergents havebecome mainstream products in Japan.

Yamane projected global use ofAOS in household products will reach132 million pounds in 1995, com-pared with 101 million pounds in1990. Japan's use is projected to growto 46 million pounds (from 44 mil-lion), United States' to 37 millionpounds (from 29 million), Europe's to

1003

at surfactants congressof legislative and environmental mat-ters." Officially opening the congress,Sir Christopher Leaver. representingthe city of London, pointed OUI thatthe theme. "A World Market," wasespecially appropriate with Europemoving toward a single market inJ 992. Oliver T. de Clermont- Tonnerre,CESIO president, presided at thecongress. Four companies-Albright& Wilson Ltd .. lei Surfactams.Rhone-Poulenc and Shell Cherni-cals-supponed the meeting.

in Japan9 million pounds (from 8 million),and use elsewhere to 40 millionpounds (from 20 million).

Lion Corp. has developed a newsulfcnaticn process to manufacture a-sulfa fatty acid methyl esters, andcommercial production started in1991. The process includes esterifica-tion of free fatty acids using fixed-bedtechnology, interesterification oftriglycerides using an alkaline catalyst.and recovery of methanol and glyc-erol. The process yields quality methylesters without thermal damage at lowcost, due to low reaction temperatureand low pressure (atmospheric).

Alpha-sulfo fatty acid methylesters are extremely tcteranr to waterhardness and also exhibit goodbiodegradability, according toYamane, who noted they are used byLion in concentrated heavy-dutylaundry detergents.

Yamane predicted that new oleo-chemical facilities coming onstreamin Southeast Asia will offer increas-ing competition to petrochemical-based detergent feedstocks.

The accompanying articles givesome of the highlights from thecongress. Proceedings are availablein four volumes, at a cost of £42 perset plus postage. For further informa-tion concerning the proceedings,contact Gardiner-Caldwell Commu-nications Ltd .• The Old Ribbon Mill,Pitt Street, Macclesfield, CheshireSK II 7PT, United Kingdom (fax:44-625-610260).

CESIO PrMIdMIt O.T. de CIermont-Tonnerre

European changesSpeaking on "Technological Innova-tions and Social Change: Develop-ments in the European DetergentsMarket," J.c.P. Brockhoff of UnileverResearch in Vlaardingen. The Nether-lands. noted that Europe has becomemore urbanized. with consumers fac-ing increasing demands on their time.

"Products must. therefore, workjust as well as before, preferably bet-ter. but achieve their results in lesstime," he said.

The quest for more convenienceand performance has spurred a num-ber of changes in Europe: compactdetergent powders, concentrated fab-ric washing liquids. machine dish-washing liquids. softening-in-the-wash powders, low-temperature stainremoval technology and fat-removingenzymes. Another-sachet unit-dosefabric washing powders-has nOI yetbeen widely accepted.

Meanwhile, science has becomemore complex. "Science is far morepopularly understood in Europe thanever before as a result both of moresophisticated education and leisure-

time interest in the subject. At the samelime. it is far less comprehensible thanever before. The public has grownaccustomed to fundamental. sometimesacrimonious. disputes between scien-tists on the possible consequences ofman's actions," he said. These debates.he added. "are avidly taken over andamplified by the media. leaving thepublic in large parts of Europe anxious.confused and, above all. aware."

The European Community hasactively taken regulatory action topromote environmental programs. Asa result, he said, "Instead of receivingpraise for implementing the technolo-gy that has advanced the materialquality of life so much in a controlledand responsible manner. industryfinds itself on the defensive againstallegations from various quarters.Where industry would prefer self-reg-ulation and the opportunity for cre-ative innovation in response to theenvironmental challenge. it findsitself. certainly in Europe, confrontedwith regulations and legislation ofbaffiing complexity."

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SURFACTANTS Be DETERGENTS

Brockhoff noted that detergentproducts in Europe are under intensescrutiny because most end up atsewage treatment facilities, and thepublic realizes sewage water oftenwill be partially recycled as drinkingwater. Packaging also is underscrutiny because it is a highly visi-ble and bulky component of house-hold waste.

Now used to measure environmen-tal impact. life cycle analysis stillmust be further developed, he said.As a result. the solution of environ-mental impact measurement "is goingto involve a serious partnershipbetween the community of scientists.industry. regulators and the generalpublic. It will be as well to initiatesuch a partnership as early as possi-ble. Failure to do so will inevitablylead to irreconcilable differences ofopinion later on, with much wastedwork and retracing of steps," he said.

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Marketing criteriaSpeaking on "Criteria for Marketingof Products: Performance. Economicsand Environmental Quality," J.Adsetts of Albright & Wilson notedthat the "green consumer"--one whoscrutinizes product labels-is a rela-tively new phenomenon, putting pres-sure on the industry.

The Green Consumer Guide, pub-lished in 1988 and seen as a "comingof age" for the movement, advocates,for example. using a washing machineproduct "free of all the harmful prod-ucts which sully the commercial prod-ucts," Adseus said.

"This situation presents us with aset of challenges, but for the bravestor most foresighted among us. also anew set of opportunities.' he added.'" would expect a much greaterunderstanding of and a greater use oftechniques like LCA (life cycle anal-ysis) to be of considerable help tothose who will be responsible fordirecting the development of newproducts and new markets:'

The industry htstortcatty hasmade drastic improvements voluntar-ily in detergent performance, withnew products being progressivelymilder and less intrusive to the envi-ronment. The key task now, he said.is 10 strike the right balance betweenperformance. economics and envi-ronmental qualities.

"In what amounts to a very large-scale experiment, the Swiss con-sciously reduced the performance ofheavy- and light-duty detergents bybanning the use of phosphate buildersin 1986 in response to so-called envi-ronmental pressures. Following theban, the consumption of detergentsincreased by 15.5%, Slain removersby 31 %, and decalcifiers by 54% asconsumers sought to offset thedecline in performance." he said. As aresult. consumers paid 23.4% morefor detergents.

