Tall Oil Research Articles (Page 1)

Asphalt binder is very important in ensuring the durability of asphalt surfaces. Unfortunately, as an organic material, it is subject to the ageing process. During its transport from petrochemical plants and the production of asphalt mixture, it is exposed to high temperatures. The process of asphalt oxidation takes place, as a result of which its viscoelastic properties are reduced. This stage of ageing is called technological ageing (short - term ageing). However, during the operation of the asphalt surface , it is subject to the action of atmospheric factors such as wind, water and solar radiation. Operational ageing takes place (long - term ageing), the asphalt binder becomes more rigid. As a result of asphalt binder ageing, the operational durability of the road surface is reduced. In order to limit this negative process, various types of ageing inhibitors are used for asphalt binders, which can be chemical and mineral materials or natural and synthetic oils. In the tests, two WMA (Warm Mix Asphalt) additives were used in order to limit the ageing of asphalt binder - synthetic wax and tall oil amidopolamine, which were added to the asphalt binder at the same time. Synthetic wax was used in the amount of 1.0% w/w, 1.5% w/w, 2.0% w/w and 2.5% w/w and tall oil amidopolamine in the amount of 0.2% w/w, 0.4% w/w and 0.6% w/w in relation to the amount of asphalt binder. The influence of technological and operational ageing on the change of physic - mechanical and rheological properties of the bitumen composition with both WMA additives. Based on the analysis of the obtained research results, the optimum content of WMA additives in bitumen was determined and the effect of their synergy was demonstrated, which ensures the limitation of the influence of short - term and long - term ageing on the bitumen properties. Therefore, the required durability of the asphalt surface will be ensured in the long term of operation.

The influence of both mixing pressure and substrate temperature on the structure and properties of spray polyurethane foams produced with a high content (80%) of tall oil-based polyol was investigated. The use of a renewable feedstock such as tall oil polyol aligns with the principles of sustainable development by reducing the carbon footprint and minimizing the environmental impact of the production process. The research focused on identifying the relationships between process parameters and the resulting materials’ thermal insulation properties, physico-mechanical performance, thermal behavior, cellular structure, and chemical composition. The results demonstrated that increasing the mixing pressure (from 12.5 to 17.5 MPa) and substrate temperature (from 40 to 55 °C) led to a reduction in average pore diameter, an increase in closed-cell content up to 94.5% and improved structural homogeneity. The thermal conductivity coefficient (λ) ranged from 18.55 to 22.30 mW·m−1·K−1 while apparent density varied between 44.0 and 45.5 kg·m−3. Higher mixing pressure positively affected compressive strength, whereas elevated substrate temperature reduced this parameter. Brittleness, water uptake, and dimensional stability remained at favorable levels and showed no significant correlation with processing conditions. These findings confirm the high quality of the materials and highlight their potential as sustainable, environmentally friendly insulation foams.

Bitumen ages during production and in asphalt pavements, leading to structural issues and reduced durability of asphalt pavements. The alteration of bitumen's viscoelastic properties, predominantly attributable to oxidation phenomena, is a hallmark of these processes. This study analyzed the use of a new generation of synthetic wax (SWLC), which was selected for its low carbon footprint, ability to reduce binder viscosity, and ability to enable the production of WMA. Tall oil amidopolyamines (TOAs), a renewable raw material-based adhesive and aging inhibitor, was also used in this study. It compensates for the unfavorable effect of stiffening the binder with synthetic wax. SWLC at concentrations of 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% by mass in bitumen, in conjunction with TOAs at concentrations of 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6% by bitumen weight were tested at various concentrations. Short-term and long-term aging effects on penetration, softening point, and viscosity multiple creep and stress recovery tests (MSCR), oscillatory tests for the combined complex modulus |G*| and phase shift angle sin(δ) (DSR), and low-temperature characteristics Sm and mvalue (BBR) were analyzed. The chemical composition of the binders was then subjected to Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, which enabled the determination of carbonyl, sulfoxide, and aromaticity indexes. These results indicated that the additives used inhibit the oxidation and aromatization reactions of the bitumen components. The optimal SWLC and TOA content determined was 1.5% and 0.4% w/w, respectively. These additives reduce aging and positively affect rheological parameters.

