YC-200 Plant Extraction Machine

Plant Extraction Machine: The Complete Buying Guide

Pilotech YC-200 plant extraction machine is used to extract active components from natural products, flowering trees and shrubs, traditional Chinese medicines, etc., by adopting an extracting method using aqueous solution or other solvents. It is the most widely used method at present.

Pilotech YC-200 plant extraction machine adopts an extracting method by selecting the solvent with high solubility to the required components and low solubility to the other components, to dissolve the active components from medicinal materials, based on the solubility of various active components in Chinese herbal medicines.

Pilotech YC-200 plant extraction machine consists of extraction tank, concentration tank, vacuum pump, oil-water separator, foam breaker and condenser. The extraction tank and the concentration tank feature a three-layer jacket structure.

Pilotech plant extraction machine is equipped with the oil-water separator. After the volatile perfume oil is extracted and cooled, effective oil-water separation is performed between the volatile perfume oil and the steam cooled water, thereby obtaining the perfume oil you need.

The water-ring vacuum pump with low noise is applied to Pilotech YC-200 plant extraction machine, with the pump head made of SUS304 stainless steel, while the water-ring vacuum pump has low noise, avoiding the impact on the environment during equipment operation.

Natural products and Chinese herbal medicines contain many foam-prone substances. A lot of foam will be produced in the extraction process, which easily bring decoction dregs into the condenser. Therefore, foam removal is needed. Pilotech plant extraction machine is equipped with an efficient foam breaker, to effectively separate the foam produced in the extraction process.

Pilotech YC-200 plant extraction machine has many specifications: 5L, 10L, 15L, 20L, 25L, 30L, 50L, 60L, 100L, 150L and 200L. Whether you need to process small samples or pilot-scale samples, we can offer you the right choice.

The contact part of Pilotech plant extraction machine with the materials is made of SUS304 stainless steel, which conforms to GMP specification. SUS316 stainless steel can also be used if necessary.

Pilotech YC-200 plant extraction machine uses Omron temperature controller and high-efficiency heater, providing accurate temperature control and quick heating speed.

Vacuum low-temperature concentration is also an important part of plant extraction equipment. Under vacuum condition, the concentration temperature can be as low as 45 DEG C, and the concentration efficiency is very high, with a concentrating ratio of 1.1-1.38.

If you want to know more about YC-200 plant extraction machine, Please be free to ask a quick quote now!

Plant Extraction Machine: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

I know you’re looking for a plant extraction machine you can trust for all your processing needs.

That’s why this guide will answer all questions you have been asking about plant extraction machine.

Keep reading to learn more.

What Are The Applications Of Plant Extraction Machine?

Plant Extraction Machine

You will find the plant extraction machine in the following industrial sectors:

Pharmaceutical Industry

In the pharmaceutical world, the equipment is vital in extracting active medicinal ingredients from medicinal plants. It is also essential in the production of other pharmacologically active ingredients.

Remarkably, the machine produces antibiotic extracts, phytopharmaceuticals, and pharmacologically active intermediates, amongst others.

The extraction procedure is quite simple. However, the extraction efficiency depends on the machine you use; more reasons why you have to evaluate the specifications of every machine.

Food Industry

While the plant extraction machine is most prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry, its application in the food industry has been rising.

The machine is more specifically significant in extracting essential oils, natural extracts, and proteins from all kinds of plants.

Flavours

With the machine, you will be at the peak of the production of flavourings. With the proper apparatus and units, you can produce quality flavours from natural extracts.

Cosmetics Industry

The plant extraction machine could also extract products for the production of ingredients in the cosmetical industry.

The extraction machine in this field would perform the extraction, purification, blending, filtering and drying of the extracts in readiness for cosmetics manufacturing.

Perfumery Industry

In this industry, high equipment performance is critical in the production via distillation and extraction using solvents.

The machine extracts essential, absolute, and concrete oils, oleoresins, resinoids, and many more extracts.

Such extracts then undergo a few processes to convert into perfume products.

Herbal Drug Industry

The herbal drug sector is increasingly welcoming the application of extraction equipment. Specifically, the machine is essential in extracting the much-needed extracts for producing herbal supplements and medicines.

What Are The Features Of The Best Plant Extraction Machine?

Many manufacturers would acquire one of the highest yields, and prime quality plant extracts with the correct plant extraction machines.

