D-Limonene 94% - Food Grade

Product Overview

D-Limonene 94% - Food Grade is a colorless liquid hydrocarbon classified as a terpene, primarily derived from citrus fruit peels. This product offers a characteristic fresh citrus aroma and acts as a versatile solvent with proven performance in food-grade manufacturing, cleaning, and formulation processes. The 94% assay by GC confirms high purity, aligning with stringent food safety and quality standards. Visual appearance, measured color (APHA/Hazen) typically around 5, with low residue after ignition, supports its suitability for downstream processing where color and inorganic contamination must be minimized. The material exhibits a specific gravity of approximately 0.845 at 25°C (0.844 at 20°C), enabling accurate phase separation and handling in non-aqueous systems. The combination of relatively low sulfur and halide levels, with controlled heavy metals and trace ions, ensures compatibility with sensitive food-contact applications and clean-label ingredients while maintaining effective solvency for essential extraction and formulation tasks.

Key Properties

• Property Name: Assay wt% (min–max) – Typical 94%
• Chemical Formula: C₁₀H₁₆
• Molecular Weight: 136.24 g/mol
• Boiling Point: 176–178°C
• Specific Gravity (25°C): 0.84–0.85 (typical 0.845)
• Specific Gravity (20°C): 0.839–0.848 (typical 0.844)
• Residue After Ignition: Max 0.1 wt% (typical 0.05)
• Chloride (Cl): Max 2 ppm (typical 1)
• Nitrate (NO₃⁻): Max 5 ppm (typical 2)
• Ammonium (NH₄⁺): Max 1 ppm (typical 0.5)
• Sulfate (SO₄²⁻): Max 5 ppm (typical 2)
• Phosphate (PO₄³⁻): Max 5 ppm (typical 2)
• Arsenic (As): Max 3 ppm (typical 1.5)
• Heavy Metals (as Pb): Max 2 ppm (typical 1)

Common Applications

• Application Category: Food-grade solvent for flavor, fragrance, and essential oil extraction; supports clean-label processes with low impurity load as per ACS guidelines.
• Lubricant and carrier solvent in encapsulation and coating formulations for edible products, enabling efficient dispersion of active ingredients.
• Extraction and formulation aid in essential oils distillation, resin removal, and fragrance recovery with minimal color development.
• Degreasing and cleaning in equipment and process lines where residue-minimization and non-aqueous cleaning are required.
• Co-solvent for bakery, beverage, and confectionery ingredient systems where citrus notes are desirable and regulatory compliance is maintained.
• azeotropic or co-solvent component in solvent blends used for gumming, flavor stabilization, and oil-based formulation work.
• Quality control and assay standard for batch certification, aligning with ASTM and USP expectations for food-grade solvents.
• Precursor in the synthesis of citrus-derived aroma compounds and as a processing aid in oleoresin modification.

Safety Precautions

Handle and store D-Limonene 94% - Food Grade in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources, in containers made of HDPE or glass. Use adequate ventilation and avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents and acids. PPE including chemical-resistant gloves and safety goggles is recommended to minimize skin and eye exposure. Follow standard operating procedures aligned with OSHA and local regulatory guidelines for handling flammable liquids (NFPA/GC hazard considerations apply). Keep away from ignition sources and ensure proper grounding during transfer to prevent static discharge.

Benefits

✔ High Purity Food-Grade Quality – Meets stringent color, impurity, and heavy metal specifications suitable for food-contact and flavor/fragrance applications.

✔ Reliable Solvent Performance – Effective non-polar solvent with citrus aroma, compatible with a wide range of edible and industrial formulations.