CEH Report
Table of Contents
Abstract
The oxo process or hydroformylation of olefins with synthesis gas is the principal route to C3-C15 aldehydes, which are converted to alcohols, acids or other derivatives. By far the most important oxo chemical is n-butyraldehyde, followed by C6-C13 aldehydes for plasticizer alcohols, isobutyraldehyde and C12-C18 aldehydes for detergent alcohols. Nearly all oxo aldehydes are converted to derivatives in plants adjacent to the hydroformylation unit; very small volumes of oxo aldehydes are transported.
Propylene-derived n-butyraldehyde and isobutyraldehyde account for nearly 73% of world consumption of oxo chemicals. High consumption volumes for both alcohol derivatives of n-butyraldehyde—n-butanol and 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH)—will continue in the near future; however, it is expected that n-butanol will surpass 2-EH consumption in 2009–2010. This is partly due to substitution of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), the main plasticizer derived from 2-EH, with other plasticizers derived from other plasticizer alcohols. C6-C13 plasticizer oxo alcohols have lost market share, primarily as a result of decreased production and consumption of C7, C9 and C11 linear alcohols; they are expected to continue to lose market share, largely as a result of increased production and consumption of 2-propylheptanol (2-PH), which is derived from valeraldehyde. World consumption of valeraldehyde will grow at the highest rate of all oxo chemicals, largely as a result of the commissioning of 2-PH capacity in Europe and China starting in late 2009 and continuing into 2013.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of oxo chemicals:
Demand for oxo chemicals in the United States is expected to grow moderately, at an average annual rate of almost 2% during 2008–2013. The long-term prospects for oxo chemicals in Western Europe improved considerably during 2005–2008, as consolidations and capacity reductions resulted in improved efficiencies and capacity utilization. The commissioning of plants for 2-PH and additional isononyl alcohol (INA) capacity helped reduce the former reliance on 2-EH. Western European consumption of oxo chemicals is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 2.0% during 2008–2013. Japanese consumption is forecast to experience 0.9% average annual growth during 2008–2013. Other Asian consumption, excluding Japan, is expected to grow at 5.0% annually during the same period; China, India and Taiwan are the main growth markets in this region. Middle Eastern consumption of oxo chemicals is forecast to grow significantly at an average annual rate of 4.8% during 2008–2013, albeit from a small base, largely as a result of increased n-butanol demand for n-butyl acrylate by late 2010.