Such best plant extraction machines may have some of the following features:

Automation

Due to the rapid technology change, most manufacturers are shifting to mechanical components, which is beneficial.

Consequently, complete automation turns the process from a typical manual one to a steady extraction processing.

Subsequently, with the reduced human intervention, there would be limited chances of repeats and failure.

Several manufacturers are therefore shifting to full automation to enhance performance.

Such a system would have automated controls, including the valves while displacing the manual ones.

Fortunately, the automation reduces the load and unloads times, thereby increasing capacities and general production.

Several fully automated machines reportedly do more than 15 pounds of plants in 3-4 hours due to the streamlined extraction procedure.

Rapid Changeover

A typical high-standard machine would do rapid and subsequent changeover while operating without any fault.

Additionally, the equipment would do a maximum of 50000 psi at maximum capacities. But also you need to get prepared to part with good money for such machines.

Energy Efficiency

Plant extraction is quite a work-intensive process and therefore needs substantial energy for the operation.

You thus need to check energy consumption. Luckily, with an energy-efficient machine, you conserve power while reaping from the high performance.

Quick Terpene/ Ingredient Captures

For better results, your machine should be capable of rapidly acquiring the terpene or ingredients from the plants, limiting waiting time.

Few Or No Internal Moving Parts;

This limits chances of potential failure by the machine.

Features of Plant Extraction Machine

How Many Types Of Plant Extraction Machines Are There?

The available plant extraction machines include

CO2 Extraction Equipment

This equipment type uses CO2 as the primary solvent to extract the plants’ ingredients. Despite the high cost of CO2, its benefits are worth the investments.

The system turns the gas into a supercritical for this machine, enabling it to withdraw the plant extracts entirely. The results – Higher yields compared to other solvent types.

Rotary Evaporators

The rotary evaporators remove the plant’s active ingredients via evaporation but at lower pressure.

Besides, the equipment is specifically essential in eliminating the elements which have got low boiling points from the plants.

The significant advantage of this process is that the rotary evaporators are simple to use and implement. Besides, they quickly remove the desired plant extracts.

Vacuum Ovens

These types of machines are essential for the very delicate extraction and drying of active ingredients.

But most importantly, vacuum ovens are advisable for use in extracting plant extracts with high boiling points.

That is so because a standard vacuum oven would operate at high temperatures of 200C to 250C. However, the process runs at low pressure.

What Are The Advantages Of Ultrasonic Extractors Over Conventional Plant Extractors?

Ultrasonic Extractor

Conventional Plant Extractor

Shorter production time; The ultrasonic extractors use ultrasound which readily and quickly breaks into the plant cells to extract the active ingredient.

Purer extracts; Ultrasound is more direct since you need to add nothing else to the plant apart from the physical aspects. Now, this results in a neat final product instead of the addition of chemicals that ultimately contaminate the extracts.

Ability to customize the ultrasonic horn; Depending on your needs, the manufacturers can swiftly customize the horn.

An elevated extraction rate; With the incorporation of ultrasound waves, the ingredient extraction is quick, fast, and efficient.

Decreased solvent consumption; The machine majorly uses ultrasound waves and therefore does not need many solvents.

Improved quality of the product; As a result of total control over the ultrasonic extraction factors.

What Are The Standard Extraction Methods Applied In Plant Extraction Machines?

Some of the most common extraction methods include:

Maceration

This procedure involves placing the plant part in an enclosed stoppered container, adding solvent, and keeping it for minimum of three days. After that, place the entire set under a constant room temperature and conditions.

During this time, the contents undergo versatile agitation till the soluble matter gets dissolved. Afterwards, straining of the mixture and pressing the marc follows.

The resultant liquid then gets filtered or decanted to retain the active ingredient alone.

Digestion

It is another form of maceration which requires the application of gentle heat during extraction. The applied heat increases the menstruum solvent efficiency.

Infusion

It involves macerating the crude drug for a limited period using cold or boiling water. This procedure is suitable with readily soluble ingredients.

Decoction

This procedure entails boiling the crude drug in a particular water volume for a predetermined time.

Afterwards, it gets cooled and filtered or strained.

The procedure is the best fit for extracting water-soluble but heat-stable components.

The decoction is applicable in preparing ayurvedic extracts such as Kawata or quath. At the start, the ratio of crude drug to water is at 1:4 or 1:16.