The influence of solvent composition and process parameters on the particle properties of phytosterols in batch cooling crystallization.

Abstract Tall oil is a byproduct of the kraft pulping process when softwood is used as raw material. As the production of softwood‐based pulp is in high demand, the optimization of the tall oil production process needs to be revisited to ensure the highest quality and quantity of tall oil manufacturing. In this work, the process for tall oil production was optimized in terms of tall oil yield, acid number, and tall oil components (i.e., fatty acid, rosin acid, unsaponifiable, and moisture contents) by considering acidulation reaction time, pH, water content, and settling additive. It was found that a reaction pH range of 2.5–3.0, 100 wt.% water addition, a reaction time of 20 min, a temperature of 90–100°C, and a 2‐h settling time yielded 52.9 wt.% of crude tall oil with the acid number of 137.3 mg KOH/g oil. Furthermore, the addition of anionic polymer pulp processing aid at 0.018 wt.% (dry basis) resulted in the largest crude tall oil yield of 57.1 wt.% and acid number of 142 mg KOH/g oil. Lignin from the tall oil production process was found to have an anionic charge density of 0.2–0.4 mmol/g and a solubility of approximately 0.7–2.0 g/L, both of which were higher than those of kraft lignin. However, the molecular weight of tall oil lignin was 1700 g/mol, which was smaller than kraft lignin, indicating that lignin underwent slight degradation during the acidulation process.

BackgroundThe circular economy represents a vision of ever-increasing importance for policy making. In this paper, the circularity of transportation fuel production systems is explored, as energy carriers are seldom the focus of existing methods. A theoretical framework for understanding the circularity of energy carriers was devised based on the renewability and secondary fractions of inputs and the recycling of outputs, which cover both biological and technical cycles. Based on this framework, and with input from actors working in the field of transport fuels, a six-step method was developed to assess the circularity of energy carriers. The method uses a life cycle perspective for assessing energy carriers across their life cycle.ResultsThis method was applied to four production systems in the Swedish context: hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) from tall oil, ethanol from forest residues, biomethane from household food waste, and battery–electric mobility. The results showed that all studied biofuels have a high degree of circularity due to the use of secondary materials as a feedstock. The biomethane system scored the highest percentage, with a circularity score of 81%, while the HVO and ethanol systems only reached a score of 75% and 45%, respectively. The battery–electric system, on the other hand, performed worse at only 17% circularity due to the low degree of circularity in the battery production. One “greening” scenario was tested for each production system to explore the impact of possible future improvements.ConclusionsThe results showed that second-generation biofuels align well with the circular economy concept as they upcycle low-value resources into high-value products. At the same time, electric mobility requires a higher degree of material recirculation to further align it with the circular economy. Furthermore, all production systems indicated improvement potentials and should, therefore, be aimed at increasing their recirculation rates and use of renewable resources. In conclusion, this article gives valuable input into the broader decision process to determine which fuels should be promoted during the transition away from fossil fuels, as circularity is one aspect to be considered.

Efficient green Pre-Treatment of coniferous biomass using Alkali-Assisted deep eutectic solvents for tall oil production and lignin component separation

Continuous conversion of tall oil over Ni-Cu/SAPO-11 to a sustainable aviation fuel blendstock with excellent seal swelling properties

Abstract Crude tall oil contains many valuable chemicals such as fatty acids and terpenes which can be used for the production of bio-based plastics, adhesives and paints. In addition to the widely used vacuum distillation process, crude tall oil can also be upgraded using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction. However, research on the extraction of crude tall oil with scCO2 is still very limited. The main factors influencing scCO2 extraction are temperature, scCO2 density and the contact time between scCO2 and the feedstock. The influence of temperature and contact time was therefore investigated in this study. Extraction vessels with different volumes and different scCO2 flows were used for this purpose. Increasing the temperature at the same scCO2 density is decisive for increasing the yield. The yield decreases if the contact time is too low, as the scCO2 cannot be fully saturated. GC-MS/FID analysis of the extracts and the residue shows a change in the extract composition over time and an enrichment of fatty acids in the extract and of diterpenoids in the residue.

