Vanillin and/or ethylvanillin, process for their preparations and use thereof

1. A composition, comprising vanillin and/or ethylvanillin, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 4-hydroxy-5-methoxyisophthalaldehyde, 2,2′-(4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 2-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2,2′-(5-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 5-ethoxy-4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde, 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, (E or Z)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-7-methoxybenzofuran-2(3H)-one, (E or Z)-7-ethoxy-3-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzylidene)benzofuran-2(3H)-one, 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde,

wherein the vanillin and/or ethylvanillin has a purity higher than 90% and a bio-based carbon content of between 75% and 100%, and

wherein the vanillin and/or ethylvanillin exhibits a mean isotopic 13 C deviation of from 33‰ to −23‰.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein vanillin and/or ethylvanillin has a bio-based carbon content above 80%.

3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the vanillin and/or ethylvanillin is not directly produced from lignin or biomass.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises vanillin and the at least one compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 4-hydroxy-5-methoxyisophthalaldehyde, 2,2′-(4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, (E or Z)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-7-methoxybenzofuran-2(3H), 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises vanillin having a purity higher than 95%.

6. The composition according to claim 4 , wherein the amount of the at least one compound is between 1 and 5000 ppm.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises vanillin and is in the form of flakes, beads, prills, or powder.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises vanillin and the composition exhibits satisfactory organoleptic properties.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises ethylvanillin and the at least one compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2,2′-(5-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1,3-phenylene)-bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 5-ethoxy-4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde, 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and (E or Z)-7-ethoxy-3-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-benzofuran-2(3H)-one.

10. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises ethylvanillin having a purity higher than 95%.

11. The composition according to claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises ethylvanillin and the amount of the at least one compound is between 1 ppm and 5000 ppm.

12. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises ethylvanillin and is in the form of flakes, beads, prills or powder.

13. A process for the preparation of a composition that comprises vanillin and/or ethylvanillin having a bio-based carbon content of between 75% and 100% and exhibits a mean isotopic 13 C deviation of from −33‰ to −23‰, comprising:

(a) condensing guaiacol and/or guetol that has a bio-based carbon content is between 75% and 100%, with glyoxylic acid to obtain a condensation product, and

(b) oxidizing the condensation product,

wherein the composition further comprises:

at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 4-hydroxy-5-methoxyisophthalaldehyde, 2,2′-(4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 2-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2,2′-(5-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 5-ethoxy-4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde, 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, (E or Z)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-7-methoxybenzofuran-2(3H)-one, and (E or Z)-7-ethoxy-3-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzylidene)benzofuran-2(3H)-one, 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde.

14. A process for the preparation of a composition comprising vanillin and/or ethylvanillin according to claim 1 comprising:

(a) condensing guaiacol having a bio-based carbon content of between 75% and 100%, and/or guetol having a bio-based carbon content of between 75% and 100%, with glyoxylic acid to obtain a condensation product, and

(b) oxidizing the condensation product.

15. A process according to claim 13 , wherein glyoxylic acid has a bio-based carbon content of above 50%.

16. A process according to claim 13 , wherein the mole ratio of the guaiacol and/or guetol to the glyoxylic acid is between 1.0 and 4.0.

17. A food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition comprising a vanillin and/or composition according to claim 1 as a flavor or fragrance.

18. A composition comprising:

vanillin and/or ethylvanillin having a bio-based carbon content of between 75% and 100% and exhibits a mean isotopic 13 C deviation of from −33‰ to −23‰; and

at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 4-hydroxy-5-methoxyisophthalaldehyde, 2,2′-(4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 2-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2,2′-(5-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-hydroxyacetic acid), 5-ethoxy-4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde, 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, (E or Z)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-7-methoxybenzofuran-2(3H)-one, and (E or Z)-7-ethoxy-3-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzylidene)benzofuran-2(3H)-one, 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde.

19. A composition according to claim 18 , wherein the vanillin and/or ethylvanillin is present in an amount of more than 50% of the total weight of the composition.

20. A composition according to claim 18 , wherein the vanillin and/or ethylvanillin is present in an amount of more than 90% of the total weight of the composition.

21. A composition according to claim 18 , wherein at least compound is present in an amount of from 1 ppm to 5000 ppm of the total weight of the composition.

22. A composition according to claim 18 , wherein at least compound is present in an amount of from 1 ppm to 100 ppm based on the total weight of vanillin and/or ethylvanillin.

23. A composition according to claim 18 , wherein said composition comprises vanillin and ethylvanillin and the vanillin/ethylvanillin molar ratio is equal to 2.

24. A product composition, comprising a vanillin and/or ethylvanillin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the product composition is selected from the group consisting of food products, beverages, cosmetic formulations, pharmaceutical formulations, and fragrances.