This section provides an overview for tall oils as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 7 tall oil manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked tall oil companies as of November, 2024: 1.ChemCeed LLC, 2.Pine Chemical Group, 3.Dalian Daping Oil Chemicals Co.,Ltd.
Table of Contents
Tall oil is a mixture of fatty acids, resin acids, and unsaponifiable substances produced as a byproduct of the pulp manufacturing process.
It appears as a dark brown viscous liquid. During pulp production, wood chips undergo processing and evaporation with an alkaline solution, resulting in the extraction of pulp (fiber). The concentrated liquid derived from this process, known as black liquor, yields tall oil.
The unrefined tall oil obtained from black liquor is termed crude tall oil, which can be further separated and refined into tall rosin and tall fatty acids through distillation in a distillation column. These refined products find industrial applications.
Tall oil serves as an inexpensive fatty acid raw material widely utilized in various industries, notably in the manufacture of greases, industrial soaps, emulsifiers, paints, and printing inks. Tall oil fatty acids find application as paint resins, such as alkyd resins, and in the production of azelaic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid.
Additionally, it functions as a surfactant in fuel additives and detergents. Tall oil rosin serves as an emulsifier for synthetic rubber, various anti-slip agents, and paints for road surface markings.
It is also extensively employed as an adhesive agent in tapes, hot melt adhesives, and recycled paper processing agents, among other applications.
Derived from pine wood, tall oil exhibits less susceptibility to seasonal changes compared to other plant-derived alternatives. Tall oil fatty acids predominantly comprise oleic acid and linoleic acid, with negligible amounts of stearic acid and palmitic acid.
It contains no polyunsaturated fatty acids beyond linolenic acid and minimal quantities of saturated fatty acids. Tall oil rosin primarily consists of resin acids, including abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, neoabietic acid, parastatic acid, pimaric acid, and isopimaric acid.
Additional components present in tall oil include sesquiterpenes, terpene alcohols, phenolic substances, and low molecular weight fatty acids, while pitch comprises esters of fatty acids and resin acids, along with their polymerization products, oxides, sterols, and ligninous substances.
Tall oil is primarily produced in paper mills located in the United States, Canada, Russia, and China. As it is derived from wood, its composition ratio varies based on the pine species utilized.
In Japan, tall oil is mainly imported from North America and further refined into tall rosin. Crude tall oil serves as the raw material for tall oil fatty acids, tall oil fats (tall rosin), and other substances, which are separated into several types through distillation and refining processes for industrial applications.
The term "tall" originates from the Swedish word for pine (tall). The composition of tall oil varies depending on the pine species used, such as slash pine, European red pine, and babyshoe pine.
In kraft pulp mills, tall oil is produced as a byproduct through the following processes:
The crude tall oil obtained is then distilled in a distillation column, yielding four fractions: tall oil fatty acids, tall oil fat (tall rosin), tall oil primary distillate, and pitch, which can be reprocessed into various bio-chemicals.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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ChemCeed, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is a worldwide chemical supplier that is ISO 9001 certified. It provides chemicals like base oils, corrosion inhibitors, and specialty esters used in several industries, including construction, paper manufacturing, and water treatment. It also provides a broad selection of support services, including labeling, repackaging, and logistical support. The company stocks its products in several locations around the United States, including Chicago (IL), Philadelphia (PA, and Piscataway (NJ). In 2016, it received WBE certification and was NACD verified in 2023.
Alfa Chemistry, founded in the year 2015 is based in New York, USA as a biotechnology company and manufacturer of graphene materials. Their product portfolio includes graphene oxide, CVD graphene film, graphene modification services, graphene series, graphene-like material, carbon nanomaterials, quantum dots, upcoming nanoparticles, and graphene transfer services. The company also provides services in custom manufacturing, and graphene analysis with quality assurance. The products are used in various industries which include energy, digital electronics, environment, textile, coating, and biomedical science.
Dalian Daping Oil Chemicals Co. Ltd, established in 1988 and headquartered in Shahekou District, Dalian, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of soybean oil chemicals. The company uses soybean oil or tallow as raw materials and produces various products including various acids including oleic acid, acetic aid, streaic acid, and linoleic fatty acid as well as vegetable pitch, diesel antiwear agent, and motor coil insulator. The company offers products used in the painting, mineral separation, resin, rubber and hard soap industries.
Pine Chemical Group, established in 1996 is a manufacturer and supplier of chemical products, packaging materials, and food products headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. The company’s product portfolio includes tall oil products as well as packaging products including KRAFT paper, liner and paper sacks in various grades and specifications. It offers products used in various manufacturing industries including chemical, metallurgical industries, construction materials, paint, and synthetic & rubber compounds. It is also an official importer and distributor of rye crisps and snacks manufactured by Linkosuo Leipomo Oy Finland in the UK and of chocolate production manufactured by Dammenberg Chocolate Factory Finland.
Stora Enso, established in 1998 and headquartered in Helsinki, Southern Finland, is a manufacturer and supplier of various renewable products. The company’s product portfolio includes formed fiber, wood foam, bio-based chemicals & materials, biocomposites, and wood products. It also offers renewable packaging products such as ePaperBags, insulating boxes, rigid boxes, and fibrease. The company offers products that offer solutions in various industry segments including building & construction, retail, food & beverages, manufacturing, publishing, and pharmaceutical industries.
Foreverest Resources Ltd., established in 2004, based in Xiamen, Fujian, China, is a supplier of pine chemicals. The company produces gum rosin based resins, turpentine derivatives, aromatics and other pine chemicals for a global customer base. The company objective is supplying natural products. The company also provides OEM services as the requirement from customers. The company’s objective is to establish a strong collection network in China, sourcing and supplying forest-based chemicals by the professional solution. Industries served include the adhesives and sealants, coatings, inks, rubber, and flavor and fragrance ingredients, among others.
Zhengzhou Meiya Chemical Products Co., LTD was founded in 2005 in Henan, China, and is headquartered in Zhengzhou, China. The company is a distributor and exporter of chemicals from China to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The ISO 9001-certified company specializes in VOC-exempt solvents, paints and coatings, adhesives, PU, and resin for industries such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, feed, water treatment, and oil field chemicals. The company’s product categories include plant extracts, cosmetics, PU, and resin.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | ChemCeed LLC |
23.2%
|
2 | Pine Chemical Group |
16.2%
|
3 | Dalian Daping Oil Chemicals Co.,Ltd |
14.1%
|
4 | Foreverest Resources Ltd. |
12.7%
|
5 | Zhengzhou Meiya Chemical Products Co.,Ltd. |
12.0%
|
6 | Alfa Chemistry |
11.3%
|
7 | Stora Enso |
10.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the tall oil page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 3 | 50.0% |
United States of America | 1 | 16.7% |
United States | 1 | 16.7% |
Finland | 1 | 16.7% |