Overview
ISO 9844:2006 - "Oil of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.)" specifies measurable characteristics to assess the quality of bitter orange essential oil. The standard defines physical properties, compositional requirements and test methods (e.g., gas chromatography) for the American, Equatorial and Mediterranean types of this oil. ISO 9844:2006 is used to support quality control, product specification, trade and regulatory compliance for oil of bitter orange, commonly used in perfumery, flavouring and aromatherapy.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Appearance, colour and odour: Liquid; pale yellow to brownish green; odour characteristic of outer bitter orange peel.
- Physical constants (at 20 °C):
- Relative density (d): American 0.840–0.860; Equatorial 0.845–0.860; Mediterranean 0.840–0.860.
- Refractive index: American 1.472–1.476; Equatorial 1.473–1.478; Mediterranean 1.472–1.476.
- Optical rotation: American +88° to +98°; Equatorial +88° to +95°; Mediterranean +88° to +98°.
- Miscibility: Must form a clear solution with no more than 8 volumes of 90% ethanol per 1 volume of oil (at 20 °C).
- Residue on evaporation: American 3.5–6.0%; Equatorial 3.0–6.0%; Mediterranean 3.5–6.0%.
- Chromatographic profile (normative): Gas chromatography is required. The oil is characterised by a dominant limonene content (≈92–95%) plus defined ranges for α‑pinene, β‑pinene, myrcene, linalool, linalyl acetate, and minor components. The chromatographic profile in Table 1 is normative and used for authentication.
- Flashpoint (informative): Annex B provides mean flashpoint guidance (e.g., Equatorial ≈ +50 °C, Mediterranean ≈ +47 °C) and notes the equipment used for those measurements.
- Sampling & sample size: See ISO 212; minimum test sample recommended is 50 ml.
- Packaging, labelling and storage: Follow ISO/TR 210 and ISO/TR 211 guidance.
Applications and Who Uses It
- Essential oil producers and distillers - to set product specifications and verify batch quality for Citrus aurantium oil.
- Analytical and QC laboratories - to perform standardised testing (density, refractive index, GC profiling) for quality control and authentication.
- Perfumery, flavour and fragrance manufacturers - to ensure raw material consistency for formulation and sensory performance.
- Traders and importers/exporters - to create clear product specifications for commercial contracts and to resolve disputes.
- Regulatory, transport and safety officers - to reference flashpoint and compositional data for safe handling, labelling and shipping.
Related Standards (informative)
Normative references within ISO 9844:2006 include:
Using ISO 9844:2006 helps ensure consistent, traceable quality assessment of bitter orange oil (Citrus aurantium) across production, testing and trade.