Saying he believes "we are comingto the end of what might be called the

single-issue approach in environmentalproblems," Adsetts pointed 10 recentcampaigns concerning such slogans as"nor tested on animals," "made fromrenewable resources," and "recyclable'thai have appealed to consumers.

"If our objective is to develop andmarket products which will have agenuine benefit to the environment. amuch more sophisticated approach iscalled for," he said.

A bener approach, he said. is forindustry to concentrate on better per-formance with less product. thus hav-ing less overall impact on the environ-ment. "Our responsibility is to usesound science to understand the manycomplex issues involved, to developstrategies. plants and products whichbest address the real as opposed to theperceived problem. and then to com-municate frequently, clearly and open-ly with the green movement and thepublic at large," he said.

Adsens cautioned that "renewableresources" may not necessarily be bet-ter for the environment in a cradle-to-grave comparison with petroleum-based feedstocks. While urging indus-try to reduce tests on animals, Adsettssaid it currently is impossible to useproducts that have not been tested onanimals lit some point.

Another consideration should bea cost/benefit analysis of environ-mental changes. For instance,Albright & Wilson has spent $20million-and the European industryover $100 million-to reduce diox-ane levels in alkyl ether sulfates.even though it has nOI been shownto be IIcarcinogen.

"I think we have 10 ask are wespending OUf money wisely? Chasingthe latest fashion-the flavor of themonth--does not seem a proper wayfor our industry 10 be spending itsmoney. What we need is a rationalbasis for making a decision," he said.pointing 10 life cycle analysis as astarting point.

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SURFACTANTS 8. DETERGENTS

Life cycle analysis can benefit industry

~''''~E"''''''~~~

Attendees at anall-dey seminaron life cycleanalysis (LeA)featured at theCESIO Congressleamed not only

of the growing Importance of thisapproach to industry but also of itscomplexity.

Pointing OUI there is no simplepanacea to solve all environmentalchallenges. LeA pioneer Robert G.Hunt. for one, noted thai his favoritequotation can be applied to LeA: "Forevery complex question, there is asimple answer, and it is wrong."

The session. chaired by ProfessorHelias Udo de Hees of the University ofLeiden. The Netherlands. includedseven talks and a roundtable discussion.

MethodologyJim Fava of Roy F. Weston Inc. noted

LeA first wasdeveloped as a1001 in the late19605. Since1990. it has beenincreasingly rec-ognized by indus-try as having apotentially usefulrole in Europe.the United States,Canada and

Japan. In fact, interest in LCA hasgrown substantially, with at leasteight major LCA forums held in theUnited States and Europe since 1990.

In 1990, SETAC (Society of Envi-ronmental Toxicology and Chemistry)outlined LCA as a three-componentmodel consisting of inventory, impactassessment and improvement analy-sis. Fava. a member of SETAC's LCAAdvisory Group, noted that in Europe"eco-tebellng" regulations and pack-aging and packaging waste directivesare prompting companies to use par-rial LCAs in product design and inmaking product improvements andclaims. In the United States, wherethere is no regulatory drive towardLCA, companies are opting to do vol-untary LCA inventories.

Jim Fava

In fact. LCA at this point can best beused internally by companies to estab-lish a baseline of information. to identi-fy where greatest reductions can beachieved. to compare inputs and out-puts. and to guide the development ofnew products, processes or activities. hesaid. Fava noted the Chemical Manu-facturers Association's (CMA)"Responsible Care" program for com-panies, for instance. outlines productstewardship in which health, safety andenvironmental protection are an integralpart of designing, manufacturing. usingand disposing of a product "Some peo-ple use the term 'cradle-to-grave' tocategorize this approach," Fava said.

He cautioned, however. that prod-uct LCA "is not the single tool tosolve all environmental problems."

Likewise, Hum of Franklin Associ-ates Ltd. noted some drawbacks con-cerning its use. Speaking on "Unre-solved Scientific Issues for Environ-mental Life Cycle Analyses." Huntsaid users of LCA "must son out whatis scientifically reliable."

Inventory methodology. developedindependently in the United States andin Europe over 20 years ago. is widelyaccepted by the scientific community.It includes measuring data carefully sothat it can be reproduced and will holdup under peer review. However. Huntsaid a number of current LCA practi-

tioners are omit-ting various pansof the methodolo-gy. or "streamlin-ing" inventorymeasurement, toreduce time andeffort. "This canproduce mislead-ing information.This greatly in-creases the proba-

bility of arriving at invalid conclu-sions, and any alterations need to becarefully peer reviewed. It is frequent-ly mentioned that data are nOI avail-able to conduct a complete study. butthis is not a valid reason for producingincomplete results.

"Environmental LCAs are extreme-ly complex studies that require a large

Robert G. Hunt

number of assumptions and a largenumber of calculations. LCAs are ofno value if they do not provide infor-mation upon which action can be takenand for which results are predictable."

An important unresolved problemconcerns impact assessment which isused to quantify the actual harm tohuman health and to the environmentproduced by resource use and envi-ronmental emissions. Despite an Inter-national workshop sponsored bySETAC earlier this year on this topic.there still is no scientific consensus onhow to do this. "There is no acceptedscientific method to decide whetherone product is better than anotherbased upon an LCA analysis, exceptwhen a product uses less resourcesand produces less environmentalemission in every category. Manyorganizations and individuals producevarious indices or qualitative judg-ments which they claim are LCA-based conclusions. However, withoutexception, these fail the scientifictests, and different researchers reachdifferent conclusions," Hunt said.

The drawback with impact assess-ments is that some are based uponopinion and nOI upon scientific prin-ciples. "Their predictive ability isvery poor," he said.

