Purpose and structural characteristics of extraction tank

Suitable for the separation of aromatic oils and the recovery of organic solvents in industries such as traditional Chinese medicine, plants, food, biology, and light chemicals, including atmospheric pressure, pressure, pressure reduction, extraction, warm soaking, hot reflux, forced circulation, percolation, and aromatic oil separation.

2、 Composition of traditional Chinese medicine extraction tank:

2.1 It consists of an extraction tank, condenser, cooler, aromatic oil separator (excluding single tanks), filter, and pneumatic control system for the slag gate. (See attached figure)

2.1 The external structure of traditional Chinese medicine extraction tanks mainly includes forms such as regular cone, mushroom shaped, straight tube, inclined cone, inverted cone, etc; It can be divided into dynamic extraction tank and static extraction tank based on the presence or absence of stirring. It mainly consists of the tank body, slag discharge door, feeding port, feeding port and other parts. The parts in contact with the materials are all made of stainless steel, which has good corrosion resistance and fully meets GMP standards. The main body of the tank includes an inner cylinder, jacket layer, insulation layer, support ears, quick opening (or spiral) slag discharge door, etc; The insulation layer of the traditional Chinese medicine extraction tank is made of rock wool as the insulation material.

The extraction tank can be set with different steam inlet methods according to user requirements: direct inlet with jacket, inlet with heating tube inside the tank, and inlet at the bottom of the slag outlet valve.

The size and safety of the bottom slag discharge door of the equipment have always been a major challenge in this industry. The quick opening door adopts compressed air power, with a single gas cylinder opening and closing, and a four cylinder rotating lock, which is safe and reliable, easy to operate, and convenient for slag discharge, ensuring no leakage or detachment during use.

2.4 Function of foam collector: connected to the evaporation chamber of the extraction tank, it is mainly used to eliminate the foam generated when decocting Chinese medicine, and prevent the drug residue in the drug vapor from being brought into the heat exchanger.

The main function of the 2.5 condenser is to condense the drug vapor.

The main function of the cooler is to cool the medicinal solution.

The main function of the 2.6 oil-water separator is to separate the cooled recovered liquid during oil extraction, in order to obtain the desired aromatic oil.

2.7 The traditional Chinese medicine extraction tank is used in a single container during the extraction process. The solvent is added to the medicinal surface from top to bottom, which can effectively dissolve the solutes in the medicinal materials, continuously increasing the solvent mass in a gradient until it is completely dissolved, resulting in an effective ingredient rate of *. At the same time, this device is composed of a single auxiliary device forming an independent system, which can be combined or separated. Equipment utilization rate *, solvent saving, simple operation, small footprint, and low investment.

3、 Main technical parameters of traditional Chinese medicine extraction tank:

Extraction tank capacity: 1m3, 1.5m3 2m3 3m3, 5 m3, 6 m3 8 m3, 10 m3

Water extraction temperature: 90~100℃

Alcohol extraction temperature: 78~83℃

Extraction time: 5-6 hours/batch

Vacuum degree: 0.05~0.08Mpa

Use pressure: 0.08~0.2Mpa

4、 Extraction principle of traditional Chinese medicine extraction tank

4.1 Water extraction: Water and traditional Chinese medicine are loaded into the extraction tank, and steam is supplied to the interlayer. After boiling in the tank, the steam is reduced and kept boiling. If closed extraction is required, cooling water is supplied to cool the evaporated vapor and return it to the extraction tank, maintaining circulation and temperature.

4.2 Alcohol extraction: First, add the drug and ethanol in a certain proportion into the tank, and then seal the interlayer with steam. Open the cooling water to reach the desired temperature in the tank, and then reduce the heating steam to allow the cooled alcohol to reflux. In order to improve efficiency, a pump can be used to force circulation, so that the liquid medicine is sucked out from the bottom of the tank through the pump and then returned to the tank through the reflux port at the top of the tank. The traditional Chinese medicine extraction tank is equipped with a distributor to evenly return the reflux liquid to the tank and relieve local channeling.

4.3 Oil extraction: First, add the traditional Chinese medicine containing volatile oil into the extraction tank, open the circulation valve of the oil separator, close the bypass reflux valve, open the steam valve to reach the volatilization temperature, and then open the cooling water for cooling. The cooled medicine should maintain a certain liquid level difference in the separator to separate it.

