Esters are one of the most widely used types of chemical compound in the world today. Their simple but versatile chemistry is used in applications as diverse as plastics, resins, explosives, bio-fuel, lubricants, paper, and in cosmetics and the personal care industry.
The majority of esters are either derived synthetically from petroleum or from natural triglycerides. The basic synthesis is shown in Figure 1. Petroleum-derived esters are expected to become more expensive due to the extreme variability of crude oil prices, which is likely to reduce their use.1,2
Growth in the global ester market is expected to be primarily driven by the increasing demand for esters in the biofuel and cosmetic industries. There is also an increasing demand for natural alternatives to petroleum-derivatives in personal care,1 which could be met by increased use of naturally derived esters.
Structure relating to function
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