Situation of Surfaceactive Agent's Industry in Japan

Abstract

Japan's surfactant industry is described in terms of production classified by toiletry soap and detergent for household use (product statistics) and for industrial use (product statistics) and how the trend shifts. Allusion is specially made to surfactants for industrial use for its losing profitability in spite of their being categolized as fine chemicals, because of small volume business, covering many areas of usage. Synthetic process of major surfactant from raw materials and how it is related to the applied use of surfactants and their surface activity is also described.
According to the auther's calculation, Japan's surfactant production in 1978 amounts to approximately 400, 000 tons, active ingredient basis.