Recommending mat companies usea "less is best" approach. Huntexplained this promotes action result-

ing in less resourceuse and/or lessenvironmentalemissions. "If £01-lowed carefully. itis possibly the onlyaction being takentoday based uponLCA inventorydata which doeshave scientificvalidity," he said.

E.A. Phllllpa

Case studiesSpeaker E.A. Phillips of Shell Chemi-cal Co. described a Shell study whichlooked at the range of detergent alco-hol ethoxylates produced at its Geis-mar. Louisiana, site. In the study, Shellexamined only raw material ecqutsl-

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lion and material manufacture; it didnot do a cradle-to-grave analysis.

The original goal was to betterunderstand environmental loadingsassociated with manufacturing alcoholethoxylates. However. Phillips said.the company ended up with "8 step-wise breakdown of the environmentalloading of each product manufacturedat the Geismar site which enabled usto see the range of environmentalloadings across the product line. Forthe first time. we have a 1001thaienables us 10 look beyond individualprocess units. In the same way thateach product carries a share of fixedcosts, they can now carry their shareof environmentalloadings,"

Phillips said Shell has taken theinventory information and applied itto improvements, without translatingthe data into an impact analysis."There are several reasons for doingthis. one of the main ones being thatthe methodology for impact assess-ment is still evolving:' she said.

M. Stalmans of Procter & Gam-ble's (P&G) European Technical Cen-ter. Belgium. cited the importance ofLCA studies for detergent surfactantsand their raw materials. "Satisfyingthe growing demand for improvedenvironmental quality requires morethan guaranteeing the safe use of aproduct. Society expects industry toinitiate programs to use resourceswisely. 10 conserve energy and toreduce releases 10 air. water and soilin order to minimize the loading thatproducts and processes have on theenvironment:' he said.

Stalrnans cited an LCA study spon-sored by P&G at Franklin Associates

Ltd. for a numberof major detergentsurfactants andtheir intermed-iates. Includedwere oleochem-ical- and petro-chemical-derivedsurfactants.Allhough the

M. Stetmen. study examinedsurfactanrs. up 10

and including the production of fin-ished surfactant raw material. it did notinclude the formulation of surfactantsand other raw materials into detergent

products. Energy and material data forthe study were collected from EthylCorp. Chemicals Group, ICI Chemi-cals & Polymers Ltd.. MonsantoChemical Co., Petresa, Shell ChemicalCo., Texaco Chemical Co .• Stepan Co.,Vista Chemical Co. and P&G.

The study was designed to reflectcharacteristic U.S. conditions for ener-gy generation and transport conditions.Production data for palm oil and methylester production raw materials weretypical for Malaysia. The study exam-ined surfactant production technologiesfor U.S. conditions.

The results, he said, showed thateach surfactant is unique in terms ofits energy and raw material require-ments and in terms of the environmen-tal releases generated. Also, LCAstudies do not support a claim of envi-ronmental superiority or inferiority fordifferent surfactants or for petrochem-ical vr. oleochemical sources. "Actualor perceived benefits in one area areoffset by actual or perceived liabilitiesin other areas," he said.

However, LCA is increasinglybecoming a useful research tool. "Where-as other environmental data are used toassess the environmental safely of c0m-pounds or 10 assess legal compliance. theLCA inventory can be used as a technicalbasis 10 identify opportunities for mini-mizing the energy and material require-ments and for further reducing the envi-ronmemni releases," SmImans concluded.

RecyclingIn a talk entitled "The Relevance ofReuse and Recycling Activities for

the LCA Profileof Products,"LCA pioneer IanBoustead of TheOpen Universityin the UnitedKingdom disput-ed claims thatrecycling auto-matically saves

tan Bou.teltd energy and rawmaterial use, and

reduces air and water emissions aswell as solid waste output.

Although recycling will save onraw materials, energy implications aremore complex. In fact, at some levels,recycling consumer goods may use

more energy to collect and reprocesspost-consumer waste than the energyneeded to produce raw materials andto eventually dispose of them, he said.

For instance, waste paper would notbe recycled in the United Kingdom ifthe goal were to conserve fossil fueluse. "Recycling makes energy use goup," he said, adding that initially thereare some energy savings. Bousteadsaid studies showed that at a 30-35%rate, recycling is environmentallyfavorable. At a SQ.....6O% level, energyuse is about the same as not recycling.Above that level. recycling requiresmore energy than not recycling. hesaid. If the goal is to save on rawmaterials and not spend more energy.recycle up to the 55--60% level. But, tocut energy costs, stop at a lower level,he said. adding that LeA may showthat recycling at an 80% level wouldbe "a disaster."

Boustead said open-loop recy-cling-in which the waste productsfrom one production sequence arerecovered, reprocessed and fed to adifferent production sequence=doesnot always offer a clear-cut picture ofenergy savings. Citing the recovery ofPET boutes to produce fiber for tex-tile filling, he noted it is necessary toconsider costs for both productionsystems. and not just one.

"The promotion of recycling as acure for all environmental problems isnonsense. However, recycling has apart to play in the solution of environ-mental problems. Before any recy-cling scheme is put into place, it isimportant to consider the overallimplications," he said.

Packaging materialsSpeaker K. Haber-satter of ETH-Zentrum, lnsntuteof Process Engi-neering and Cryo-genics, Zurich.noted that ecolog-ical considera-lions should be afactor in manufac-

K. Hab..... ttar turing packagingmaterials.

LCA studies on packaging must useclear-cut parameters, Habersatter said.In cradle-to-grave analyses, there are

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SURFACTANTS & DETERGENTS

various aspects that always should beincluded: raw material production.product transport. product production,product distribution. consumer use, andfinal transport and disposal of material.

Major factors that must be mea-sured include the processes used, ener-gy and fuel provisions. and even thecosts represented by the manufacturingfacilities themselves. Problems in cal-culating ecological considerationsinclude defining outputs and by-prod-ucts, he added. In order to figure totalenergy emissions for packaging in theEuropean Economic Community (Eq,one has 10 do country-by-country cal-culations because of variations. hesaid. pointing OUI thai electrical emis-sions are a lot lower in Switzerlandthan in Germany. for example.

