Taminco to build surfactant intermediates plant on back of sales growth in US and Latin America

By Katie Nichol

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Personal care United states

Increased sales of DMAPA in the US and Latin America has led Belgium-headquartered alkylamines producer Taminco to construct a unit for the surfactant intermediate at its plant in St Gabriel in Louisana

DMAPA (dimethylaminopropylamine) is an intermediate for various types of surfactants, primarily amine oxides and betaines, according to Taminco. Surfactants can act as emulsifying, wetting or cleansing agents and are used in a variety of personal care products including shampoos and liquid body wash.

Global growth stems from effectiveness and mild properties

According to Taminco, the strong global growth of DMAPA stems its effectiveness and mild properties.

“A key use of DMAPA is to make amphoteric surfactants such as cocoamidopropylbetaine,”​ Robert Ash, the US Market Manager for Performance Products and Specialty Derivatives at Taminco told CosmeticsDesign.com USA. “Amphoterics are mild on the skin but still possess strong surfactant properties,” ​he added.

Taminco already produces DMAPA at its plant in Ghent in Belgium, but demand from its customers in the US and Latin America led the company to decide to construct a unit in Louisiana in order to be closer to them.

The unit is expected to become operational by the end of 2011, with Ash saying it would ‘substantially’ increase the company’s total DMAPA capacity. The DMAPA produced at the plant is primarily expected to serve the markets for personal care and household cleaning products.

Construction of tertiary amines plant in Florida

In November 2010, Taminco also announced plans to construct a tertiary amines (DIMLA) plant in Pace, Florida, to complement its existing facility in Europe. The plant is set to become operational during 2012.

“Tertiary amines are raw materials for surfactants such as quats and amine oxides which are used, like the DMAPA based surfactants, in a wide variety of personal care and household cleaning products,”​ said Ash.

“With both a DIMLA and DMAPA unit in US, Taminco will become one of the leading suppliers of amines to the surfactant industry in the US,” ​he added.

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