Linear Alpha Olefins (LAOs) are straight-chain hydrocarbons. They are characterized by a double bond in the terminal or alpha position. The production of linear alpha-olefins (LAOs) yields an entire range of even-numbered carbon chain-length LAOs varying from four carbons (butene-1) to more than thirty carbons (expressed as C30+).
The industrially important alpha-olefins are
The biggest outlet for LAOs are their use as comonomers for polyethylene production while other important end-uses include lubricants, plasticizers, oil-field & fine chemicals, detergent intermediates, lubricants, polybutene-1, pulp & paper and additives amongst others. Octene-1 in conjunction with ethylene and propylene produces plastomers that are used for flexible packaging, foamed compounds, automotive and many other miscellaneous applications.
Historically demand for LAOs has mainly come in from the polyethylene segment, closely followed by detergents and lubricants. The demand from polyethylene has increased from 40% in 1995 to nearly 60% in 2013, as the global demand for polyethylene witnessed strong growth rates over the past decade. This has resulted in a lowered share from detergent alcohols and lubricants which declined from 13-14% of the total LAOs demand in 1995 to 10% in 2013. The other applications have more or less maintained their share in the global LAOs demand in the past 15 years.
In the long term forecast till 2025, the demand from polyethylene is likely to reach 63% of the total LAOs demand and further increase to 65% of the total demand by 2030. On the other hand, the demand from detergent alcohols and lubricant applications will decline in the coming years to reach 8% each by 2025. The other applications are likely to maintain a similar share as witnessed in history, till the end of the forecast period. Prismane Consulting LAOs integrated market model has tracked all LAOs with their production, demand-supply, and process-technologies for all full range and on-purpose capacities.