LeA can be used to show the majorsources of emissions. such as energyproduction and transportation. andareas that can be improved. He predict-ed regulatory actions in Europe on eco-logical mailers will continue to affectpackaging. automotive. detergent andbuilding industries.

Impact analysisThe final talk, presented by HeliasUdo de Hacs based on a paper pre-pared by colleagues GjaU Huppes and

Jeroen Guineefrom the Centre ofEnvironmentalScience, Universi-ty of Leiden, cen-tered on impactanalysis in envi-ronmental LCA.Impact analysis. asdefined at aSETAC workshop,covers both the

analysis of the environmental effectsand the valuation of these effects.However, current approaches. both inthe United States and Europe. do notspecifically set values.

"Most practitioners. on either sideof the Atlantic. want the steps leadingto a valuation recognizable. with factsand values separated. Most agree thatthe valuation is nor II scientific affair.that science can clarify procedures butcannot itself weigh values. Many doubtwhether a formalized valuation will bepossible in general. while a discussion

Hell •• Udo de-.Technical talks focus on industry~,~~ ...~.~

on the weights to apply can never beclosed." the researchers wrote.

The paper also noted that three inde-pendent environmental value areasmay be outlined. as suggested at thelast two SETAC workshops: humanhealth and physical well-being. ecosys-tem quality. and material resources.

"At least for the time being. thereis no aggregate measure for thesethree value areas." they wrote.

Items in an environmental profilemay include depletion, pollution ordisturbances. "Depletion" can refer toresources, gene stocks or space. "Pol-lution" may include global warming.ozone layer depletion, human toxici-ty. ecotoxlciry. acidification. ionizingradiation. photooxidant formation.nutrification. salination, heat. noise,smell. occupational health. consumerhealth or final solid waste. "Distur-bances" may include drought. land-scape degradation, ecosystem degra-dation, external safety, visual distur-bance. occupational safety or con-sumer safety. Effects may be consid-ered on a regional or a global basis.

"The ideal of knowing every relat-ed effect 'really' cannot practicallyexist for a long time to come. Even ifit existed. it would lead to extremeproblems in valuation." they cau-tioned. noting that this brings the dis-cussion back to the conclusion thatLCA can be used as a rool in support-ing a decision but not in itself givinga clear-cut answer.

Technical sessions atthe CESIO Congresscovered a widegamut of industryinterests. from appli-cations and eco-nomics to toxicolo-

gy and environmental issues. Morethan 100 papers were presented. Thefollowing is a look at a handful.

EconomicsSpeaking on "Preserving ChoicesAmong Surfnctant Feedstocks." WJ.B.Vogel, vice-president of surfuctams forVista Chemical Co.. noted the need forboth oleochemical- and petroleum-basedsurfactant feedstocks in the marketplace.

However. they added. "There is aconvergence between LeA theoristsat either side of the Atlantic on theenvironmental analysis in LCA. Aseparate classification is to be includ-ed in LCAs. stating the empirical con-tribution of a product to several envi-ronmental problems."

In the seminar discussion, panel istswere asked if LCAs are useful. Feva.for one. predicted an expanding rolefor LCA for companies to bencr eval-uate their products. However, he cau-tioned it should not be used to makeclaims of superiority. Hunt agreed. "Amore appropriate use is with privatecompanies using it to learn moreabout their processes and how to makethem more environmentally friendly."Speakers agreed that it is nOI valid tocarry out "streamlined" LCAs.

Cautioning that a number of Firmsrecently entering the LCA field arc notusing accepted mcthodology. Bousteadexplained: "Not only is the wheelbeing rediscovered. but it is square."

He urged companies to be con-cerned with data quality and also notto compare systems unless they areequivalent functions. Although theLCA inventory stage has been workedout, "what is missing is the causal linkbetween inventory and the observablephysical effects:' Boustead said. Allagreed that LCA is nOI the single wayto solve environmental problems, butcan be used as a tool to help makechanges.

"There is no overriding environ-mental. safety. performance or eco-nomic advantage favoring eitherpetrochemical- or vegetable oil-basedfeedstocks," according to Vogel. sug-gesting that the industry avoid suchterms as "natural:' "renewable" and"synthetic" to imply superiority orinferiority in marketing surfactantfeedstocks. Calling such terms mis-leading. he urged usage of the terms"oleochemical" for "natural" and"petrochemical" for "synthetic."

Vogel also advocated life cycleanalysis to help conduct meaningfulenvironmental evaluations and urgedthe industry to keep surfactants as amarket-driven business.

INFORM. Vol. 3. no. 9 (Seo!t;lmber 1992)

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oratory. Richard Lewis of ICl's Cen-tral Toxicology Laboratory and C.G.Martin of Albright & Wilson Ltd.

Session participants noted increas-ing pressure on the industry from con-sumers demanding an end to animaltesting in personal care products, sur-factants and industrial chemicals. ICl'sLewis noted, however, that one testdiscussed-"Eytex" developed byRopak Laboratories-is not yet aviable replacement for the Draize test.Lewis said that by using an in vitro lestbattery, including elective prescreen-ing and isolated eye test. ICI has beenable to reduce the total number of rab-bits it uses to test eye irritancy. Hepointed to the need for peer-reviewedpublication on further studies of theRopak test.

SURFACTANTS & DETERGENTS

More than 900 peraonl attanded the aurlllCtantl congress hekI In London In June.

"In assessing surfactant products.we should be concerned about theavailability, the cost and the perfor-mance of the products," Vogel said."The choice between these two com-peting materials has provided detergentmanufacturers and consumers with theadvantages of market-driven prices.supply stability, global availability anda range of high-purity intermediatechemical ingredients. This is requiredto make a variety of detergents offeringdifferent performance strengths. Torely on one material at the expense ofthe other would trap manufacturers andconsumers into potential supply andpricing problems."

