Menthol is an important natural flavor, and its upstream raw materials mainly come from the essential oil of mint plants. Menthol has a refreshing and pleasant aroma and taste, so it is widely used in food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and other industries. In the food industry, menthol is often used to make refreshing desserts such as chewing gum, candy, and ice cream; in the beverage industry, menthol is added to drinks such as soda and beer to give them a unique taste and aroma; in the cosmetics industry, menthol can be used to make perfumes, shampoos, skin care products and other products, which have a refreshing and refreshing effect; in the pharmaceutical industry, menthol is also used as one of the ingredients of drugs and has certain pharmacological effects. In short, as an important natural flavor, menthol has a wide and diverse range of applications and is deeply loved and favored by people.
Application
Medical field: Menthol is used as a stimulant, acting on the skin or mucous membrane, and has a cooling and antipruritic effect. It can be applied to the affected area for external use to treat urticaria, prurigo, prickly heat, hidden rash, neurodermatitis, pruritus, etc.; it can be taken internally as a carminative for headaches and inflammation of the nose, pharynx, and throat. Its esters are used in spices and medicines.
Food field: as a flavoring agent, it is used in toothpaste, perfume, beverages, and candies. The cooling feeling and fragrance of menthol make it an important ingredient in oral care products.
Cosmetic field: the cooling feeling and fragrance of menthol make it a common additive in cosmetics, such as shampoo, shower gel, facial mask, etc.
Other applications: menthol can also be used in the production of cigarettes and tobacco products, giving them a cool taste. In the agricultural field, it is used as an insecticide and insect repellent to control pests.
Production method
Natural purification: obtained by freezing and separation from peppermint oil.
Synthesis method:
- Made from citronellal: citronellal is cyclized into isopulegol, and then hydrogenated to produce menthol.
- Manufactured from thymol: Thymol is produced by alkylation reaction, and then catalytic hydrogenation is used to obtain various stereoisomers of menthol, which are separated and optically resolved by distillation and recrystallization.