OLEOCHEMISTRY The fatty acids from the tri-glycerides in soybean oil can be separated into pure components by distillation. These can be further processed into more valuable raw materials using several chemical reactions. This can be the formation of salts, esters, nitrogen derivatives, halogenated products, saturated derivatives, etc. They form the basis for the oleochemistry. It can be reasonably expected that these applications will increase in popularity now that is realised that our petroleum reserves are slowly being depleted.