Percolation

This method primarily uses a percolator apparatus.

The percolation procedure is familiar with the extraction of active ingredients to prepare fluid extracts and tinctures.

Hot Continuous Extraction

The process uses a soxhlet extractor which is purely glass material.

The procedure is compatible with partially soluble plant materials in the selected solvent. It also blends well with plant materials that have insoluble impurities.

The major con with the procedure is its unsuitability with thermolabile materials.

Sonication

The process is otherwise known as ultrasound extraction.

Also, procedure incorporates ultrasound waves with frequencies ranging between 20 kHz to 2000 kHz to increase cell permeability.

Microwave Extraction

This procedure involves electromagnetic radiation (microwave radiation) with frequencies ranging between 300MHz and 300GHz, with wavelengths of 1cm to 1m.

This procedure dramatically reduces the time of extraction and quantity of solvent.

However, the process is preferable for use with flavonoids and phenolic compounds.

How Do You Determine The Proper Extraction Techniques For Plant Extraction Equipment?

Type of solvent; For water solvent, you should pick maceration techniques. However, if you need to use a volatile solvent for extraction, pick percolation or soxhlet techniques.

Stability to heat; For heat-stable plant material, soxhlet or microwave would be a suitable method. Non-heat stable plant material goes with maceration or percolation.

Costs of the drug; Cheap drugs go in tandem with maceration while costly one’s blend with percolation.

Period of extraction; Always use maceration with the plant material that needs relatively more prolonged exposure to menstruum. However, note that microwave or ultrasound aided extraction would run for a short duration.

Eventually required volume; Use maceration extraction technique if you need large products such as tinctures. If not, then use percolation or soxhlet extraction for concentrated products.

Expected use; For human consumable extracts, then it is advisable that you use maceration. Conversely, you can use any other technique apart from maceration to prepare non-human consumable products.

What Are The Considerations For Choosing The Right Plant Extraction Equipment?

The scale of production; Depending on your production level, you need to pick a suitable machine; large for a more significant production while small for medium/ small production.

Floor space; If you have limited space, you should consider a small footprint, whereas a large footprint fits large rooms.

Mode of operation; You need to pick an automated machine instead of a manual one for efficient extraction.

Budget flexibility; Some equipment is affordable to many while others are relatively expensive, so you pick a machine that matches your budget.

Energy consumption; Every machine has a rated energy consumption level to help you address your energy constraints.

Which Are The Types Of Solvent Used In Medicinal Plant Extraction Machines?

There are two main types of solvents, i.e., polar and non-polar solvents.

Polar solvents include water, methanol, and ethanol.

Polar Solvent Extraction Machine

Non-polar solvents may consist of hexane, dichloromethane, Ether, Chloroform, acetate, etc.

Non Polar Solvent Extraction Machine

What Are The Features Of The Best Solvent For A Plant Extraction Machine?

Here are the most prevalent solvents to use in the plant extraction machine:

• Water
• Alcohol
• Ether
• Chloroform
• Ionic liquid

Below is an outline of their specific properties.

Water; is the most polar solvent, thus preferable for use in extracting polar compounds.

• Cheap
• Non-toxic
• High polarity level
• Non-flammable
• Enhances bacterial and growth of mould
• Needs excessive heat to concentrate the extracts

Alcohol, another polar solvent, mixes uniformly with water and is capable of extracting polar secondary metabolites.

• At 20% concentration, it is self-preservative
• When lowly concentrated, it is non-toxic.
• Requires low heat to concentrate the extracts.
• Flammable and volatile
• It does not dissolve fats, gums, and wax.

Ether; is a non-polar solvent widely used to extract alkaloids, fatty acids, terpenoids, and coumarins.

• Easily miscible with water
• It has a low boiling point
• Usually tasteless
• Stable and non-reactive with acids, bases, and metals
• Highly flammable and volatile

Chloroform; non-polar solvent suitable for the extraction of fats, oils, flavonoids, and terpenoids.

• It is colourless
• It has a sweet smell
• Soluble in alcohols
• Highly absorbed and metabolized in the body
• Sedative

Ionic liquid; highly polar and stable when heated; it is also applicable at high-temperature sectors and in the extraction of polar compounds.

• Extremely miscible with water.
• Remain in a liquid state at temperatures of up to 30000C
• Perfect with microwave extraction technique
• It is non-flammable
• Suitable for liquid-liquid type extraction
• Not suitable for tincture preparation.

