Moeve and Honeywell have just announced the expansion of their collaboration to expand production technologies for bio-based linear alkylbenzene (LAB), the raw material for producing linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), the main surfactant in the production of commonly used household detergents.
Moeve’s NextLAB-R – the first LAB made from renewable raw materials – will be available on the market through Honeywell’s licensing platform and will allow detergent manufacturers to produce more sustainably.
Today, more than 70% of global biodegradable detergent production is based on LAB manufactured with Honeywell UOP process technologies. “This makes the transition to renewable alternatives like NextLAB-R not only timely, but essential. Honeywell has a long history of innovation in detergent technologies, meeting the need for effective and environmentally friendly products,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell UOP. “Through collaboration with Moeve, we offer detergent manufacturers a new generation of high-performance, lower carbon solutions,” he continues.
The expanded agreement adds co-development of renewable LAB and processes to Honeywell UOP’s license portfolio, underscoring both companies’ commitment to innovation and sustainability for LAB producers around the world. “NextLAB-R demonstrates that a more sustainable LAB can be produced industrially without compromising performance,” confirmed José María Solana, general director of Moeve Química. «This agreement marks a new chapter in our long relationship with Honeywell. “It reflects not only technical excellence, but also the shared ambition to make more sustainable chemical technologies a tangible industrial reality.”
Honeywell pioneered the licensing of LAB processes in the 1960s, contributing to the evolution of more environmentally friendly detergent technologies. For more than three decades, Moeve, the world’s leading LAB producer, and Honeywell have collaborated to advance energy-efficient LAB production technologies, including the Detal-Plus™ process, which incorporates Honeywell UOP’s proprietary catalysts.