Vogel forecast that by 1997 totalworldwide surfactant intermediatedemand for use in detergents and per-sonal care applications will grow to3.7 million tons, from 3.1 milliontons. Of that, approximately 2.6 mil-lion tons will have to be supplied bypetrochemical-based capacity; itwould require 85 new natural alcohol(oleochemical) facilities to producesuch an amount, he pointed out.

Applicationsin the applications session, Ole Kop-pel of PK-Niro A/S, Soeberg. Den-mark, noted the market for compactdetergent powders is expandingrapidly, with increased movementtoward superconcentrates with densi-ties of 900 grams per liter and up to

50% actives. This is causing a shiftfrom spray drying to spray agglomer-ation, requiring new production facil-ities and new raw materials. Theseproducts include anionic builders andnonionic systems as the post agglom-erators. To increase density. manu-facturers must go to fluid-bedagglomeration, he said.

Speaking about nonaqueous heavy.duty laundry liquids using phosphate-free builder systems, Paul Hepworthof ICI Surfactants noted this patentedformulation is effective at one-thirdthe normal chemical levels and thus isenvironmentallyattrnctive.

Meanwhile, K. Quill of Borax Con-solidated Ltd. reported on experimentsto test the potential for a saccharate-perborate system as a combined builderand bleach system for heavy-duty laun-dry detergents. Preliminary washingtests have shown this could form thebasis of a new family of aqueous liquiddetergents provided suitable stabiliza-tion is achieved. he said. He noted thissystem could serve as a substitute forsodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) or asa zeolite co-builder.

EnvironmentSpeakers in the environmental sessionscovered the biodegradability of vari-ous surfactants. A talk by Carter Nay-lor of Texaco Chemical Co. on theenvironmental fate of alkyl phenolernoxytates. for instance. indicated thatlarge amounts enter the environment,but that they display high biodegrad-ability, with no accumulation in theaquatic environment.

Michael Comber of ICI's GroupEnvironmental Laboratory, and a mem-ber of AlS/CESIO Environmental Anal-ysis of Surfactants Task Force, noted theindustry needs simpler methods fordetennining the environmental fate orvarious surfactants. Curren! approachesuse HPLC and solid phase extraction(SPE). More recently, however, super-critical fluid extraction is being integrat-ed into the methodology, thus providingthe capability to differentiate betweensurfactams in a range of matrices.

How to classify surfactants basedon potential environmental risks is animportant issue in the EC. accordingto speaker Derek Brown, also of ICI.Brown said legislators and responsiblemembers of the chemical industrywant to ensure that substances withpotentially dangerous environmentalproperties are identified. that risksposed are assessed, and that sub-stances posing a risk are used safely.Classification is not a substitute forhazard or risk assessment bUI merelyan identification process, he added.

INFORM.Vol. 3, no. 9 (September 1992)

ToxicologyA number of papers in the toxicologysession assessed in vitro assays forirritancy testing as alternatives to ani-mal testing methodology. Speakers on(his topic included David Basketter ofUnuever's Environmental Safety Lab-

Under the 12th adaptation of theEC's Dangerous Substances Directive.substances classified as "dangerousfor the environment" will be labeledas such, indicating any substancesdeemed to present immediate ordelayed environmental risks. There isno scientifically valid classificationmethod, Brown said, Instead, avail-able data have been used to make anarbitrary classification "predominanllyrelevant to aquatic organisms."

A joint AIS (Association Interna-uonale de la Savonnerie)-CESIO TaskForce. Ecotoxicology Data for Surfac-rants. is collating data to proposewhether classification is appropriatefor broad classes of surfacranrs.Brown said. However, that report wasnot expected to be completed beforethe July I, 1992. implementation datefor the 12th adaptation.

"Expect to see a symbol and thewords 'Dangerous for the Environ-ment' on some detergents:' Brownwarned. noting thai biodegradabilitywill be an important factor in theclassification process.

"A number of surfactants have anaquatic toxicity in the range greater than1-100 mg/L. The issue of biodegrad-ability is therefore critical 10 decidingwhether or not the surfactant will beclassified," he said. "If a strict lnrerpre-tation of 'ready biodegradability' in the12th adaptation is applied. manybtodegradeble surfactants will be con-sidered 'not readily biodegradable,' Thisquestion requires urgent resolution."

Raw materialsAddressing changes in surfactant offer-ings, Paul Arwas of Arthur D. Lillienoted that ethylene overcapacity has ledmanufacturers to forward-integrate intoethylene oxide (EO) and detergentethoxylate production. Reluctant totransport EO, companies have builtsatellite ethoxylate facilities: Albright& Wilson has built an ethoxylate facili-ty next to BP Chemical's Levere facili-ty and has an ethoxyJate plant joint ven-ture next to a Singapore petrochemicalcomplex: Olin runs a small EO plant atits Kentucky facility for captive use: Dr.W. Kolb is building a facility next toShell's Moerdijk EO plant: and Henkelis building at Erdolchernie's EO pro-duction site at Cologne.

"Independent ethoxytetors who arenot back-integrated into EO manufacturewill therefore have to choose betweenmaking a long-term commitment to asatellite production facility and theresulting captive relationship with oneEO supplier. or competing with largeintegrated companies that have lowerraw material costs." Arwas said.

Meanwhile, organic materials sul-fonated to make detergent surfactantsare expected to become more widelyavailable. Alpha-olefin supplies, forinstance, are becoming more available.

The industry also is facing changingenvironmental pressures. with reduceduse of phosphates, increased use ofrenewable raw material sources foralcohols. and surfactant biodegradabili-ty among the major issues. Phosphatereductions. for instance, will increasesurfactant use. with alcohol emoxylaresulfates expected to benefit more thanlinear alkylbenzene sulfonates. At thesame time. oleochemical- and perro-chemical-based alcohols are expectedto share the market. Arwas noted.