Why Is Ethanol Poor Solvent Option For Plant Extraction Machine Applications Involving Water?

Ethanol is miscible with water and, therefore, would prove difficult to separate it from the extract later.

Which Are The Main Processes In Operation Of Plant Solvent Extraction Machine?

The entire operation process takes place through some critical steps, as outlined below.

Extraction Procedure

Here you treat the raw plant materials with a suitable solvent for extraction, i.e., water, Alcohol, Ether, etc.

After that, there will be a series of condensation, distillation, and evaporation to recover the solvent.

Remember that some solvents are highly flammable, and therefore you have to take necessary precautions to avoid fire explosions.

Desolventising

The discharge right from the extractor would still contain a little solvent. Therefore, you need to pass it through a desolvertiser toaster. The solvent would disperse under the prevailing high-pressure jacket heating and low-pressure steam.

Distillation

Next, the solvent gets separated from the mixture by the heat exchangers’ distillation process while keeping the vacuum condition constant.

Finishing

Eventually, you can transfer the extract to the finishing unit to undergo air cooling before packing and bagging.

Processes In Operation Of Plant Solvent Extraction Machine

How Is A Solvent Recycling System Beneficial In A Plant Extraction Machine?

Cutting costs; By recycling the solvent, the manufacturers cut costs that they would otherwise spend on buying fresh solvents and logistics costs.

Better still, you save on expenses you would incur in disposing of the used chemicals.

Consistent manufacturing efficiency; Use of recovered chemicals is almost viable as use of the fresh ones.

Lower emissions; hence protecting the environment; Because of the low quantity of chemicals disposed of. Additionally, the used chemicals become a hazard and thus harmful to the surrounding community.

Regulatory compliance; Safe disposal of hazardous waste is a litigation requirement that everyone must uphold.

What Are The Main Parts Of A Plant Extraction Machine?

The entire footprint of the plant extraction machine work collectively to guarantee safe and efficient extraction of ingredients from plants.

The essential parts include:

• Extraction tank
• Vacuum pump
• Concentration tank
• Condenser
• Oil-water separator
• Foam breaker

Which Are The Main Equipment In A Plant Solvent Extraction Line?

The solvent extraction line may consist of:

• Extractor; such as batch extractor for oil extraction and continuous extractor (rotary, loop and crawler type)
• Desolventizer; for separating the solvent from the plant mixture.

How Does A Plant Extraction Machine Work?

The operation of the plant extraction machine varies according to the type of machine.

Some machines use simple operating principles, while others have a complex or sophisticated mode of operation.

With the advancement in technology, most machines are entirely automated and thus would not need much human intervention to work.

Better still, other equipment undergo the cavitation working process.

What Is The Importance Of Fractionation In-Plant Extractor Machine?

Fractionation separates the plant extracts into several fractions. And even better yet, it divides the specific bits into small portions comprising of a few compounds.

The final stage of the fractionation process thus results in the production of pure compounds.

What Factors Affect The Quality Of Plant Extract From Plant Extraction Machine?

The quality of the plant extract may directly or indirectly be proportional to the following factors:

Raw material; Pay specific attention to the variety of the plant because even the slightest variation could shift the extract quality.

Even the particular plant variety would be affected by climatic conditions, geographical locations, cultivations, etc.

Unluckily, finding the balance between the specific needs is quite challenging.

As such, we are guaranteeing quality with the raw materials is hectic.

Quality of the solvent; Having the best choice solvent would result in high-quality extract and vice versa.

Selected plant extraction machine; The operating principle and operation hugely determine the quality level of the extract.

So you have to pay attention to the machine specification.

How Do You Perform Winterization In Botanical Extraction Machine?

Winterization In Botanical Extraction Machine

Manufacturers perform winterization with the primary objective of removing fats, wax, or lipids from the extracts.

Firstly, you need to add ethanol to the extract with the aid of a filtration procedure that incorporates a vacuum pump, filter paper, vacuum flask, and Buchner funnel.

Once the filtration process ends, there will be a solution of extract and solvent left.

Then use a rotary vibrator to boil the mixture and make the ethanol evaporate.

The result is a pure extract that you can dry using a lab oven.

What Are The Benefits Of Investing In Sub-Critical Plant Oil Extraction Equipment?

