Terpene Blend Purification to Prevent Nootkatol Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conversion of nootkatol to nootkatene during fractional distillation results in reduced nootkatol levels and increased nootkatene levels in terpene blends, affecting the taste profile and organoleptic properties of nootkatone oil blends, leading to market rejection due to high boiling point impurities like fatty acids catalyzing the undesired reaction.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the separation or neutralization of compounds that catalyze the conversion of nootkatol to nootkatene, followed by fractional distillation, to maintain desired nootkatol content and minimize nootkatene formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fractional distillation is performed on raw material terpene blend containing nootkatol, then nootkatone oil blend is produced, but nootkatol converts to nootkatene due to catalysis by fatty acids and high boiling point impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes harmful catalysts (fatty acids and high boiling point impurities) from the raw material terpene blend before distillation through treatment with activated carbon or silica gel, preventing nootkatol conversion to nootkatene during the distillation process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary treatment to the raw material blend before distillation by contacting it with activated carbon or silica gel to remove catalysts, thereby preventing the undesired reaction from occurring during subsequent distillation
2Productivity
If raw material terpene blend is heated at elevated temperatures during fractional distillation, then distillation proceeds, but fatty acids and high boiling point impurities catalyze conversion of nootkatol to nootkatene
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts harmful catalysts (fatty acids and high boiling point impurities) from the raw material blend using activated carbon or silica gel treatment before distillation, eliminating the catalytic activity that would otherwise cause nootkatol degradation at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary removal of catalysts through adsorption onto activated carbon or silica gel before the distillation process, preventing thermal degradation of nootkatol during heating
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively retains at least 50% of the nootkatol and reduces nootkatene to 1% or less in the terpene blend, ensuring high-quality terpene blends that meet market standards.
Implementation Method 1
The elevated temperatures trigger fatty acids and other high boiling point impurities present in the raw material terpene blend to catalyze the undesired reaction of nootkatol to nootkatene
Implementation Method 2
Fractional distillation must be carried out on a raw material terpene blend containing nootkatol to prepare a final commercial nootkatone oil blend suitable for sale to customers
Data Source
AI summary
The conversion of nootkatol to nootkatene in a terpene blend is mitigated or prevented by substantially or completely separating the nootkatols such as α-nootkatol from compounds present in the terpene blend that catalyze the chemical reaction of nootkatol to nootkatene, and/or by at least partially neutralizing the compounds present in the terpene blend that catalyze the chemical reaction of nootkatol to nootkatene. Methods of preparing terpene blends, terpene blends, flavour compositions containing the terpene blends, beverages and foodstuffs containing the flavour compositions, fragrance compositions containing the terpene blends, and fragranced products containing the fragrance composition are also disclosed.