Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) is the main component of biodiesel, and the industry has broad room for development.

Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), also known as methyl ester and biodiesel, is a chemical substance produced by the methylation of fatty acids, with the molecular formula C7H12O4. Fatty acid methyl ester appears as a slightly yellow liquid with a special odor and has different solubility in different solvents. It is soluble in ethanol and petroleum ether, but insoluble in water. Fatty acid methyl ester has the characteristics of non-corrosion and stable structure, and is widely used in high-grade lubricants, high-grade surfactants, dyes, spices, fuels and other fields.

The main preparation methods of fatty acid methyl esters include transesterification and esterification. The transesterification method uses triglyceride and methanol as the main raw materials. Under normal pressure and slightly higher temperature conditions, methanol is added to remove the free fatty acids of the triglyceride, and fatty acid methyl ester is obtained through transesterification reaction; the esterification method includes continuous esterification There are two methods: the continuous esterification method and the intermittent esterification method. Fatty acids and methanol are usually used as the main raw materials, and fatty acid methyl esters are obtained through esterification reaction. The continuous esterification method has the advantages of simple operation and less by-products, and is currently used more.

The main raw materials of fatty acid methyl ester include triglycerides, methanol, fatty acids, etc. Vegetable oil, gutter oil, and restaurant waste oil are the main sources of raw materials. my country’s vegetable oils and fats are highly dependent on foreign countries. According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, my country’s total vegetable oils imports in 2021 will reach 12.137 million tons. Against this background, the market price of vegetable oils remains high, which cannot meet the production demand for fatty acid methyl esters. Chinese companies mostly use waste catering oil, gutter oil, etc. as raw materials for the production of fatty acid methyl esters, but there are problems such as poor quality of finished products.

Fatty acid methyl esters are widely used, with the largest demand in the fields of advanced surfactants and fuels. Fatty acid methyl ester is the main component of biodiesel. As environmental protection concepts continue to deepen and crude oil prices remain high for a long time, biodiesel is used as a substitute for petrochemical diesel, and the industry’s prosperity continues to increase. With the rapid development of downstream industries, the market demand for fatty acid methyl esters is becoming increasingly strong. According to the “2023-2027 Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Industry In-depth Market Research and Investment Strategy Suggestions Report released by the Industrial Research Center It shows that the global fatty acid methyl ester market size will reach 127.14 billion yuan in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%.

The major global manufacturers of fatty acid methyl esters include BASF of Germany, Cargill of the United States, and P&G of the United States. my country’s fatty acid methyl ester industry started late, but is developing rapidly. Leading companies include Zhejiang Jia’ao Environmental Protection, Shandong Luyisheng New Materials, Longyan Excellence New Energy, Hunan Hengrun High-tech, etc.

Industry analysts said that fatty acid methyl esters have a wide range of applications, and with the release of market demand, the industry has broad room for future development. my country’s fatty acid methyl ester industry started late. Due to limitations in technology and product quality, domestic fatty acid methyl esters have insufficient advantages in high-end market competition. In the future, as local companies continue to make breakthroughs in production technology, my country’s fatty acid methyl ester industry will develop in a high-quality direction.