trONNEETINGINIIUSTRY.

COiTL',PPOCESS& CONTROL

Focus

Food prucessing & packaging

Extrqction methods optimise yield

machine. The raw material is not
stirred during the process, leaving the
solid bulk within the vessel undisturbed. This is combined with internal

filtration during the extraction cycle to

ensure the liquid can be easilv discharged at the end of the cyc1e. The
system design requires less volume for

extraction and enables the solvent to

be handled in buffer/storage tanks.

Pressure can be varied from -1 to 24

bar for best process results and the filtration within these vessels is a sim-

pler, more efficient method of

extraction. Integrated solvent recovery

and liquid discharge supported by a

vacuum further improve efficiency.
In order to ensure a good understanding of the application and its
goals, SPX operates a test centre in

Herbal extraction methods are used to produce active ingredients and

colours for medicinal, food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. sPX
extractors are designed to ensure yields are high and the process efficient

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Asian and Chinese medicine, medicinal products, instant tea drinks and
active ingredients and colours for use
in the food and beverage, pharmaceuti-

Warendorf, Germany. Here, pilot

extraction, evaporation, distillation
and drying can be carried out to trial
processes and parameters used to
ensure an efficient process with opti-

depending on system requirements.

neered l0 meet the

Traditional extractors are cylindrical with ingredients being added at the

top. The mixture is then stirred to

each specilic

mised yield and high quality results.

Pilot plants can also be rented for use
at a customer's site. Use of the test
centre and pilot plants can help determine the best type and ratio of solvent
to raw materiai for new products and
evaiuate economic efficiency before

application

investing in full-scale production

for recycling within the system or to be

The e&e Series

transported

lechnology is engi-

to a

recycling plant,

requirements ol

bring the solvent and raw materiai in

contact. However, this method creates

capability. It also means the design of

the final system can be optimised to

cal and cosmetics industries. Extraction

technology has been around for many

issues in the process with dust being

years, but the equipment from SPX

employs innovation to ensure yields

meet the application needs.

SPX e&e Series technology is engi-

impacting the downstream process.

Separating the liquid and solids at the
end of the process for discharge also

neered to meet the requirements of

becomes more complicated.

tion to different product

are high and the process efficient.

The method for herbal extraction is

very similar to making a cup of tea.

Raw material is placed in a percolator
and a solvent added. Parameters that
affect the quality of the resulting product include temperature, time in the
solvent and ratio of solvent to active

ingredient. Industrial scale processes

produce a few tonnes of product per
hour and solvents used include fluids
such as ethanoi, acetone or ethylacetate as weli as water. The process
temperature depends on the liquid
utilised and typically varies lrom 70'C
to 90'C or up to 100'C when water is

swirled through the extract fluid,

each specific application. It

batches,
changing consumer demands and'inproducts' in the market place. Systems
can be designed to handle hundreds of

SPX percolators have a conical

shape which distributes the soivent
homogenously while enabling easy

different raw materials to produce

discharge of material after the process.

The liquid passes between channels in
the particles of the raw material and
through a sieve at the bottom of the

Iarge batches or just a few hundred

Iitres of extract.

As mentioned previously, because

yield is of primary importance, the

extraction vessels are designed to max-

imise yield and process efficiency.

Automatic filling along with quick and
easy discharge of raw material and
cleaning enable increased productivity
with rapid change over between
batches. The process can offer steaming, vacuum stripping, percolation and
solvent recovery wiih batch sizes fiom
50I up to 20 cubic metres. The SPX
extraction plants have easy accessibiiity and low maintenance needs with

being used.
Some solvents, such as acetone, are
hazardous and may have regulations
associated with management of their
residue. To ensure careful treatment of
such substances from a health and
environmental standpoint, steam can

Syslems can be
designed to handle
hundreds ol diller-

be applied though the wet cake of

exhausted material in the vessel, caus-

enl raw materials

lo produce large

ing the solvent to evaporate.

balches or iusl a
lew hundred litres

SPX Flow Technology

ol exlract

wwuspx.c0m

The
vapours created, are guided to a condensing system and discharged either

is

designed to be flexible, enabling adap-

assured hygienic standards maintained through clean in place [CIP)

and sterilise in place (SIPI capability.
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