While the development ofalternatives to in vivo experimentationis slow and difficult, more progresshas been made in the area of safetytesting than in other areas of animalexperimentation. Examples are thevalidation and acceptance of some invitro procedures for skin testing,which reduces the testing required onrabbits, and the Ames test which usesbacteria to test for mutagenicity. TheDraize eye test – once so notoriousamong animal rights groups for itsuse in cosmetics testing – is nowbanned for that purpose in the UK,though it is still required for the testingof other personal care and consumerproducts. Moreover, according to theResearch Defence Society, the testhas been highly modified and is nowvery mild compared to the original.However, there are significantconcerns both about its effectiveness(because of structural, physiologicaland biochemical differences betweenthe human and rabbit eye) and thelevel of suffering induced, leading tomajor efforts to find alternatives.Many replacement methods havebeen suggested, and some areknown to have been trialled bycompanies such as Avon, Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble andUnilever, but validation andacceptance are thought to be stillsome years away.

Some of the issues regardingsafety testing (though of drugs ratherthan chemicals) have been vividlyand frighteningly illustrated in the UKin recent weeks by the Parexel/TeGenero phase I clinical drugs trialthat produced a life-threateningreaction in six previously healthyvolunteers. Preliminary testing issurely essential to avoid such awfulsuffering, but the case alsohighlighted the inadequacy of animaltesting to fully predict effects inhumans. The ongoing enquiry mayfind that incorrect dosing orcontamination were at fault ratherthan the ineffectiveness of animaltesting. However, it will be interestingto see the outcome and whether thishas any effect on the place of animaltesting in REACH.

For now, at least, the lobbying bythe chemical industry and animalgroups appears to have had someeffect, with both parliament and theministers backing proposals thatwould restrain testing to around 1 M

animals. Recommendations agreedon in late 2005 would cut the numberof chemicals requiring testing from30,000 to nearer 12,500 and promotethe sharing of data to minimizeduplication of animal and other testing.

Caroline Edser

RAWMATERIALS

Product focus: linear alkylbenzene

Low demand for linear alkylbenzene(LAB) and new capacity start-upshave kept global operating rates ataround 80-82%. Capacity in theMiddle East and Africa improved by30% in 2005 to 350,000 tonnes/y, andis expected to reach 523,000tonnes/y in 2006. Further start-ups inQatar and Saudi Arabia will causeoperating rates to fall below 80%.Global demand improved 2% overallin 2005, but declined 3% in the west.Demand in Brazil fell by 8% with a 3%fall reported in Western Europe and a2% decline in North America. Sasol isselling its olefins and surfactantsbusiness, which includes LAB assets.The technology used to produce LABis discussed, and global demand andcapacity for LAB during 2005 aredetailed together with a list of LABproducers.

Chemical Week, 25 Jan 2006, 168 (3), 27 (Website:http://www.chemweek.com)

Sasol builds new alpha-olefins unit inS Africa

Sasol Olefins and Surfactants is tobuild a new alpha-olefins productionunit at its complex in Secunda, S Africa. The site will use newtechnology that converts 1-hepteneinto 1-octene. The product is used asan intermediate in the production ofpolymers, fatty acids and lubricants.Linde AG of Germany has beenawarded the Engineering,Procurement and Constructioncontract for the 100,000 tonnes/y newunit, which should be operational inmid-Apr 2007.

Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Jan 2006, (326), 12 (inFrench) & press release from: Linde, Wiesbaden,Germany (16 Jan 2006)

Boom in oleochemicals industry hikespalm kernel oil prices

The growth in the oleochemicalsindustry is raising palm kernel oilconsumption in Malaysia andprompting price hikes. Demand hasbeen high, compelling the country toimport from adjacent regions.According to the Malaysian Palm OilBoard, exports of oleochemicalproducts in Malaysia reached 1.77 Mtonnes in 2004, worth aroundMalaysian Ringgit (MYR) 5.0 bn. Thisis up from 1.57 M tonnes valued atMYR 3.85 bn the previous year.

Chemical Business (India), Oct 2005, 19 (10), 88

Oxiteno plans major investment toboost chemicals production in Brazil

Oxiteno is to invest $247 M to the endof 2008 to increase capacity in Brazil.$115 M will go on increasing ethyleneoxide (EO) production at Camacarifrom 90,000 tonnes/y to 350,000tonnes/y, and at Maua from 52,000tonnes/y to 85,000 tonnes/y. $41 Mwill go on expanding ethanolaminesoutput at Camacari by 144% to45,000 tonnes/y, and $16 M onincreasing ethoxylates capacity by70,000 tonnes/y. Commissioning ofthe projects is due between mid-2007and mid-2008.

ICIS Chemical Business, 9 Jan 2006, 1 (1), 8

Chemfab plans expansion

Among other moves, ChemfabAlkalies Ltd based in Chennai, India,is proposing to double its causticsoda manufacturing capacity to66,000 tonnes/y. Chemfab alsoproposes to diversify into otherchemicals such as linearalkylbenzene, by setting up a plantabroad probably in South East Asia,and monochloroacetic acid usingchlorine, a by-product of the causticsoda ash plant. The demand forchlorine from the paper industry islikely to decline once the paper millsstart using chlorine dioxide, asmandated by law. Chemfab is alsoconsidering the possibility ofdiversifying by setting up a zeoliteplant or a hydrogen peroxide plant. Itis also in the process of merging itsassociated Rup 220 M companyMembrane Technologies Ltd withitself and plans to hive off its health

2 MARCH 2006

F O C U S O N S U R F A C T A N T S