Abstract
Palm oil and palm kernel oil are coming to replace beef tallow and coconut oil conventionally used to obtain oleochemical derivatives. “Fatty acid esters”, derived from palm oil and palm kernel oil, are being increasingly used as basic compounds for obtaining surfactants. The profitability of fatty acid esters and advantages of using these esters would explain these trends. The reasons and characteristics of fatty acid esters useful for obtaining surfactants that figure into most non-edible fats and oils applications, are discussed along with recent trends primarily in developmental applications (synthesis, physical properties and usage) of fatty acid esters for use in obtaining various surfactants, such as anionics, nonionics, cationics and amphoterics.