5、 Operating procedures

After completing the preliminary preparation work, pour the medicinal herbs into the tank from the feeding port on the upper part of the tank, open the inlet valve, and determine the amount of water (or organic solvent) to be added according to the preparation process requirements, which is about 5-8 times the amount of medicinal herbs. After adding the medicine and water to the tank, there should be some space left.

5.2 Turn on the heating jacket steam of the extraction tank. If rapid heating is required, the straight through steam valve can also be opened to quickly heat to boiling. After the solution in the tank boils, the solution steam carries lower boiling aromatic oil and rises to the condenser, then flows through the cooler to the oil-water separator. According to the principle of different specific gravity of oil and water, the aromatic oil is separated and collected for later use. After the oil is basically collected, the solvent in the oil-water separator is returned to the extraction tank to maintain the amount of solution in the extraction tank. The boiling time for secondary extraction is about 2 hours. After the secondary extraction is completed, turn off the steam. Open the drain valve and pump the extracted liquid from the tank through the filter to the storage tank.

5.3 Add the solution for the second time, extract for about 1 hour and 30 minutes using the sequential extraction method, and combine the two liquids. Add the solution for the third time, extract for 40 minutes to 1 hour, and combine the three liquids. At this point, the solution in the extraction tank is colorless (the active ingredients of the drug are basically extracted), and the residual liquid is naturally filtered. Then, the slag discharge valve is opened to discharge the drug residue. If ethanol is used as the extraction solution, add an appropriate amount of water after the third filtration of the drug solution, open the steam to recover the ethanol solvent for later batches, and then discharge the drug residue.

After discharging the drug residue, open the cleaning valve for on-site cleaning (CIP). After cleaning, close the discharge door and proceed with the next batch of feeding.

This equipment can be used for various process operations in the traditional Chinese medicine, food, and chemical industries, including atmospheric pressure, water decoction, wet soaking, hot reflux, forced circulation infiltration, aromatic oil extraction, and organic solvent recovery. Has advantages such as efficiency and easy operation. The selection of materials for the unit equipment is excellent, and it is widely used in the extraction of volatile oils in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and chemicals.

Purpose and structural characteristics of concentration tank:

It is the process of evaporating some of the water in the liquid to increase the solid content (dry matter, nutrients) and achieve the required concentration of the liquid.

concentration method

Heating and evaporation: atmospheric pressure concentration, vacuum concentration

Non heated evaporation: freeze concentration, membrane technology concentration (reverse osmosis)

Characteristics of vacuum concentration

advantage:

① Reduce boiling point, increase the temperature difference between steam and materials, improve concentration rate, and reduce heat loss;

② Concentrate at low temperatures, suitable for food safety at lower temperatures, to prevent loss of thermosensitive substances;

③ Low temperature steam can be utilized;

④ Has reverse osmosis function, further improving the evaporation rate;

⑤ Has a certain bactericidal effect.

Disadvantages:

① Multiple equipment requirements and *;

② The latent heat of evaporation * (the lower the boiling point, the greater the latent heat of evaporation) requires a large amount of heat to evaporate.

According to the number of times steam is utilized: single effect, double effect, multi effect, evaporator with heat pump.

According to the process of the liquid: cyclic, single program.

According to the structure of the heater: non membrane type, thin film type.

The selection of evaporator should be based on material characteristics (thermal sensitivity, scaling, foaming, crystallinity, viscosity, corrosiveness)

The purpose of concentration and drying: 1. The purpose of concentration is to remove most of the moisture in food ingredients to reduce packaging, storage, and transportation costs; (2) By increasing the concentration of the product, the aim is to enhance its storage capacity; (3) Meet the process requirements of food processing, such as pre-treatment for product drying, dehydration, or crystallization. (4) During the concentration process, aromatic substances can be extracted from the juice.