Bark represents 10% dry weight of spruce trees and is a major side stream from pulp production. Currently, pulp mills burn bark to produce energy with a low economic value, directly emitting biogenic carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Biorefining bark using a continuous flow-through fractionation process generates high added-value compounds (tall oil, starch, phenol, and pulp) that allow for extended carbon storage durations. This study assesses the potential future environmental impacts of valorising bark instead of burning it. We conduct a LCA study combining a prospective consequential modelling perspective with an input-related functional unit and account for the effects of storing biogenic carbon in the bark-based products. Our findings show that biorefining bark maintains lower environmental impacts than combustion, reducing time-differentiated climate impacts by up to 30%, but only when the carbon dioxide used for pulping is recirculated and the fractionation processes are integrated with a co-located pulp mill supplying surplus waste energy, considered to have no associated environmental impacts. Storing biogenic carbon for a longer period of time has a positive effect on mitigating short-term climate impacts. However, our analysis reveals that while time-dependent climate impacts decrease, there is an increase in human toxicity and ecotoxicity impacts, with combustion performing better in these categories. This highlights the importance of expanding the scope of LCA studies to include impacts beyond climate change. Overall, this work demonstrates that combining a prospective consequential modelling perspective with an input-related functional unit is a relevant approach to study potential future impacts of emerging biorefineries and thus supports the development of a sustainable circular bioeconomy.

Rubber-modified asphalt (RMA) faces several challenges, including poor workability, difficult construction, and high energy consumption. The incorporation of renewable light oils offers a promising solution to address issues such as high viscosity and elevated carbon emissions in asphalt modified with a high dosage of rubber powder. The investigation of light oil and rubber powder composite-modified asphalt under low-temperature (160 °C) and short-term (30 min) shear processes is essential for understanding its rheological behavior and modification mechanism. This study explores composite-modified asphalt prepared with four types of light oils (fatty acids, aromatic oil, tall oil, and paraffin oil) at dosages of 10% and 15%, combined with 20% rubber powder. Conventional penetration and viscosity tests were carried out to assess the overall physical properties of the composite-modified asphalts, while rheological tests were conducted to examine their performance at high temperatures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and fluorescence microscopy (FM) were employed to explore the interaction mechanisms that occurred between the light oils, rubber powder, and asphalt. The results suggest that the addition of various light oils leads to a reduction in the viscosity of rubber-modified asphalt, with the extent of reduction varying across different oils. Notably, 10% tall oil demonstrates the most significant reduction in viscosity while also facilitating the dissolution of rubber powder. The high-temperature PG-grade rubberized asphalt improved with the incorporation of light oils, with 5% tall oil yielding the highest PG grade of PG 82-34. FTIR analysis confirmed that light oils and rubber were physically blended in the asphalt, with the light components of the oils being absorbed by the asphalt. FM observations revealed that light oils promote the swelling of rubber particles, with the rubber particles fully swelling in tall oil. Considering the reduction in viscosity, the performance at both high and low temperatures, elasticity, and the extent of rubber particle swelling, tall oil is identified as the most effective material for preparing light oil-rubber composite-modified asphalt using the low-temperature, short-term shear process.

Tall oil pitch (TOP) is widely available as a by-product, but not sufficiently valorized and has potential as a bitumen extender. In this research, three types of TOP were used to prepare bio-extended binders of two grades based on the penetration and softening point of target neat binders. The chemical, rheological, and fatigue behaviour of bio-based binders and reference binders were investigated and compared. The optimum TOP contents were inversely determined based on penetration and softening point fitting equations. New C = O and C–O–C stretching can be found in bio-based binders. Different TOPs can significantly increase the viscous response of asphalt binders, resulting in better low-temperature properties but reduced high-temperature properties. A high amount of TOP can significantly reduce fatigue resistance. This work reveals that TOP can work as extenders for bitumen, but the performance of bio-based binders is affected by the TOP type and amount.

