Overview
ISO 3809:2004 - Oil of lime (cold pressed), Mexican type [Citrus aurantifolia] - specifies the key characteristics and test methods to assess the quality of cold‑pressed Mexican lime essential oil obtained by mechanical means. The standard defines physical, chemical and chromatographic criteria (including a normative GC fingerprint) to help producers, laboratories and buyers verify authenticity, consistency and safety.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Facilitates quality assessment of cold‑pressed Mexican lime oil (type A and type B).
- Appearance, colour and odour: Describes typical sensory properties for type A and B (e.g., yellowish‑green to dark green; fresh lime peel aroma).
- Physico‑chemical limits (examples from the standard):
- Relative density at 20 °C: Type A ~0.875–0.884; Type B ~0.880–0.888.
- Refractive index at 20 °C: Type A ~1.482–1.486; Type B ~1.484–1.488.
- Optical rotation: Type A +35.0° to +41.0° (Type B often not measurable due to colour).
- Carbonyl value, residue on evaporation, CD value: specified ranges differ for Type A and B.
- Chromatographic profile (normative): Gas chromatography fingerprint with specified component ranges (e.g., limonene, β‑pinene, γ‑terpinene, neral, geranial). The GC profile is a required compliance criterion.
- Safety note: Expressed oils may contain furocoumarins; bergapten content should be