The principle and characteristics of vacuum concentration: When a solution is heated, solvent molecules gain kinetic energy, overcome intermolecular attraction, and escape from the liquid surface. Steam molecules continuously supply thermal energy and are continuously eliminated. In order to improve the gasification speed in engineering, the characteristics of the gasification process in boiling state are mostly adopted: (1) Complex food raw materials have thermal sensitivity and quality requirements for product color, aroma, and taste, making the concentration of food strive for "low temperature and short time". As the boiling point of the liquid is related to external pressure, low pressure corresponds to low temperature, and vacuum concentration ensures the quality of the product. (2) Vacuum concentration eliminates air and oxygen dissolved in the liquid, and due to the lack of oxygen in the evaporation space, it is beneficial for the processing quality of easily oxidizable materials. (3) The evaporation rate is fast, saving time compared to atmospheric concentration. (4) Plays a role in pre sterilization or partial sterilization. (5) The enclosed operating space helps reduce microbial contamination of materials 2、 Structure and application of vacuum concentration equipment „ (1) Classification of vacuum concentration equipment „ 1. Classified by the number of times heating steam is utilized (1) Single effect concentration equipment; (2) Multi effect concentration equipment; (3) Concentrating equipment with heat pump. 2. According to the process of the liquid material, there are two types of circulation: natural circulation and forced circulation; (2) Single program. 3. According to the distribution state of the material liquid during evaporation: (1) Non film type: The material liquid gathers together in the evaporator, only rolling or flowing in the tube, forming a large evaporation surface. Non membrane evaporators can be divided into coil concentrators and central circulation tube concentrators (2) Thin film type: When the liquid material evaporates in the evaporator, it is dispersed into a thin film. Thin film evaporators can be divided into rising film type, falling film type, sheet type, scraper type, centrifugal thin film concentrator, etc （2） The basic structure of vacuum concentration equipment includes an evaporator, demister, condenser, and vacuum device composed of a heating chamber and an evaporation chamber.

Extraction and concentration unit description:

1、 Purpose:

This equipment is a type of * unit developed on the basis of a conventional hot reflux extraction and concentration unit. Its main feature is to achieve the reflux operation process of atmospheric pressure extraction and negative pressure concentration in series.

This equipment is suitable for water extraction of materials, extraction of organic solvents (ethanol, acetone, etc.) and inorganic solvents (gasoline, petroleum ether, etc.), integrating extraction and concentration processes. The two processes are completed in one go, and the recovery of solvents and extraction of aromatic oils are achieved.

2、 Equipment structure and characteristics

1. This unit consists of an extraction tank, an external circulation concentrator, a dual filter, a condenser, a cooler, an oil extractor, a positive and negative pressure conversion drainage tank, etc. Extraction and concentration can be used separately or run in series simultaneously (hot reflux extraction concentration).

2. Compared with ordinary hot reflux, this unit has designed a positive and negative pressure conversion drainage tank, which can automatically reflux the condensed water under negative pressure to the extraction tank under positive pressure without the need for any electrical equipment.

3. The roller type rotating slag discharge door adopts roller sliding between the rotating door ring and the slag discharge door, eliminating the defect of plane friction and greatly reducing the driving force of the cylinder. This way, the slag discharge door can be locked tighter and easier to open. This slag discharge door is designed with a self-locking structure.

4. The outlet pipe is made of stainless steel hard pipe and equipped with a rotating component with polytetrafluoroethylene sealing gasket, which facilitates flexible opening and closing of the slag discharge door.

5. Long tube oil-water separator can provide sufficient static separation time for oil and water, allowing for the full separation of oil and water.

6. The evaporator is designed with a * - shaped defoaming capacity to prevent the liquid from foaming or material leakage.

3、 Advantages of using equipment

1. This unit has a wide range of operating processes, including water extraction and alcohol extraction; Positive pressure extraction and concentration; Positive pressure extraction and negative pressure concentration are ideal equipment for thermosensitive materials.

2. One machine is versatile and easy to operate. It can achieve synchronous extraction and concentration, as well as separate operations for extraction and concentration. One person can perform the operation. Compact equipment structure, small footprint, and reduced investment costs.

3. Reduce production time by more than 30%. The traditional process requires multiple extractions, followed by filtration and concentration, which is slow. However, this process involves three steps simultaneously: extraction, filtration, and concentration. Natural speed is fast.

4. The yield of the ointment is 10% -20% higher than traditional techniques, and the content of active ingredients is doubled. A one-time injection of solvent can achieve a large circulation, maintaining a constant gradient between the solute concentration in the material and the solute concentration in the solvent. So the solute in the material quickly dissolves until it is completely dissolved, and the yield and extraction rate of effective ingredients are improved.