Recent political changes in EasternEurope and growing Southeast Asianeconomies offer growth potential forsurfactents. Several Western Europeanand U.S. companies, for example.have acquired companies or formedjoint ventures with companies in East-ern Europe. Unilever has purchased an80% slake in the Polish detergentscompany Pollena Bydgoszcz. whichplans to double washing power pro-duction at the Bydgoszcz site. Procter& Gamble is planning to use its pur-chase of Rakona from the Czech stateto penetrate markets in neighboringcountries. However, he cautioned."Although the Eastern Europeancountries have the potential for above-average growth. these economies willneed several years of reconstructionbefore they have the infrastructure andthe buying power to increase deter-gent purchases. Surfactant supplierswill have to risk following the soapcompanies into Eastern Europe or losethese companies to local suppliers."

Growth in the chemical industry inSoutheast Asia. meanwhile, willenable that region to become a signifi-cant exporter of surfactams. instead ofraw materials, and of both natural andsynthetic detergents. Arwas said.

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SURFACTANTS Be DETERGENTS

In a talk entitled "New Technolo-gies for the Production of DetergentIntermediates.' T. Fritsch of UQP dis-cussed technological developments toproduce linear alkyl benzene (LAB)and detergent alcohols cost effectively.

One is the De Fine process, devel-oped by UOP for the selective hydro-genation of diclefins. This processhas been proven commercially, withsuch benefits to the user as improvedyield, higher product purity. reducedhydrofluoric acid (HF) inventory, andless waste treatment, Fritsch said.Meanwhile, a new adsorbent wasdeveloped for use in the Otex pro-cess, which increases linear olefinproduction by 10-15%.

Fritsch also described a new solid-bed alkylation technology. the Detal

process, developed by UOP andPetresa of Spain [or LAB production.He noted this process offers manyadvantages over the HF detergentalkylate process including reducedcapital cost, lower maintenance,improved operation. elimination ofHF handling and fluoride waste, andexceptional product purity.

"The yet unknown sulfcsuccinatesbased on butylglucoside esters showa lot of very remarkable propertiesbeyond good detergency: excellentmildness alone and in blends, goodcleaning power in combination withother surfactants. ease of formulationin personal care products. improve-ment of blends under environmentalaspects. and are based on well-known renewable raw materials." hesaid. arguing that "future develop-ments have to be compared withthese kinds of molecules. The marketin the future will demand products.with these abilities." However. dur-ing the discussion period, Domschsaid these sulfosuccinates are notstable over long periods over hightemperatures.

SynthesisThe synthesis sessions featured morethan 30 talks. In one presentation,Andreas Domsch of REWO Chemis-che Werke GmbH described newanionic sulfosuccinate surfactantsbased on renewable natural rawmaterials (short-chained alkyl gluco-sides), as opposed to nonionic sur-factants based on carbohydrates.

Announcing

AOCS World Conference & Exhibition on

Lauric OilsManUa. The Philippines

March,1994Conference Chairperson: Dr. Charles Leonard. Wilco Corp.

Local Chairperson: Mr. Alfredo Yniguez. Jr .. Pilipinas Kao, Inc.

Technical Program• Sources of Lauric Oils • Processing of Lauric 011s

• Applications of Lauric 011s

INFORM. Vol, 3, rIO. 9 (September 1992)

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SCOPE seeking 'fair' appraisal of phosphatesThe agenda of the Scientific Committeeon Phosphates in Ewope (SCOPE) is not(0 promote phosphate use per se. butrather to present a balanced environmen-tal picture concerning phosphates.

"The companies that foundedSCOPE all make phosphates, yet theyalso have an interest in alternatives 10phosphates. Most make zeolites andsome are involved in NTA (sodiumnitrilcrrtecerete) or polycarboxylateproduction:' according to John A.Pickup. current SCOPE chainnan andbusiness manager for consumer prod-ucts for Albright & Wilson Ltd. Dur-ing a recent interview in London.Pickup said that the organization.formed during the past several years,does not have a "hidden agenda"biased toward use of phosphates.

"However. it would be fair to saythat the evidence SCOPE has assem-bled tends to come to the conclusionthat in the long term. phosphate is thebest builder environmentally, cost-wise as well as performance-wise,"Pickup said. Nonphosphate detergentsrequire approximately 25% more sur-factant than detergents containingphosphates, and nonphosphate liquidsthai are not built often use three to fourtimes as much surfactant. he said.

Detergent phosphates came underattack because phosphates were viewedas contributing to eutrophication prob-lems. "However, it is dearly establishedthat we can't solve those problems byjust tackling detergents. We will alwayshave phosphate in sewage systems-itcomes as part of human sewage andfood scraps. The view now is phosphateis not something you can exclude fromthe environment. instead. you have tocontrol and manage it. You can evenrecycle it," Pickup said, explaining thaImore than 50% of sewage sludge in theUnited Kingdom is applied to agricul-tural land as fenilizer. In Holland. theWesterbork sewage works goes evenfurther-c-it treats sewage for a town of10,000 persons and recovers phosphateas dicalcium phosphate. This is recy-cled by a phosphorus producer to make"new" phosphate.

The EC adopted the Urban WasteWater Treatment Directive in 1991.

setting standards for sewage treatment10 address the problem of nutrients insewage. "Under this directive, if youhave a body of water sensitive to nutri-ent levels and if you can show thatnutrient removal would be beneficial.you must remove it through tertiarytreatment," he said, noting that variouscountries are enforcing treatment atdifferent levels. However, by 1998. allEC countries will be required to pro-vide tertiary treatment for phosphateremoval where beneficial.

