Tall Oil Pitch (TOP)

Brief Overview

Tall Oil Pitch (Resin) is a viscous black liquid obtained from Tall Oil. It has lower boiling point, alcohol, ester and palmitic acid contents. Tall oil is produced from coniferous trees and has a variety of uses. It is obtained as a co-product of the kraft wood pulping process used by paper mills and it is the third largest chemical by-product of kraft mill.

Manufacturing Process

Tall Oil is extracted from pulp and paper mills when pulping mainly coniferous trees. The yellow-black odorous liquid produced is concentrated and left to settle. When sulfuric acid and heat are added to the material, it becomes crude tall oil. The crude tall oil is then distilled to obtain tall oil pitch.

Tall Oil Pitch (TOP) is the heavier, resinous fraction remaining after the extraction of fatty acids from tall oil—a renewable byproduct of the Kraft pulping process. Characterized by its high molecular weight and robust adhesion properties, TOP is utilized in numerous industrial applications:

• Asphalt and Sealants: TOP functions as a binder and modifier, enhancing the performance and longevity of asphalt mixtures and sealant products.
• Rubber Formulations: Its high resin content improves processing and contributes to the elasticity and resilience of rubber compounds.
• Ink Applications: TOP enhances viscosity control, adhesion, and pigment dispersion, improving the durability and performance of printing inks.