ISO 3760:2002

Overview

ISO 3760:2002 specifies quality characteristics and test requirements for oil of celery seed (Apium graveolens L.). The standard defines physical, chemical and chromatographic parameters used to assess celery seed essential oil quality for commercial trade, formulation and safety classification. It is intended to harmonize testing and help laboratories, producers and buyers evaluate authenticity and consistency.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Physical properties
  • Density (relative to water at 20 °C): 0.867 – 0.908
  • Refractive index at 20 °C: 1.478 – 1.488
  • Optical rotation at 20 °C: +48° to +78°
  • Colour and appearance: very mobile, clear, colourless liquid
• Chemical limits
  • Acid value (index d’acide): maximum 6
  • Ester index (indice d’ester): 20 – 70
• Solubility
  • Miscibility with 90% ethanol at 20 °C: clear solution achievable using no more than 6 volumes of ethanol per 1 volume of oil
• Chromatographic profile (normative)
  • Gas chromatography (GC) required to identify characteristic constituents and ensure each falls within specified ranges. Key markers include:
    • Limonene (major component): ~58–79%
    • β‑pinene: 0.5–2%
    • Myrcene: 0.3–1.4%
    • β‑selinene: typically ~5–20% (may be <5% if seeds were crushed)
    • Sedanénolide (3‑butyl‑4,5‑dihydrophthalide): ~1.5–11%
  • Phthalides may show variable behaviour; GC must use an apolar column as specified.
  • Annex A provides a typical GC‑FID method (capillary column OV‑101, 50 m, temp program 65→230 °C at 2 °C/min, H2 carrier gas, 0.2 µL injection).
• Safety-related data
  • Flash point: average +58 °C reported (Annex B); method used should be stated.

References to methods: ISO 279 (density), ISO 280 (refractive index), ISO 592 (optical rotation), ISO 875 (ethanol miscibility), ISO 1242 (acid value), ISO 709 (ester value), ISO 11024 (GC profiling) and ISO 212 (sampling).

Applications

• Establishing product specifications for celery seed oil used in flavors, fragrances, aromatherapy and botanical preparations
• Quality control and batch release testing in essential oil and flavor laboratories
• Authenticity and adulteration checks via GC profile comparison
• Safety classification, transport and insurance documentation (flash point and composition)
• Purchasing and contractual specifications for traders and exporters/importers

Who uses this standard

• Essential oil producers and distillers
• Analytical and QC laboratories
• Flavor and fragrance formulators
• Commodity traders and packers
• Regulatory, transport and safety authorities

Related standards

• ISO 11024‑1 / ISO 11024‑2 (GC profiling guidelines)
• ISO 1242 (acid value)
• ISO 279, ISO 280, ISO 592, ISO 875, ISO 709, ISO 212

Keywords: ISO 3760:2002, oil of celery seed, celery seed oil, Apium graveolens, essential oil standards, gas chromatography, quality assessment, chromatographic profile.