What Is Limonene?

Limonene is a natural functional monoterpene. It is widely used as a flavor and fragrance additive in foods. ^[1] Alias pinene, a monoterpenoid, a colorless oily liquid with a lemon-like flavor.

Chinese synonym: 1,8-terpene diene; dipolypentene; diene terpenes; lemon monene; pinene; dipentene; limonene;

Explosive when mixed with air, flammable when exposed to open flame, high temperature, oxidant; combustion produces irritating smoke. ^[4]

Widely found in natural plant essential oils. Among them, dextrose contains citrus oil, lemon oil, orange oil, camphor white oil and the like. Contains L-isomers such as peppermint oil. Containing racemates are neroli oil, cedar oil and camphor white oil. In the production of this product, the above essential oils are respectively fractionated and obtained. Terpenes can also be extracted from general essential oils, or they can be obtained as by-products in the process of camphor oil and synthetic camphor. The obtained dipentene can be purified by distillation to obtain pinene. Turpentine was used as a raw material, fractional distillation was performed, -pinene was cut, and pinene was prepared through isomerization, and then obtained by fractional distillation. The by-product of pinene is dipentene. In addition, dipentene can also be produced as a by-product when turpentine is hydrated to produce terpineol. ^[4]

Dextrose is commonly used. Can be used to prepare artificial orange blossom, sweet blossom, lemon,

Limonene identification

1. Take 1 drop of this product, add 3 to 5 drops of sulfuric acid and a small amount of vanillin crystals, which is orange-red, and add 1 drop of water to purple.

2. In the chromatogram recorded under the determination of limonene content, the retention time of the peak of the test substance should be consistent with the retention time of the main peak of the reference substance.

Limonene storage

Sealed, shading, in the shade