Abstract To address friction and wear issues in machining AISI 1045 steel, a novel oil-in-water microemulsion cutting fluid was developed using white oil, water, and eco-friendly additives (tricarboxylic acid and tall oil fatty acid amide). Tribological and lathe-cutting experiments systematically evaluated its lubrication performance. The results show that the cutting fluid has a uniform and stable water-in-oil microemulsion structure, which is capable of forming a stable lubrication film. The dilution concentration had significant effect on the lubricating properties of the cutting fluids, with the optimal lubrication achieved at the concentration of 10 wt%. At this concentration, more multilayer chemical lubrication films with low shear stress are formed. The load has the least impact on the friction coefficient, indicating that the cutting fluid can maintain stable lubrication even under high-pressure conditions. In practical machining, the cutting force is mainly affected by the feed rate and back engagement, while the surface roughness is mainly affected by the back engagement. This study provides a new option for reducing frictional wear during machining of AISI 1045.

Bio-extended bituminous binders were formulated with tall oil pitch (TOP). Their corresponding asphalt mixtures were prepared. Various laboratory tests and full-scale accelerated pavement testing (APT) were conducted to evaluate their long-term performance. It is indicated that, at 25°C, the aged bio-extended 70/100 binder with 5% TOP had similar fatigue resistance to its reference. At 10°C, the aged bio-extended 160/220 binder with 21% TOP was marginally less resistant to fatigue at small strains. The asphalt mixture with bio-extended 160/220 binder had higher stiffness at 10°C and similar water sensitivity to its reference. Although the aged mixture with bio-extended binder showed higher strength to resist cracks at 5°C, it was more brittle, leading to faster crack propagation. After further moisture conditioning, the mixture became weaker but less brittle. The full-scale APT indicated that the section with bio-extended binders was more resistant to permanent deformation. Overall, the results suggest potential for larger-scale testing.

Alkyd resins have an important place among the binders used in the paint industry. One of the major advantages of alkyd resins is that they are susceptible to various modifications to gain the desired properties. In this study, urethane-modified alkyd resins were synthesized at different modification ratios using toluene diisocyanate as a modifier. The resin with the determined optimum modification ratio was used as the binder resin in the paint formulation. In the synthesis of four-component alkyd resin with 50% oil length, phthalic anhydride, tall oil fatty acid, trimethylolpropane, and dipropylene glycol were used. The synthesis of urethane-modified alkyd resins (R-UA-1/1, R-UA-1/2, and R-UA-1/3) was carried out by modification reactions of the prepared alkyd resin with TDI at different NCO/OH (1/1, 1/2, 1/3) molar ratios. Characterization of modified resins was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Subsequently, the optimum NCO/OH ratio was determined due to the physical and chemical surface coating properties and thermogravimetric analysis results of the resin films. The best results were obtained in the resin, where the modification ratio was NCO/OH: 1/1. Then, the urethane-modified alkyd resin (R-UA-1/1) prepared in this ratio was used as a binder in the solvent-based paint formulation. The wet/dry paint properties and household chemical resistance properties of solvent-based paint (B-1/1), prepared using urethane-modified alkyd resin, were examined with tests according to the standards, and the coating performance of this paint was determined in detail. As a result, durable coatings that are suitable for interior applications and can compete with alkyd paints were obtained from the paint prepared with urethane-modified alkyd resin.

High-density oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) are widely used in drilling operations, but during their application, the viscosity of the fluid typically increases due to the enhancement of the solid-phase gel network structure. This can lead to issues such as impaired fluid circulation, increased blowout risks, and accelerated drill bit wear. In this study, a compound (OCD), synthesized from tall oil fatty acids, diethylene triamine, and maleic anhydride, was developed to disrupt the strong gel structure in high-density OBDFs, thereby reducing the viscosity of the OBDFs. Rheological properties, including viscosity, yield point, and gel strength, were tested to evaluate the viscosity-reducing effect of OCD on both laboratory-prepared and field high-density OBDFs. Additionally, the effects of OCD on electrical stability (ES), high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) filtration loss, and solid-phase settling stability were also tested. Finally, the mechanism of OCD was analyzed through contact angle tests, particle size analysis, and microstructural observations. The experimental results demonstrated that OCD could effectively reduce the viscosity of various high-density OBDFs. Adding 2 wt% of OCD reduced the apparent viscosity of laboratory-prepared OBDFs by 20.4%, and reduced the apparent viscosity of field OBDFs with a density of 1.7 g/cm3 by 29.2%. Furthermore, OCD showed good compatibility with OBDFs, having negligible effects on HTHP filtration loss and ES, and maintained good viscosity-reducing performance even at 180 °C. Mechanistic studies revealed that OCD enhanced the hydrophobicity of the solid phase, reduced the particle size of solids, and prevented the formation of excessive network structures in the oil. Therefore, this study provides significant practical value for controlling the rheological performance of the gel system in OBDFs.

