2-Propylheptanol (2-PH)

2-Propylheptanol, or 2-PH for short, is a C4-based oxo alcohol. It can be used both in the production of plasticizers and as a raw material for the production of surface-active substances. DPHP, a plasticizer produced from 2-PH, is mainly used in the production of flexible PVC products for the construction industry. Surfactants based on 2-PH are used in a wide range of cleaning agents.

As a supplier of 2-PH, Evonik is actively helping to improve the supply of high-molecular-weight plasticizers. 2-PH-based plasticizers are characterized by good low-temperature properties and low volatility and can be used in a wide range of applications. In addition, the high-molecular-weight plasticizers are among the most studied chemical substances, and have been described as risk-free in those studies conducted by the European Union. More and more PVC processors therefore prefer to use high-molecular-weight plasticizers.

With its oxo alcohol 2-PH and the plasticizers made from it, Evonik has long been an important part of the global flexible PVC value chain. As part of this value chain, Evonik not only performs an important function as a reliable supplier of key raw materials for cables or PVC roofing membranes; the business line also develops sustainable plasticizers and is actively involved in life cycle management for high-molecular-weight plasticizers, such as the universal plasticizer DINP.

The safe and durable use of products is always Evonik's top priority - across the world and in close cooperation with its customers. The business line Performance Intermediates is active in numerous industrial and trade associations in Europe, Asia and North America and uses them to promote the scientifically based evaluation of its products. The associations promote dialog and act as an additional and important information channel for customers and other stakeholders.

2-PH can be used in the production of plasticizers, surfactants and lubricants. It also serves as a starting material for acrylates. Plasticizers transform brittle PVC into a flexible material, thus enabling the plastic to be widely used in consumer goods. They are therefore a component of cable insulation, tarpaulins or films, for example.

2-PH is produced in our state-of-the-art C4 Verbund. It is a high purity blend of C10 oxo alcohols. As a fully synthetic branched primary alcohol, the product has a mild alcohol-like odor. It is suitable for substitution of other short chain and branched C9-C12 alcohols as well as linear alcohol mixtures. The product is readily biodegradable.

The plasticizer alcohol 2-PH is produced by means of the so-called oxo reaction. In this process, an alkene is reacted with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of a metal and a ligand. Since this key step is one of the most cost-intensive parts of the process, Evonik addressed this issue and developed an improved process using state-of-the-art methods such as computational chemistry. This went into operation at the end of 2014.

Here you can find additional product information (e.g. technical data sheet, SDS, etc.) about 2-PH and a flyer.

In our state-of-the-art C4 Verbund, we process various raw material streams such as crude-C4 or FCC-C4 (fluid catalytic cracking-C4) from steam crackers or refineries. The product is produced at Evonik's site in Marl, Germany. We offer our customers the following means of transport for 2-PH: ISO containers, tank trucks, rail tank cars, barges and sea going vessels.

Torben Elm-Bunte and Dr. Michael Graß are your contact persons for all matters concerning the product 2-PH. They will help you with any questions you may have on this subject. Are you interested in our product? Then contact Torben Elm-Bunte or Dr. Michael Graß by e-mail or via LinkedIn (Torben Elm-Bunte & Dr. Michael Graß).