Amyris
Amyris
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey wood / bark distillation plants for Amyris (Amyris balsamifera). We supply the complete machinery to process Amyris into an essential oil configured to the client’s target specification for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and fragrance industries. Amyris oil from Amyris balsamifera wood, also known as West Indian sandalwood oil, is used in perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for its woody, balsamic aroma and fixative properties.
Mechotech's Amyris plant is configured around the specific chemistry and processing requirements of Amyris. Built in SS 316L with integrated condensers and oil-water separation, PLC-based automation, and full documentation, each plant is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. Amyris wood is a dense feedstock, so the line is built around wood size reduction and a still sized for dense charges. The catalogue values the oil as a perfumery fixative with a woody, balsamic aroma, so the quality plan centres on the aroma profile and batch consistency, with valerianol documented as a constituent.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Amyris Distillation Plant |
|---|---|
| Process Category | Wood / Bark Distillation Plants |
| Plant Part | Wood |
| Botanical Name | Amyris balsamifera L. |
| Principal Documented Constituent | Valerianol |
| Extract Type | Essential oil, with aromatic hydrosol as a recoverable co-product |
| Extraction Method | Steam, hydro (hydrodistillation), vacuum or pressure distillation — selected for the volatility and heat-sensitivity of the target oil |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L, CIP-capable |
| Condensation & Separation | Multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation; stainless-steel Florentine flask for oil–water separation |
| Polishing | Polish filtration; drying over anhydrous sodium sulphate or by vacuum |
| Quality Control | GC-MS and physical parameters (specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation) verified per batch |
| Utility Requirements | Steam, chilled/cooling water, compressed air, soft water, power (project-specific) |
| Automation | PLC-based automation |
| Plant Capacity | Configured to requirement |
| Final Product Form | Essential oil (liquid) and recoverable hydrosol |
Plant Capacities
| Plant Scale | Raw Material Throughput | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Configured to your feedstock and trial plan | Product development, parameter validation |
| Semi-Commercial | Configured between pilot and commercial scale | Contract manufacturing, scale-up trials |
| Commercial | Configured to raw-material supply and confirmed buyer volume | Commercial production at confirmed buyer volume |
Capacity is configured to raw-material supply and confirmed buyer volume; we recommend a pilot plant to validate process parameters before scaling.
Manufacturing Process
Raw Material Preparation
Amyris wood is cleaned and reduced to chips or shavings so that steam reaches the oil-bearing wood; the exact form and charge density are set during process development.
Charging & Distillation
The prepared Amyris charge is loaded into the SS 316L still and distilled by steam, hydro (hydrodistillation), vacuum, or pressure distillation — selected for the volatility and heat-sensitivity of the target oil.
Condensation
Vapours pass through an efficient multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation, condensing the volatile oil and hydrosol.
Oil–Water Separation
Condensate is separated in a stainless-steel Florentine flask; the essential oil is collected while the hydrosol is drawn off (and can be recovered as a co-product).
Polishing & Drying
The crude oil is polish-filtered and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate (or by vacuum) to remove residual moisture.
Quality Control
Each batch of Amyris oil is verified by GC-MS and physical parameters (specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation) before release.
Major Plant Equipment
- Raw material cleaning and sorting (with size reduction where required)
- SS 316L distillation still
- Steam distribution system
- Multi-tube condenser (chilled-water circulation)
- Stainless-steel Florentine oil–water separator
- Polish filtration and drying unit (anhydrous sodium sulphate or vacuum)
- Hydrosol collection
- Essential oil and hydrosol storage tanks
- CIP (clean-in-place) system
- PLC-based automation panel
Plant Output
From Plant to Product
Amyris Distillation
This botanical is also in the product range of Sureka Life Sciences, our sister concern in botanical ingredients.
Applications
- Perfumery (fixative)
- Aromatherapy and diffusion
- Skin-care products
- Massage oils
- Bath products
- Cosmetics
- Pharmaceuticals
Key Features
SS 316L Construction
All product-contact surfaces are SS 316L for corrosion resistance and product purity, with CIP capability between batches.
Efficient Condensation
High-surface-area multi-tube condensers with chilled-water circulation maximise oil recovery and minimise losses of volatile top-notes.
Wood-Charge Distillation
The still is configured for dense amyris wood charges, with the distillation mode and run time set during process development.
Hydrosol Recovery
Integrated separation allows recovery of the aromatic hydrosol as a co-product.
Scalable Capacity
Plants are configured to requirement from pilot scale upward, with modular expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mechotech supply the complete machinery for Amyris?
What specification can the Amyris plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Amyris plant?
Which industries use the Amyris plant?
How is Amyris essential oil produced in Mechotech's distillation plant?
What is Amyris and what is its botanical source?
Which part of Amyris is processed in the distillation plant?
Which related wood plants does the catalogue list with Amyris?
Is amyris oil the same as sandalwood oil?
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