ABSTRACT: Natural latex gloves are prone to allergies and adhesion during use. Corn starch and talc, while improving adhesion, do not solve the allergy problem. These powders even increase allergy transmission pathways, as well as creating safety hazards such as granulomas. Depositing polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-chitosan (CS) on glove surfaces improves surface adhesion and does not become airborne like powders. However, the physical stability of the film formed by PMMA-CS deposition leaves much to be desired, and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and hexadecane present safety hazards. To ameliorate these problems, in this paper, PMMA-CS was prepared by replacing AIBN and hexadecane with tween-80 and β-cyclodextrin, and PMMA-TOFA was prepared by using methyl methacrylate (MMA) and tall oil fatty acid (TOFA).The sulfur-prevulcanised natural rubber (SPNR) films deposited with PMMA-CS and PMMA-TOFA (PMMA CS/PMMA-TOFA/SPNR) had fewer safety hazards, higher roughness and physical stability.It is expected that this research can be applied to the inner and outer surfaces of medical gloves to reduce the safety hazards that exist in medical gloves.

ABSTRACT Background: Agro-industrial residues offer a sustainable alternative to mitigate raw material scarcity for particleboard production. Surface treatments with natural products can enhance dimensional stability. This study evaluates medium-density particleboards made from Eucalyptus grandis particles and Triticum aestivum bran treated with tall oil and citric acid. Results: Increasing T. aestivum proportions improved the compression ratio but reduced dimensional stability, modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture. Thickness swelling increased from 18.46% in 100% Eucalyptus particleboards to 41.31% in 100% T. aestivum particleboards. The modulus of rupture decreased from 17.86 MPa (100% Eucalyptus) to 5.37 MPa (100% T. aestivum). Citric acid improved water absorption but did not affect thickness swelling. In 100% Eucalyptus particleboards, water absorption was 64% (citric acid), 72% (tall oil), and 70% (untreated). In 100% T. aestivum particleboards, absorption was 82% (citric acid), 91% (tall oil), and 86% (untreated). The modulus of elasticity was higher in citric acid-treated particleboards (2491 MPa) than in tall oil-treated ones (1903 MPa) for 100% Eucalyptus particleboards, and the same was observed in 100% T. aestivum particleboards (784 MPa vs. 259 MPa). Conclusion: T. aestivum residues are a viable alternative for particleboards, especially in moderate proportions (≤50%) combined with Eucalyptus. Higher proportions negatively affect particleboard properties. Citric acid was the most effective surface treatment, while tall oil showed limited benefits. These findings reinforce the feasibility of sustainable particleboards and the importance of optimizing raw material composition and surface treatments.

Rice bran is a source of healthy oil which contains antioxidants and essential vitamins. Without pretreatment, the rapid activity of lipase enzyme causes the oil to contain high amounts of free fatty acids, making it unsuitable for edible purposes. In such cases, utilizing it for chemicals becomes an option. This study presents the synthesis of reverse ester organotin (REOT) as a thermal stabilizer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from high-acid crude rice bran oil. The success of the synthesis was confirmed through FTIR spectroscopy. The stabilizing effect of the resulting REOT was examined through dehydrochlorination and two-roll mill tests. Both tests confirmed that the obtained REOT could significantly increase the thermal stability of PVC. At relatively low dosages of 0.5 to 1.5 phr (parts per hundred resin), it maintained the initial color of PVC for up to 45–60 min when rolled under heating at 190 °C. Additionally, its thermal stabilizing effects were comparable to REOT derived from tall oil fatty acid (TOFA), a conventional raw material. The impact on flowability of PVC melt was also statistically similar to that of REOT from TOFA. Overall, crude rice bran oil fatty acid has been proven to be an effective alternative raw material for REOT based PVC thermal stabilizer.

Blending, hydrotreating, and distilling tall oil fatty acids with Canadian refinery feeds offers a sustainable path to produce gasoline, kerosene, and diesel-range fuels, supporting low-carbon fuel goals in commercial transportation.