Estisol 190 and 199 offer proven d-Limonene alternatives for degreasing and cleaning applications.
D-Limonene is used as a degreasing and cleaning solvent in many soil and resin removal applications.
Formulators and end-users of straight d-Limonene find it very effective in attacking hydrocarbons such as oils, grease, tar, asphalt and fuels.
D-Limonene has also been labeled as a “green” solvent due to its natural and renewable origins (citrus peels) and biodegradability.
However, because of worker safety concerns (i.e. vapors and flammability), increasingly strict consumer product regulations concerning volatile organic compounds (VOCs), price fluctuations in the citrus crop and unpredictable availability, many formulators have been looking for an effective way to reduce or replace d-Limonene in their products.
The Challenge: Finding a suitable d-Limonene Alternative
Replacing d-Limonene, or offsetting its usage in a cleaning formulation, presents a unique set of challenges.
For example, an effective alternative would need to meet the solvency needs and performance expectations of d-Limonene users.
A suitable d-Limonene alternative should also reduce environmental, health and safety concerns, while offering price stability and reliable availability.
Why Estisol 190 and 199 to replace d-limonene?
Estisol 190 and 199 are offer price stable, high-performance and environmentally preferable replacements to terpene hydrocarbons, including d-limonene and dipentene, across a wide range of industrial cleaning applications.
ESTISOL® 190 is a high-solvency, vegetable-derived ester (KB value > 250) suitable for both aqueous and non-aqueous systems. It performs reliably in industrial degreasers, metal cleaning, ink and polymer removal, and maintenance formulations. Its balanced solvency profile makes it well suited as a primary solvent, co-solvent, or solvency booster where consistent performance and broad material compatibility are required.
ESTISOL® 199 is designed for more demanding soils and heavy-duty applications such as bitumen cleaners, graffiti removers, and high-load degreasers. In simple lab demonstrations, ESTISOL® 199 rapidly dissolves dried bitumen films—often matching or exceeding d-limonene—while offering improved handling and safety characteristics. This makes it especially effective where fast action and visible cleaning results matter.
Safety, Environmental, and Compliance Advantages
Both ESTISOL® 190 and 199 offer meaningful improvements over d-limonene and aromatic hydrocarbons. They feature low vapor pressure, high flash points, mild odor profiles, and minimal CLP hazard labeling, helping reduce inhalation exposure, flammability risk, and VOC concerns. In addition, they are readily biodegradable and exhibit low aquatic toxicity, supporting safer formulations and simpler regulatory compliance.
Side-by-Side Comparison: d-Limonene vs ESTISOL® Alternatives
| Property / Attribute | d-Limonene | ESTISOL® 190 | ESTISOL® 199 |
| Primary Strength | Strong natural solvency | Broad, high solvency | Heavy-duty solvency with more evaporation |
| Typical KB Value | ~67 | >250 | >74 |
| Flash Point | ~48 °C | ~124 °C | ~84 °C |
| Odor | Strong citrus | Mild / Vegetable | Mild / Vegetable |
| VOC Content | 100% | 0% | 25% |
| Biodegradability | Readily biodegradable | Readily biodegradable | Readily biodegradable |
| Best Use Cases | General degreasing | Metal, ink, polymer cleaning | Bitumen, graffiti, heavy soils |
| Price Stability | Crop-dependent, volatile | Stable | Stable |
Bottom line:
For formulators and end users seeking reliable d-limonene alternatives, ESTISOL® 190 offers versatile, high-performance solvency with excellent safety and compliance benefits, while ESTISOL® 199 is the go-to option for aggressive cleaning where fast, visible results are required—without the volatility and regulatory drawbacks of terpene solvents.