Phosphate is the only detergentbuilder that can be removed in teniarytreatment, according to Pickup. "NTAwill normally biodegrade in thesewage works but if not, there is con-cern that it can chelate heavy metals,which can get into drinking water," hesaid. Zeolites, meanwhile. generatemore ash when sewage sludge isincinerated, increasing solid waste andthe need for landfill.

Pickup predicted that in the 21stcentury, one scenario may be to usephosphates in detergents. recycle thephosphates after treatment lind putthem back into detergents as builders.

Currently, phosphate use is volun-tarily or legally limited in severalEuropean countries but banned only inthree. Italy was one of the early coun-tries to ban detergent phosphates."Now. the Italian government does areport every year on the efficacy ofthe detergent ban. These clearly showno beneficial results." Pickup said.The ban in Switzerland in 1986 ironi-cally was undenaken in parallel withsteps toward tertiary sewage treat-ment. "There was no incrementaleffect," Pickup said. in Germany.companies can sell phosphate deter-gents, but the market is 95% phos-phate free, due to "green" politics.However, the large supermarketReichelt recently announced thelaunch of a new range of phosphate-based detergents in Berlin. "This indi-cates that there is an ambivalence.even in Germany. about this issue," hesaid. adding. "Some of the bestsewage treatment plants in the worldare in Berlin:'

Holland has gone 10 nonphosphatc

detergents by voluntary agreement.Sweden. generally rated the mostenvironmentally proactive country inEurope. continues to use phosphatedetergents, but the sewage of 95% ofthe population in The Netherlandsgoes to tertiary treatment facilities. Anumber of water and sewage authori-ties advertise to encourage the use ofphosphate detergents. Paradoxically.however. Sweden joined Norway andFinland in adopting an environmentallabel scheme that excludes phosphateproducts: Pickup attributed this to apolitical need not to undermine thephosphate ban in Norway.

Environmental awareness in theUnited Kingdom has grown steadilysince 1988, and so has the use ofphosphate-free products. Compactpowders. launched in Europe as phos-phate-free products, have made theirway to the United Kingdom. "It was away for soapers to hedge their betsand to 'Europeanize' product formula-tions," Pickup said, adding, however."You will not see phosphate-freeclaims by U.K. soapers. To advertiseproducts as phosphate-free is to per-petuate the myth that phosphate-freeis good for the environment."

Pickup noted that a British govern-ment-commissioned study, "Pollutantsin Cleaning Agents:' had found noevidence that removing phosphateswould be beneficial, and thus theUnited Kingdom has chosen not tointroduce legislation against phos-phates. in its repon "Freshwater Qual-ity" published in June 1992. the U.K.Royal Commission on EnvironmentalPollution noted that substitutes fordetergent phosphates should not beadopted on a widespread basis untiltheir environmental impact has beenfully assessed.

The soap industry in France, mean-while, has a voluntary agreement tonot increase phosphate levels pendinga $7-million study of the environmen-tal impacts of substitutes. Spain con-tinues to allow phosphates althoughseveral compact detergents introducedthere are phosphate-free.

The industry currently is seeking toachieve more performance for tess

INFORM, Vol. 3. no. 9 (Sepfember 1992)

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Akzo-PQ Silica acquiresfacility in Germany

SURFACTANTS & DETERGENTS

product, such as with compacts. How-ever, he said. "Industry doesn't thinkyou can make strides banning ingredi-ents, but rather 10 optimize what isused." Noting that "the jury wiIJ con-tinue to deliberate" phosphate use.Pickup said SCOPE's role hasbeen-and will continue 10be-Ioprovide a forum for scientists to com-pare the performance and environ-mental impact of phosphate and phos-phate-free products.

Calgene buysHodag ChemicalCalgene Inc. has announced purchaseof Hodag Chemical Corporation, aspecialty oleochemical finn based inSkokie, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Calgene said Hodag will be mergedwith Calgene Chemical, an oleochem-ical marketing company. and operateunder the Calgene Chemical name.

Hodag has produced a wide line ofspecialty esters, surfactanta, ethoxy-late and other oleochemicals for use infoods, personal care products andother industrial processes. Hodagsales are about $8 million annually.

The acquisition price was notannounced.

AOCS member Frank Flider hasbeen named president of the newoperation; his title previously wasgeneral manager of Calgene Chemi-cal. AOCS member Mike Hein will bevice-president of operations; he previ-ously was general manager for Hodag.Ed Trauth will be vice-president formarketing.

Surfactants: Industrialuses are major marketsIndustrial applications represent 38%of North American surfactant con-sumption. according to a study byColin A. Houston & Associates Inc.(CAHA).

More than three billion pounds ofsurfactants will be used in 1992 bysuch diverse industries as agriculturalchemicals. paint. textiles and paper.

Another 500 million pounds will beused in industrial and institutional(1&1) cleaners. the CAHA studyreports.

"Many of the most profitable nichemarkets for surfactants are in industri-al uses, and their importance is some-times overlooked," according to Mari-lyn Bradshaw. project leader for thestudy. She noted that, for example,analysts have focused on Sherex'slarge household fabric softener busi-ness in discussions of its value as apotential acquisition. "But Sberex alsois a leading supplier of specialtyamine-based products for ore flotationand asphalt."

The study shows that the fivelargest industrial end uses for surtec-rants are petroleum additives, oreflotation, emulsion polymerization.food, and textiles. These representroughly half of the North Americandemand for industrial surfactanlS.

For further information about thestudy "Industrial AppLications of Sur-factants-Nonh American Forecast to2000," contact Colin A. Houston &Asscctates lnc.. PO Box 416,Mamaroneck, NY 10543. USA (fax:9 J 4-698-3693).

Another report. from The Freedo-nia Group, predicts U.S. sales ofindustrial and institutional cleaningchemicals will increase by 5.4% ayear to reach $5.3 billion in 1996.This will create a market for over fivebillion pounds of chemicals such assolvents, surfactants, chlor-alkaliesand builders.

