The tall oil value chain starts from crude tall oil (CTO), the forest-derived by-product of kraft (sulphate) pulp production. CTO is separated by fractional distillation into fatty acids (TOFA), rosin (tall oil rosin), distilled tall oil (DTO), the distillation residue pitch (tall oil pitch) and further derivatives (such as bio-based process oil). A single renewable by-product thus gives rise to a product family spanning mining to tyres, paint to asphalt.
The start of the chain: crude tall oil (CTO)
Crude tall oil (CTO) is a dark, viscous liquid obtained by acidifying the tall soap released during kraft pulp production from pine and similar coniferous trees. It is a complex mixture of rosin acids, fatty acids and neutral substances. CTO is supplied in two main types: softwood CTO, with higher rosin and fatty acid content, is the primary feedstock for distillation; hardwood CTO is used in direct applications such as mining flotation.
BİO BAZLI ÜRÜNLERSoftwood Crude Tall Oil (CTO)Softwood CTO is the primary distillation feedstock for TOFA, rosin and pitch; it is also used as a biofuel (HVO/SAF) feed stream.BİO BAZLI ÜRÜNLERHardwood Crude Tall Oil (CTO)Hardwood CTO is used directly as a collector/modifier in oxidised-ore and phosphate flotation and as an anti-stripping agent in asphalt.Distillation: from CTO to the product family
CTO is separated into its components by vacuum fractional distillation. Differences in boiling points separate the light fractions (heads), fatty acids, rosin and the heavy residue (pitch) from one another. This split yields four main product groups, each serving a different industry:
- Tall oil fatty acids (TOFA): a high-purity distilled fraction consisting mainly of C18 fatty acids; used in soap, alkyd resin, flotation and rubber applications.
- Distilled tall oil (DTO): a balanced mixture of fatty acids and rosin acids; used in alkyd resin, paint binders, adhesives and flotation chemicals.
- Tall oil rosin: the high-rosin-acid fraction; used in adhesives, inks and rosin derivatives.
- Tall oil pitch: the distillation residue; used as a binder in asphalt modification, road paving and roofing.
The TOFA fraction: 180, 185 and rich distillate
The fatty acid fraction is offered in different grades by purity and rosin-acid tolerance. TOFA 180, with a min. acid value of 180 mg KOH/g, suits economical applications (flotation, asphalt, soap, rubber) that tolerate higher rosin/unsaponifiable content. TOFA 185, with a min. acid value of 185 mg KOH/g, lower rosin acid (max. 2%) and a lighter colour, is preferred for colour-sensitive applications such as alkyd resin, dimer acid and inks. An intermediate stream, TOFA rich distillate, is a fatty-acid-rich distillation fraction.
BİO BAZLI ÜRÜNLERTall Oil Fatty Acids 180 (TOFA)Economical fatty acid feedstock with high rosin tolerance; for flotation, asphalt and soap.BİO BAZLI ÜRÜNLERTall Oil Fatty Acids 185 (TOFA)High purity and light colour; for alkyd resin, dimer acid and inks.BİO BAZLI ÜRÜNLERDistilled Tall Oil (DTO) Industrial GradeBalanced fatty-acid/rosin-acid mixture; industrial grade for alkyd resin, flotation and adhesive formulations.Pitch and advanced derivatives
The distillation residue, tall oil pitch, is a dark, viscous product used as a binder in asphalt and bitumen modification. At the most advanced end of the chain sits the bio-based process oil made from tall oil derivatives: Ecosky-3103, a carbon-negative process oil used as a TDAE/MES replacement in tyre and technical rubber compounds. A single renewable by-product thus turns into a wide range, from a low-value-added asphalt binder to a high-value-added, carbon-negative rubber process oil.
BİO BAZLI ÜRÜNLEREcophalt (Tall Oil Pitch)Distillation residue pitch; a binder for asphalt modification, road paving and roofing.BİO BAZLI ÜRÜNLEREcosky-3103 (Bio-Based Rubber Process Oil)The carbon-negative process oil at the advanced end of the chain; a TDAE alternative in tyre compounds. See the Ecosky-3103 overview and TDAE comparison articles for detail.Why does the tall oil chain matter?
The tall oil chain offers a renewable and circular alternative to fossil feedstocks. Because the raw material comes from the side stream of existing pulp production, it does not compete with the food chain, and many of its derivatives (such as process oil) are treated as outside EUDR scope. Through distillation, a single raw material yields products serving different sectors - mining, paint, adhesives, asphalt and tyres - providing both supply flexibility and decarbonisation potential.
Safe handling
What is CTO and how is it processed?
Crude tall oil (CTO) is the forest-derived by-product of kraft pulp production; a complex mixture of rosin acids, fatty acids and neutral substances. It is separated by vacuum fractional distillation into products such as TOFA, DTO, rosin and pitch.
What is the difference between softwood and hardwood CTO?
Softwood CTO, with higher rosin and fatty acid content, is the primary feedstock for distillation; hardwood CTO is used in direct applications such as mining flotation and asphalt anti-stripping.
What is the difference between TOFA and DTO?
TOFA is a high-purity distilled fraction consisting mainly of fatty acids; DTO is a balanced mixture of fatty acids and rosin acids. TOFA leads in soap and colour-sensitive resins, DTO in alkyd resin and flotation chemicals.
What is the most advanced product of the tall oil chain?
At the high-value end sits the bio-based process oil Ecosky-3103, made from tall oil derivatives; it is a carbon-negative product used as a TDAE/MES replacement in tyre compounds.
Why are tall oil products considered sustainable?
Because the raw material comes from the side stream of existing pulp production, it does not compete with the food chain, is based on renewable forest biomass, and many of its derivatives (such as process oil) are treated as outside EUDR scope.