HEPTALDEHYDE /UNDECYLENIC ACID
Heptaldehyde & undecylenic acid are derivates of castor oil. The chemical formula of heptaldehyde is CH3-(CH2)5-CHO where as the chemical formula of undecylenic acid is CH2 = CH(CH2)8 COOH.Heptaldehyde is 100 % linear chain saturated aldehyde of vegetal origin, processed from castor oil. It is a colourless liquid with a very pungent smell. The boiling point is around 152.8°C and the melting point is around -43.3°C. It can be partially dispersed in hot water, methanol, diethyl ether, n-octanol and very slightly dispersed in cold water. It is partially soluble in methanol, diethyl ether, n-octanol and very slightly soluble in cold water, hot water. Heptaldehyde can be used as a synthesis intermediate in the fragrance and flavors industry. The pyrolytic decomposition of Castor oil yields heptaldehyde and undecylenic acid. The basic derivatives, and are used to manufacture various perfumery compounds, which in turn are used to manufacture perfumes and synthetic flavors. Castor oil, when subjected to pyrolysis or destructive distillation at temperature of over 450° C under vacuum, under goes decomposition to yield mainly Undecylenic acid and Heptaldehyde, in roughly equal quantities ( 28% approx). The presence of water vapor has been found to enhance the yields of both acid and aldehyde. The spongy mass left behind, consisting principally of polymerized Undecylenic acid, which can be used in recovering of some quantity of Undecylenic acid. Esters of Undecylenic acid are used as input for perfumery chemicals. Heptaldehyde is having characteristic Jasmine flavor in it and typically it is also known as Jasmine aldehyde, and it can be converted to Heptanoic acid and Heptanol which are used in manufacture of many perfumery compounds. Application: Heptaldehyde is used to prepare perfumery compounds like Alpha-amyl Cinnamic aldehydes, Heptanoic acid, Methyl-n-heptyl ketone and ester of 3-noninic acid, & Nonylenic acid esters to make 8-n-amylbutyrolactone. Application: Undecylenic acid is used to prepare perfumery compounds like Undecylenic alcohol, Gamma Undecalactone also known as Aldehyde- C-14, Nonylic acid , Nonylic alcohol and nonylic aldehydes, n-decylaldehyde, & Allyl esters of Undecylenic acid. India is one of the leading manufacturers of Flavors and fragrances in the world. These all are natural products, but in developing synthetic flavors and fragrances from castor oil derivatives, India is lagging behind. India, being a world leader in Castor seeds and Castor oil production and processing has edge over other countries like Japan, France and Germany who are importing castor oil and manufacturing these perfumery chemicals for further processing into perfumes and Synthetic flavors. Internationally, Germany, France, Switzerland and Japan are the leading producers of synthetic flavors and fragrances from many natural ingredients, including castor oil derivatives like Undecylenic acid and Heptaldehyde. Though, there is large international market for perfumery chemicals, estimated market in India is approx. 5000 MT. The Global Demand of Flavors and Fragrances is set to increase at a growth rate of around 4% per annum. In the light of this fact, there is good scope for castor oil derivatives in the global and domestic market.