Environmentally Friendly Deodorizing and Cleaning Agent: Dipentene

Dipentene is a colorless flammable liquid at room temperature with a pleasant lemon-like aroma. It exists in two isomeric forms: dextrorotatory and levorotatory. The dextrorotatory dipentene has a relative density of 0.8402, a boiling point of 175.5-176°C (101.72 kPa), a freezing point of -95.5°C, a refractive index of 1.4727, and an optical rotation [α] of +123.8°. The levorotatory form has a relative density of 0.8407, a boiling point of 175.5-176.5°C (101.72 kPa), a refractive index of 1.474, and an optical rotation [α] of -101.3°. The racemic mixture has a relative density of 0.8404, a boiling point of 178.64°C, a freezing point of -95.3°C, and a refractive index of 1.4727. It is insoluble in water but miscible with ethanol.

Dipentene is widely found in natural plant essential oils. Oils containing primarily the dextrorotatory form include mandarin oil, lemon oil, orange oil, and camphor white oil. Oils containing the levorotatory form include peppermint oil. Racemic dipentene is found in neroli oil, fir oil, and camphor white oil. During its production, it can be obtained by fractional distillation of the aforementioned essential oils, extracted from general essential oils as terpenes, or produced as a byproduct during the processing of camphor oil and synthetic camphor. The obtained dipentene can be further purified by distillation to yield limonene. Using turpentine as a raw material, fractional distillation is performed to isolate α-pinene, which is then isomerized to camphene, followed by fractional distillation to obtain dipentene as a byproduct of camphene production. Additionally, dipentene can be produced as a byproduct during the hydration of turpentine to produce terpineol.

Uses of Dipentene It is used as a solvent in enamel, varnish, and various oil-containing resins, resin waxes, and metal driers; in the production of synthetic resins and synthetic rubber; for blending orange blossom and citrus oil fragrances; and as a substitute for lemon-based essential oils. It is also used as an oil dispersant, rubber additive, wetting agent, etc.