- ▸ Industrial solvent: Degreasing, parts cleaning, and circuit-board cleaning
- ▸ Fragrance & flavor: Citrus aroma ingredient in formulations
- ▸ Cleaning products: Wetting and dispersing agent
- ▸ Chemical intermediate: Feedstock for terpene resins and organic synthesis
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →
Transport classification per the UN Model Regulations / 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table. Confirm against the grade-specific SDS (Section 14) before shipping.
D-Limonene (CAS 5989-27-5) is the (R)-(+) enantiomer of limonene, a cyclic monoterpene hydrocarbon (C10H16) recovered from citrus peel oil. It is a high-solvency, strongly orange-scented liquid used as a bio-based degreaser and cleaning solvent, a fragrance and flavor ingredient, and a chemical feedstock. Its solvency makes it a performance substitute for some petroleum and chlorinated solvents in cleaning duty — but it is a volatile organic compound (VOC), is flammable, and is classified as a skin sensitizer and aquatic toxicant, so it is selected on performance and EHS fit, not on an unqualified “green” label. Identity: PubChem.
What is d-limonene?
Limonene is a chiral monoterpene; the d- (or R-(+)-) enantiomer is the form abundant in orange and other citrus peel oils and is the one sold industrially as d-limonene. It differs from l-limonene (the mirror image, a pine/turpentine note) and from dipentene, the racemic or less-refined mixture. D-limonene has a high Kauri-Butanol solvency, low surface tension and a characteristic citrus odor, which is why it serves both as a solvent and as a fragrance/flavor material.
Applications by sector
Industrial & institutional cleaning. D-limonene is a strong degreaser and solvent for hand cleaners, parts and equipment cleaning, adhesive, ink and asphalt removal, and citrus-based cleaning concentrates, where its solvency lets formulators reduce or replace some petroleum-distillate and chlorinated solvents on a performance basis. Fragrance & flavor. It is a widely used citrus aroma chemical; food and flavor use requires a food-grade/FCC specification distinct from the technical solvent grade. Chemical feedstock. It is a renewable building block for terpene resins, carvone and other derivatives. Agriculture & other. It is used as a wetting/solvent adjuvant and carrier. Match the grade and purity to the duty.
Grades and forms
Specify the grade on your RFQ: technical/solvent grade for cleaning and industrial use, or food-grade/FCC for flavor and fragrance applications; purified d-limonene versus dipentene; and the optical purity and assay you require. Color, peroxide value and water content are graded to the application and documented on the CoA.
Handling, EHS and regulatory
D-limonene is flammable and is a VOC; it is classified as a skin/eye irritant and skin sensitizer and as toxic to aquatic life. Store away from oxidizers and ignition sources, control vapor, and manage VOC and waste per your jurisdiction. These hazard and handling details — flash point, classification, exposure controls — are taken from the current Safety Data Sheet, not reproduced here. Confirm food-contact or regulatory status for your specific application.
Bulk supply and RFQ
RawSource supplies d-limonene in bulk — drums, totes and IBCs — to cleaning, fragrance and industrial buyers, with CoA and SDS per lot. Submit an RFQ with your grade (technical or food/FCC), target quantity and ship-to for a current quote.
Typical Properties
Typical reference values, not a specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot governs.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | D-Limonene ((R)-(+)-limonene) |
| CAS Number | 5989-27-5 |
| Molecular Formula | C10H16 |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless to pale-yellow liquid |
| Odor | Strong, characteristic citrus/orange |
| Specific gravity (25 °C) | ~0.84 |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water; miscible with most organic solvents |
| Flammability / EHS | Flammable VOC; skin sensitizer; aquatic toxicant — refer to the current SDS |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is d-limonene used for?
D-limonene (CAS 5989-27-5) is used as a bio-based degreaser and cleaning solvent, a citrus fragrance and flavor ingredient, and a renewable chemical feedstock for terpene derivatives. Cleaning/solvent use takes a technical grade; flavor use takes a food-grade/FCC specification.
Is d-limonene a “green” solvent?
D-limonene is citrus-derived (bio-based) and can replace some petroleum or chlorinated solvents on a performance basis, but it is a VOC, is flammable, and is classified as a skin sensitizer and aquatic toxicant. Evaluate it on solvency performance and your EHS and regulatory requirements rather than on an unqualified “green” or “non-toxic” label.
What is the difference between d-limonene and dipentene?
D-limonene is the purified (R)-(+) enantiomer; dipentene is the racemic or less-refined mixture of limonene isomers. D-limonene has a cleaner citrus odor and defined optical purity; dipentene is typically lower cost for solvent duty. Specify which you need on the RFQ.
What is the CAS number and formula of d-limonene?
D-limonene is CAS 5989-27-5 (PubChem CID 440917), molecular formula C10H16. It is the (R)-(+) enantiomer of limonene; the CoA documents assay and optical purity for the lot.
Is d-limonene food grade?
Only a grade manufactured and documented to a food/FCC specification is suitable for flavor or food-contact use; the standard technical solvent grade is not. Specify food-grade/FCC on the RFQ and confirm regulatory status for your application.
How is bulk d-limonene supplied and quoted?
RawSource supplies d-limonene in drums, totes and IBCs with CoA and SDS per lot. Pricing is quote-based on grade, purity, volume and freight; submit an RFQ with your target quantity and ship-to.
Disclaimer. Information on this page — including chemical properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim, or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information.