The lower initial cost of the investment; Compared to other extraction equipment such as supercritical CO2 type, the sub-critical type would require less capital.

It is appropriate for all commercial production levels; Due to the low pressure required for its operation, it is favourable for medium to large scale production business.

Flexibility in production; it is possible to customize even the small-scale production machine to serve you for largescale purposes.

Safe and efficient operation; With the sub-critical plant oil extraction equipment, the extraction would be safe and secure. Still, you would recycle the solvents to improve the efficiency of the machine and the entire operation.

High ratio of extraction

Little to no discharge hence no pollution

Minimal consumption of solvent

Can You Find High-Speed Plant Extraction Machines?

Yes, these machines operate rapidly and efficiently by spending almost half of the time taken by other machines to extract active ingredients.

The beauty of it being apart from the quick operation, it also preserves the entire biofunctional compounds from the material.

Most importantly, these machines are fully automated to enhance their operation.

What Are The Available Plant Extraction Machine Sizes?

You can always find plant extraction machines in a wide variety of sizes.

Firstly, there are small-scale-sized operation machines in terms of capacity, e.g., 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 litres capacity machines. The large scale-sized machines are available in 100, 200, etc. litres sizes.

Besides, other machines have capacities ranging from 300 kg to 100MT.

Do You Manufacture Small-Scale Plant Extraction Machines?

Yes, most manufacturers make small-scale machines with sizes from as little as 5 litres to 50 litres capacity.

Small-Scale Plant Extraction Machine

What Determines Plant Extraction Machine Price?

Mode of operation; Fully automated machines would cost more compared to the manuals ones.

Additional parts are incorporated; If you need a more operational machine to enhance its performance, you will spend more. Such add-ons could include an oil-water separator, temperature controller, etc.

The scale of operation; Small scale machine costs less while large scale machine costs more.

Which Are The Relevant Quality Certifications For Plant Extraction Machine?

Check out for these most common quality certifications for the machines, some of which are from quality regulatory bodies, parastatals, governments, etc.

• Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)
• 3A Sanitary standards
• Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)
• ASME Certification and accreditation

What Are Some Of The Cleaning And Maintenance Tips For Plant Extraction Machine?

Cleaning and maintenance are crucial not only to the machine’s lifespan but also to the viability of the products.

Below are some of the basic concepts you need to consider to muster authentic cleaning and maintenance.

• Fully understand your plant extraction machine line and master its essential operation and troubleshooting guide.
• Specify the proper cleaning and maintenance required or critical for each component of the machine.
• Have your schedule or log of cleaning and maintenance for your plant extraction machine.
• Also, have a reporting guideline for operators who might encounter problems when operating the machine.
• Most importantly, strictly follow your maintenance plan and promptly act on emerging issues.
• Have ready and keep in stock a good supply of spare parts/ necessities for your machine.
• Keep in check all the kinds of maintenance and determine the level of expertise for any emerging maintenance protocol.

What Are The Important Considerations When Buying Used Plant Extraction Machine?

• Always engage established vendors who specialize in the used plant extraction machine business.
• Ensure that you get first-hand information on the history of the equipment from the previous owner.
• Try to prevent acquiring a piece of equipment that has been out of service for an extended long time.
• Conduct a test run or, better, an inspection with a professional to certify the machine’s condition.
• Have a crucial evaluation of the machine parts and note the aspects that may need attention.
• Negotiate for the machine’s warranty with the vendor with a duration of up to one year.
• Ensure to have everything documented and the sales agreement for the machine duly processed and filled.

Why Is Supercritical Fluid Extraction System Among The Best Botanical Extraction Equipment?

The system provides one of the most successful clean and green botanical extraction techniques with zero pollution and emissions. That is so since carbon dioxide leaves no traces or residue.

The supercritical system avails one of the purest extracts and free from solvents by using carbon dioxide.

It is easier and more flexible to regulate and tweak the supercritical fluid, enhancing its performance in extraction.

The supercritical carbon dioxide in use has low viscosity hence easily penetrates the plant material. Besides, its rate of diffusion avails quicker extraction.

At Pilotech, we design and high quality and reliable plant extraction equipment that meet your unique performance needs.

Contact us now for all your plant extraction machines such as herb extraction machine, tea extraction machine, perfume extraction equipment and coffee extraction machine, amongst others.