Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) and Paraffin (NP/HNP/LNP)
RIL is the 7th largest producer of Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) in the world with a capacity of 180 KTPA. LAB plants are located at Patalganga, Maharashtra (120 KTPA) and Vadodara, Gujarat (60 KTPA). Both plants are licensed with UOP HF-Alkylation Technology, which is a catalytic process to alkylate Benzene with linear olefins to form LAB. The unit has it’s own captive Normal Paraffin plant (NP) and also produces Heavy Normal Paraffin (HNP) & Light Normal Paraffins (LNP).
LAB is the key ingredient for the detergent industry. LAB is sulfonated to produce Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (LABSA). LABSA is an anionic surfactant with molecules characterized by a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic group.
LABSA is the most widely consumed surfactant because of its relatively low cost, good performance, and environmental friendliness due to its biodegradability. LABSA is mainly used to produce household detergents including laundry powders, laundry liquids, dishwashing liquids and other household cleaners. It is also used in numerous industrial applications such as coupling agent, emulsifier for agricultural herbicides and emulsion polymerization.
RIL is a major global LAB producer catering to the large global and domestic detergent brands and to individual Sulphonators.
Paraffins are mainly used as a feedstock for LAB production. The other major application includes Chlorinated Paraffin Wax (CPW), lubricating oil, cutting & rolling mill oil (Metal Working Fluid) and as a chemical solvent.