MadSci Network: Biochemistry
Query:

Re: What in an orange peel makes it smell orangey?

Date: Fri Oct 29 10:08:01 1999
Posted By: Dan Berger, Faculty Chemistry/Science, Bluffton College
Area of science: Biochemistry
ID: 935714744.Bc
Message:

What in an orange peel makes it smell orangey?

Hi - I would like to know what compounds are responsible for producing the orangey smell in orange peel? If ever we are going to get oil from the orange peel how much oil would a peel give us? Thank you.


For the first question, you should consult the Merck Index under "Oil of Orange." The major constituent is d-limonene (90%); other fragrant compounds include citral, decyl aldehyde, methyl anthranilate, linalool and terpineol.

Notice that if you look under "Oil of Lemon" you get many of the same ingredients; my guess is that the harsher odor of lemons comes from the much larger amount of terpineol in lemon oil.

As to the amount of oil obtained from a particular amount of orange peel, it sounds like a home experiment to me. Obviously it will vary depending on the variety of orange.

Dan Berger
Bluffton College
http://cs.bluffton.edu/~berger



Current Queue | Current Queue for Biochemistry | Biochemistry archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Biochemistry.



MadSci Home | Information | Search | Random Knowledge Generator | MadSci Archives | Mad Library | MAD Labs | MAD FAQs | Ask a ? | Join Us! | Help Support MadSci


MadSci Network, webadmin@www.madsci.org
© 1995-1999. All rights reserved.