EQUIPEMENT MANFACTURER FOR PROCESS INDUSTRIES NECTACEL VEGETABLE EXTRACTION PILOT UNIT 1 LITRE USING LIQUEFIED GAS The NECTACEL vegetable extraction unit intent is to perform a complete solid-liquid extraction cycle on a plant matrix using a liquefied gas as a solvent. The payload is 1 litre of raw material. The NECTACEL device is designed for these following liquefied gases: • Dimethyl ether (DME or methoxymethane or MZ12x) - Hot water from 60 ° C for adjustment of process parameters - Glycoled water at -10 ° C (for use with n-butane) or -30 °C (for other solvents) - Vacuum network The basis of the process is a closed cycle of a liquefied gas at the evaporative equilibrium. • The solvent is liquid when sprayed on the raw material in the extractor • The solvent evaporates in the boiler, releasing the liquid or crystallized extract The particular characteristics of NECTACEL process are: Transfers of liquid solvent from tank to tank by gravity or pressure drop, without pump. Evaporation and condensation of the solvent substantially under the same conditions of temperature and pressure in an isothermal and isobaric process, at room temperature, without gas compressor. Solvent is quite totally recovered to be reused, by desorbing from the matrix and condensation, using a final vacuum network. The raw material is loaded into a filter bag, which is then placed inside the extraction vessel.

For first qualitative extractions, pilot unit is performed according a batch processing in steps: 1. Matrix macerates in liquid solvent at designed temperature during requested time 2. Solvent evaporates in the boiler and condensates in condenser, both under pressure 3. Finally, solvent charge is recovered in tank and extract is collected at the boiler bottom For a complete screening, pilot unit is performed according to a half-continuous process. Percolation in extractor, evaporation in boiler and condensation in condenser are simultaneous. Solvent circulates under pressure with no pump. A hydraulic...