Raw Material: Sclareolide (Biobased Source)
Sclareolide, a natural diterpene lactone extracted from plants such as Salvia sclarea, serves as the renewable precursor for Ambroxane synthesis.
Production Workflow
1，Concentration
Sclareolide solution is concentrated via vacuum distillation or membrane filtration to enhance reactant concentration and reduce energy consumption.
2.Decomposition
Biocatalytic decomposition (e.g., immobilized lipase/esterase) or microbial fermentation is employed to cleave the lactone ring of Sclareolide, forming Ambrox precursor acids. Optimal conditions (pH 6-8, 30-45℃) ensure enzyme stability and reaction efficiency.
3.Wash/Phase Separation
Liquid-liquid extraction using biodegradable solvents (e.g., ethyl acetate/water) separates aqueous and organic phases, recovering unreacted Sclareolide and byproducts.
4.Circulating Reaction
The intermediate undergoes catalytic hydrogenation (H₂) in a continuous flow reactor with biobased catalysts (e.g., Pd/C or Ni-supported catalysts) under mild conditions (50-80℃, 1-3 bar), achieving high selectivity.
5.Distillation
Short-path molecular distillation removes low-boiling impurities and high-boiling residues, ensuring ≥98% Ambroxane purity.
6.Crude Product Refinement
Supercritical CO₂ extraction eliminates residual catalysts and pigments, minimizing chemical waste.
7.Crystallization
Solvent-antisolvent crystallization (e.g., ethanol/water) with controlled cooling (0.5-1℃/min) yields monoclinic Ambroxane crystals.
8.Filtration & Drying
Vacuum belt filtration isolates crystals, followed by fluidized-bed drying (40-50℃) to reduce solvent residues (moisture content <0.1%).
9.Final Product
Quality-controlled (HPLC/GC-MS) Ambroxane meets IFRA and ISO standards for premium fragrances.
Sustainability Highlights
a,Renewable Feedstock: Plant-derived Sclareolide reduces reliance on petrochemicals.
b,Green Chemistry: Enzymatic catalysis, biobased solvents, and CO₂ extraction lower environmental impact.
C, Closed-Loop System: Solvent recovery >90%, wastewater treated via bioremediation for reuse.
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