Apple Extract Powder
Apple Extract Powder
Extraction Technologies
Mechotech supplies the complete machinery for apple extract powder production, standardised from 20% up to 80% polyphenols by UV. Apple (Malus domestica) fruit and peel are rich in procyanidins, chlorogenic acid, and phloridzin — polyphenols valued for antioxidant activity. Our turnkey plant extracts, concentrates, and spray-dries these actives into a standardised free-flowing powder for the nutraceutical, functional food, and cosmetic markets. Candidate extraction technologies for phloridzin and pectin: Counter-Current Extraction (CCE), Subcritical Water Extraction (SWE), Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE), Hybrid Extraction and Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) (6 in total).
Mechotech designs and manufactures the apple extract powder extraction plant as a turnkey solution with SS 316L construction, low-temperature aqueous-ethanol extraction, integrated solvent recovery, and spray drying. Higher-grade specifications (up to 80% by UV) integrate an additional resin or membrane purification stage. The process is engineered to protect the oxidation-sensitive polyphenol fraction while achieving consistent assay and low moisture.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Apple Extract Powder Plant |
|---|---|
| Feedstock | Apple pomace |
| Part / Feed Form | Pomace |
| Target Extract | Phloridzin and pectin |
| Standardisation | 20% to 80% polyphenols by UV |
| Extraction Method | Counter-current, SWE, UAE, EAE, Hybrid, MAE |
| Technology Count | 6 |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L, electropolished, CIP-cleanable |
| Automation | PLC-SCADA, configured to requirement |
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
Each extraction method follows a different process — pick a method to see its steps.
Raw-Material Preparation
Apple pomace is cleaned and size-reduced so phloridzin and pectin can be reached by the extraction medium; particle size and moisture are set during process development.
Counter-Current Loading
Prepared Apple pomace is fed into a multi-stage solid–liquid counter-current extractor where fresh ethanol/water or a suitable food-grade solvent meets the most-depleted material.
Counter-Current Extraction
Solvent flows against the solids across stages to draw out phloridzin and pectin; bed flow and fines management are verified during pilot work.
Extract (Miscella) Collection
The phloridzin and pectin-bearing miscella is collected from the fresh-feed end while spent solids are discharged from the solvent-entry end.
Concentration & Solvent Recovery
Solvent is removed from the clarified phloridzin and pectin-bearing extract under vacuum and returned through a solvent-recovery loop; recovery performance is confirmed at pilot scale.
Fraction Recovery, Standardisation & Drying
The targets (phloridzin and pectin) are recovered as fractions by a route selected during process development, checked against the target specification and dried or concentrated as required.
Raw-Material Preparation
Apple pomace is cleaned and size-reduced so phloridzin and pectin can be reached by the extraction medium; particle size and moisture are set during process development.
Vessel Loading & Pressurisation
Prepared Apple pomace and water are loaded into a pressure-rated extraction vessel.
Subcritical Water Extraction
Water held liquid under pressure at elevated temperature extracts phloridzin and pectin without an organic solvent; temperature and residence time are set to limit thermal degradation and hydrolysis.
Separation
Spent pomace is separated by filtration or centrifugation and the extract is clarified before concentration.
Concentration
The clarified aqueous extract is concentrated under vacuum or by membrane systems where required; no organic solvent is used in this route.
Fraction Recovery, Standardisation & Drying
The targets (phloridzin and pectin) are recovered as fractions by a route selected during process development, checked against the target specification and dried or concentrated as required.
Raw-Material Preparation
Apple pomace is cleaned and size-reduced so phloridzin and pectin can be reached by the extraction medium; particle size and moisture are set during process development.
Slurrying
Prepared Apple pomace is slurried with ethanol/water or water in the extraction vessel.
Ultrasonic Cavitation
Ultrasound creates cavitation that disrupts the pomace tissue and speeds release of phloridzin and pectin; probe intensity, temperature and filtration behaviour are piloted.
Separation
Spent pomace is separated by filtration or centrifugation and the extract is clarified before concentration.