1&1 cleaner sales are expected toexpand 10 $1.5 billion in 1996.according to the Freedonia report.Alkaline cleaners, the leading subseg-mem. will face increasing competitionfrom specialty cleaners and nonalka-line formulations. General cleanersalso will face stiff competition fromspecialty cleaners.

For further information about thestudy "Industrial & InsutuuonalCleaning Chemicals," contact TheFreedonia Group Inc., 20600 ChagrinBlvd .. 10th Floor. Cleveland. OH44122 (fax: 216-921-5459).

Akzo-PQ Silica, a joint venture ofAkzo Chemicals of The Netherlandsand the PQ Corp. of the United States,has acquired a sodium silicate plant ineastern Gennany.

The new Akzo·PQ plant is inWurzen, near Leipzig, in the formerGerman Democratic Republic. Theplant. which was completed in 1990,previously was owned by WasserglasDehnitz GmbH. Akzo-PQ Silicareached agreement on the transactionwith the Treuhandanstalt, the organi-zation entrusted with selling business-es to the private sector in the formerEast Germany. on June I.

Malaysian plant setto start up in 1993FPG OIeochemicals is expected tostart up its new facility in Kuantan,Malaysia, in early 1993.

FPG is a joint venture between theProcter & Gamble Co. (P&G) andFelda Mills. The Kuanlan facility isdesigned to produce 150.000 tons ofmethyl esters a year. Fifty-thousandtons of the methyl ester produced willbe converted to fatty alcohol inMalaysia. The remainder will be con-vened into fatty alcohol by Huls AGof Germany at its Marl, Germany,plant for use by both Hills and P&G inEurope.

The plant originally had been setfor completion in mid-I992.

Names in the newsHans-Dletrtch Wlnkhaus has beennamed president and chief executiveofficer of the Henkel Group. He suc-ceeds Helmut Sihler, who has retired.Earlier this year. Winkhaus took overas chairman of the group's NorthAmerican operating company. HenkelCorp .. which has headquarters inGulph Mills. Pennsylvania.

Arend Kortenhorst, Abo's group

INFORM. Vol. 3, no. 9 (September 1992)

vice-president for detergents and sur-factams. has been elected president ofthe European Association of FallyAcid Producers (APAG).

Charles W. Givens has been electedcorporate vice-president and generalmanager of surfactants for Stepan Co.

Rhone-Poulenc Inc. has promotedJacques Barraillier to director ofbusiness operations of its surfactantsand specialties business group.

XL Corp. has named Neil A. Burns ascompany president. Also. XL has addedPhillip L. Cotrell as vice-president ofproduct development and Philip A.Martena as vice-president of sales.

John L. Knowlton of Johnson &Johnson is the current president ofthe Society of Cosmetic Scientists.Other officers are Jack Ferguson ofThe Boots Co., vice-president:Andrew G. Raybould of S. BlackImport & Export. honorary secretary;and David A. Whitehouse of ChristyCosmetics. honorary treasurer. IanM. Phillipson of CfPA is immediatepast president.

Current trustees for wfk-InstitutesKrefeld are Ludwig Egelhoff ofGerock-Reinigung FIR e.V .. Rudl-ger Hirsch of Dalli-Werke GmbH.H.G. Jender of Procter & GambleGmbH. Ulrich Kuntze of Kuntze &Burgheim. Rudolf Kuttelwesch ofMEWA AG. and K.-G. Bienias ofALSeO.

Rohm and Haas Co. has appointedBrian E. Holton and Stephen W.Dorsey as technical sales representa-tives for Acusol detergent polymers.

Business briefsProcter & Gamble (P&G) hasintroduced a new generation ofconcentrated fabric softener-UltraDowny and Ultra Downy Re-fill-modeled after compact laundrydetergents. Although P&G's DownyRefill introduced in 1989 used a

pour-and-dilute refill method, thenew product is added directly to thewash by the capful. The UltraDowny bottle is 35% smaller byweight than its earlier counterpartand is made with 50% post-con-sumer recycled plastic. The refillwill enable reuse of the plastic bot-tie. The new line became availablein the Northeast during June.

BASF Corp. will build a 30,OOO-met-ric-ton-per-year non ionic surfactantplant 81 its Antwerp, Belgium, site.Completion is set for early 1994.Ethylene oxide feedstock will be sup-plied on site from a BASF plant cur-rently under construction.

Unilever PLC has acquired Establec-imienlOs Fabriles Guereno SA,which produces soaps and laundrypowders. Argentina's largest producerof laundry detergents. Guereno. hassites in Buenos Aires and Rosario.

Union Carbide Corp. has spun off itsindustrial gases subsidiary as a separatepublic company, which has been namedPraxair Inc. It formerly was known asUnion Carbide Industrial Gases Inc.

Sherex Chemical Co. Inc. and RewoChemische Werke will harmonizetheir amphoteric lines so that cus-tomers can order one product with onespecification from either company.Under the plan, all Sherex and Rewaamphcredcs will be sold under thetrade name "Rewoteric.'

Brocato International is marketingshampoo and conditioner that are inbottles made of special organic plastictouted as fully biodegradable. Theplastic. known as Biopol, was createdby Imperial Chemical IndustriesPLC of the United Kingdom. Theproducts are being marketed to U.S.hair salons and salon customers as all-natural items packaged in America'sfirst biodegradable container.

Novo Nordlsk is expanding itsenzyme manufacturing facility inFranklinton, North Carolina. Theexpansion project is expected to becompleted in 1994.

Henkel KGaA is constructing a newdetergent plant at its facility in Gen-thin, Gennany. The project will dou-ble spray-drying capacity at the siteand add a new detergent processingand packaging facility as well as ashipping building. Completion is setfor mid-1993. Waschmittelwerk Gen-thin GmbH, founded as a Henkel sub-sidiary in 1921. was reacquired byHenkel in December 1990. •

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INFORM,Vol. 3. no. 9 (Sepfember \992)

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