Green surfactants are favored; companies are joining the green movement one after another

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　　The ever-changing demands of consumers are placing increasing requirements on chemical raw materials such as surfactants. As a result, various surfactant manufacturers as well as online chemical platforms like Hua Zhi Wang Chemical Business City are all promoting green products, and the industry is gradually moving in the direction of sustainability and environmental protection. Li Jianan, a researcher in the chemical industry at CIC Consulting, pointed out that the domestic surfactant market is currently dominated by petroleum-based products, which can lead to environmental problems such as hydrolysis and difficulties in biodegradation; therefore, there is an urgent need in China to develop green surfactants. The products manufactured by the MES system put into operation by Jiangsu Haiqing feature being green and environmentally friendly; once they are released on a large scale in the market, they will help to alleviate environmental pollution issues in China’s surfactant industry. 　　According to relevant statistical data, the total consumption in the global surfactant market currently amounts to around 10 million tons, with the majority of these products being petroleum-based, derived from oil. In developed countries, petroleum-based surfactant products account for approximately 70-75% of the total amount of surfactants used there, while in China, these products make up as much as 85% of the total surfactant consumption. 　　Zhang Yanlin, research director at CIC Consulting, pointed out that the shortage of petroleum resources is becoming increasingly apparent, and oil prices have remained high in recent years. As a result, developing green surfactants that can serve as alternatives to petroleum-based surfactants has become a key focus in the field of surfactants. Currently, MES technology products abroad have become increasingly mature, with companies such as Stepan and Huish in the United States having achieved commercial production. Our country has also accelerated the development of MES. Now, in addition to Jiangsu Haiqing, Zanyu Technology has also announced that it will use the funds raised for the construction of MES projects. 　　According to relevant information, MES is a type of surfactant that is primarily extracted from palm oil. Compared with surfactants derived from petroleum, it possesses green and environmentally friendly properties, and it is now widely used in synthetic detergents such as laundry powder, hand wash, dishwashing liquid, and soap. Currently, companies such as US Huish, US Chemithon, and Japanese Lion have all achieved commercial production of MES. Among them, Huish in the United States has an annual production capacity of 82,000 tons, Chemithon in the United States has an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons, and Lion in Japan has an annual production capacity of 40,000 tons.