2-Octanol is a fatty alcohol. It is directly produced from vegetal chemistry. In industry, it is produced by a cracking process from castor oil.
2-octanol is mainly used as a raw material to produce caproic acid, an intermediate in flavor. It is used as a green solvent for various resins intended for paints and coatings or adhesives sectors. It can be employed as a defoamer in different processes, as an additive for lubricants, and as a solvent in rare minerals extraction. In coal industry, it is used as floatation agent and as a frother in mineral flotation. As an intermediate, 2-octanol can be used in synthesis of a wide range of plasticizers, esters, and surfactants, which include alcohol alkoxylates and sulfates for detergency and personal care markets; adipates, aebacates, palmitates, stearates for applications in cosmetic, paints and coatings, plastic, paper, textile, etc…; phthalates; acrylates and maleates for coatings and adhesives markets; salicylate, myristate, méthoxycinnamate for application in fragrances.