5. The solvent input is reduced by 50% -70%, and only one solvent is needed for extraction. The solvent can be continuously refluxed to the main tank for reuse, resulting in less solvent in the slag and liquid, lower consumption, and reduced production costs.

6. More than 50% of energy is saved by using the secondary steam generated from concentration as the heat source for extraction, and the extracted liquid is injected into the concentrator at a higher temperature, thus saving energy.

7. The filter operates in a suction state, resulting in faster filtration speed.

4、 Working principle

This equipment adopts a dual principle process of reflux extraction and percolation extraction, combined with external circulation concentration technology, to concentrate the two processes of extraction and concentration in one device, and simultaneously complete the production of impregnated paste in one go.

The solvent is added to the main tank and evaporation chamber through a measuring tank at a ratio of 2-5 times the solvent of the medicinal herbs (according to the process). After soaking, the interlayer and heater are simultaneously heated with steam. After the liquid in the tank boils for about 30 minutes, the liquid in the lower part of the main tank is sent to the external circulation concentrator through one of the dual filters. The liquid is evaporated along the inner wall of the heater tube and quickly spun into the evaporation chamber. The surface of the liquid in the evaporation chamber rapidly evaporates to produce secondary steam. Part of the secondary steam returns to the extraction tank and serves as a heat source to directly heat the extraction solution, fully saving energy (note that the main tank jacket inlet valve can be turned down at this time); The other part of the secondary steam passes through the condenser. Condense into a suitable temperature solvent and retain it in the main tank. This type of solvent quickly passes through the material layer from top to bottom, dissolves the soluble substances in the material, penetrates to the bottom of the main tank, and then passes through a dual filter to the concentrator for concentration. The secondary steam generated by the evaporation chamber returns to the main tank as a heat source and the solvent is extracted and utilized by the main tank. Repeating this cycle multiple times, the entire process of hot reflux extraction is completed. (By observing the color of the extraction liquid flowing through the glass cylinder at the bottom of the main tank, it can be determined whether the extraction is fully completed. If this extraction liquid is colorless, transparent, or light colored, it indicates that the extraction has been fully completed.). After the extraction task is completed, close the external circulation feed valve and continue the concentration operation. The secondary steam evaporated rises into the bedroom condenser and cooler for cooling, and is recovered into the solvent storage tank or discharged into the ditch (water extraction). Simultaneously extracting the main tank can be used for slag discharge and cleaning. Heavy loading and other next steps of work. The function of the positive and negative pressure conversion drainage tank is to ensure that the concentrator operates under negative pressure and automatically switches to discharge the condensed solvent from the negative pressure end into the positive pressure end extraction tank.

5、 Process operation

1. Oil extraction operation: Soak the material in the extraction tank, add some solvent, steam fumigate the material, turn on the condenser cooling water, and the steam in the tank is condensed and cooled by the horizontal condenser and cooler before entering the oil extractor. Operating the oil extractor can extract light or heavy oil.

2. Positive extraction and concentration: After the liquid medicine in the extraction tank boils for about 30 minutes, the liquid valve is opened to add the extraction solution. After filtration, it enters the external circulation concentrator for concentration. The evaporated second steam is condensed by the horizontal condenser and refluxed to the extraction tank. This is a continuous cycle until the extraction and concentration are completed.

3. Positive and negative concentration: After the material liquid in the extraction tank boils for about 30 minutes, the liquid valve is opened to release the extraction liquid. After filtration, it enters the external circulation concentrator for concentration. At the same time, the vacuum pump is started and the horizontal condensation vacuum is connected to make the evaporation chamber work under negative pressure. At this point, the through valve between the extraction tank and the horizontal condenser should be closed to ensure that no vacuum is formed inside the extraction tank and that it operates under positive source pressure. The secondary steam from the evaporation chamber is condensed by a horizontal condenser and then flows back into the extraction tank through a positive negative pressure conversion drainage tank. This is a continuous cycle until the extraction and concentration are completed.

Single effect concentrator, double effect triple effect concentrator, traditional Chinese medicine extraction tank, dynamic extraction tank, and static extraction tank can be designed and manufactured according to user requirements and process conditions.