ISOAMYL
ACETATE
Flavors are essential for a food product, and Isoamyl
acetate is widely used as a flavor in the food industry because of its unique
banana taste and odor. Isoamyl acetate can be found naturally in the banana
plant, and it is also possible to produce synthetically. It is a mixture of
acetic acid esters of pentanols [1-2].
Ester group is an important group. Their general formula is
R-CO-O-R', which are widely distributed in nature. Esters usually have a
pleasant odor. In many examples, the characteristic aroma and taste of fruits
and some flowers are due to the ester group. Ester group can be synthesized in
various techniques such as Fischer-Speier esterification. With this practical
and widely used laboratory condition method, carboxylic acid or alcohol is used
as an economic product and available in large quantities. Many aromas'
organoleptic properties occur due to a single ester that predominates, as in
our case banana oil, the main constituent is isoamyl acetate [3]. In the below
picture, you can see the general mechanism of Fischer-Speier esterification and
synthesize of isoamyl acetate using Fischer esterification.
Picture 1: Fischer Esterification and synthesis of isoamyl acetate
On the other hand, currently, consumers are moving towards
foods containing "natural" flavors because of health and
environmental concerns; therefore, it is a competitive alternative to Fischer
Esterification biotechnology work to find new synthesis techniques Enzyme and
whole-cell biocatalysis and fermentation. These techniques are considered close
to "natural." However, these methods require some stages only
performed in a laboratory environment, but they have a higher potential for
industrial production. [1].
Moreover, to be the major component of banana aroma, isoamyl
acetate also composes the bee alarm pheromone, the release of which is a
protective reaction to alert nearby bees and also flavour for paint and
insecticide. [3].
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CONTENT: Seyda Nur AÇIKGÖZ
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REFERENCES
[2] Isoamyl acetate. (n.d.).
In Wikipedia. Retrieved February 13,
2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoamyl_acetate
[3] Martínez Pérez, I.
(2018). Isoamyl acetate synthesis.
Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG1706