INTRODUCTION:
Benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO) is the simplest and the most industrially useful member of the family of aromatic aldehydes. Benzaldehyde exists in nature, primarily in combined form such as glycoside in Almond, apricot, cherry and peach seeds. The characteristic benzaldehyde odour of oil of bitter almond occurs because of trace amounts of free benzaldehyde formed by hydrolysis of the glycoside amygdalin. Amygdalin was first isolated in 1830 from the seed of the bitter almond sometime later Liebeg and Wohler found that when amygdalin was hydrolyzed with water and emulsion.
Benzaldehyde hydrogencyanide and D Glucose were formed [2]. Now presently Benzaldehyde is produced by many process like - chlorination of Toluene (liquid phase) - oxidation of Toluene (liquid phase) & (vapor phase) The hydrolysis of benzalchloride is, which is produced by side chain chlorination of toluene, is older of the two processes. Other processes includes - Oxidation of benzyl alcohol - Reduction of benzoyl chloride - Reaction of carbonmonoxide and benzene. Have been utilized in the past, but they no longer have any industrial application. [2]
There is considerable demand for chlorine free benzaldehyde as it is used in pharmaceutical industry. As multinational is being coming up the competition is been developing and major challenge faced by the industry is purity of product (free from chlorine) Oxidation builds up the chlorination process material has large demand in soap and perfume industry.
Electroplating industry has great demand for benzaldehyde. Hence, benzaldehyde industry is an important raw material for many industries.
The leading manufacture of Benzaldehyde in India is,
Name of Company Place
Indian Organic Chemicals Ltd. Khopoli (Maharashtra state)
Estimated requirement of Benzaldehyde
Year Quantity
1976-77 6000 Tons
1984-85 8000 Tons
1989-90 10000 Tons
1994-95 12000 Tons
1999-2000 14000 Tons