Concentration & Solvent Recovery
Solvent is removed from the clarified phloridzin and pectin-bearing extract under vacuum and returned through a solvent-recovery loop; recovery performance is confirmed at pilot scale.
Fraction Recovery, Standardisation & Drying
The targets (phloridzin and pectin) are recovered as fractions by a route selected during process development, checked against the target specification and dried or concentrated as required.
Raw-Material Preparation
Apple pomace is cleaned and size-reduced so phloridzin and pectin can be reached by the extraction medium; particle size and moisture are set during process development.
Slurry & pH Control
Prepared Apple pomace is slurried in water with pH and temperature set for the enzyme system.
Enzymatic Treatment
An enzyme (for example a cellulase, pectinase or protease, selected for the pomace matrix) breaks down bound cell-wall material to release phloridzin and pectin; enzyme cost and specificity are validated at pilot scale.
Enzyme Inactivation & Separation
The enzyme is inactivated and spent solids are separated by filtration or centrifugation.
Concentration
The clarified aqueous extract is concentrated under vacuum or by membrane systems where required; no organic solvent is used in this route.
Fraction Recovery, Standardisation & Drying
The targets (phloridzin and pectin) are recovered as fractions by a route selected during process development, checked against the target specification and dried or concentrated as required.
Raw-Material Preparation
Apple pomace is cleaned and size-reduced so phloridzin and pectin can be reached by the extraction medium; particle size and moisture are set during process development.
Stage Sequence Selection
A deliberate combined extraction train is used: the sequence of stages is selected for phloridzin and pectin in pilot screening and each stage is designed separately.
First Assisted Stage
The first stage releases phloridzin and pectin from the pomace under controlled conditions set for that stage.
Second / Combined Stage
The second stage completes recovery of phloridzin and pectin from the partially extracted material; stage conditions are optimised separately.
Separation & Concentration
Spent solids are removed and the combined extract is clarified and concentrated; solvent is recovered where a solvent is used.
Fraction Recovery, Standardisation & Drying
The targets (phloridzin and pectin) are recovered as fractions by a route selected during process development, checked against the target specification and dried or concentrated as required.
Raw-Material Preparation
Apple pomace is cleaned and size-reduced so phloridzin and pectin can be reached by the extraction medium; particle size and moisture are set during process development.
Medium Mixing
Prepared Apple pomace is mixed with ethanol/water or water in the microwave extraction vessel.
Microwave Heating & Extraction
Controlled microwave heating drives phloridzin and pectin out of the pomace in a short cycle; heating, moisture, solvent safety and temperature-sensitive targets are controlled, with limits set during process development and pilot validation.
Separation
Spent pomace is separated by filtration or centrifugation and the extract is clarified before concentration.
Concentration & Solvent Recovery
Solvent is removed from the clarified phloridzin and pectin-bearing extract under vacuum and returned through a solvent-recovery loop; recovery performance is confirmed at pilot scale.
Fraction Recovery, Standardisation & Drying
The targets (phloridzin and pectin) are recovered as fractions by a route selected during process development, checked against the target specification and dried or concentrated as required.
Major Plant Equipment
- Raw-material cleaning and size-reduction system
- Feed conditioning / moisture-adjustment system
- Multi-stage counter-current extractor
- Solvent storage tanks and transfer pumps
- Pressure-rated hot-water extraction vessel
- High-pressure water pump and heat exchangers
- Ultrasonic extraction vessel with transducer system
- Jacketed enzyme reaction vessel with pH and temperature control
- Enzyme dosing and inactivation system
- Combined extraction train (stage equipment per the selected sequence)
- Microwave extraction vessel with temperature and safety controls
- Filtration / centrifugation system
- Vacuum evaporator
- Membrane concentration unit (where required)
- Solvent recovery system with condensers
- Spray dryer
- CIP (clean-in-place) system
- Storage and finished-product tanks
- PLC-SCADA control panel and instrumentation
Plant Output
Applications
- Nutraceutical antioxidant capsule and tablet formulations
- Weight-management and metabolic-health supplement blends
- Functional food, beverage, and dietary supplement manufacturing
- Cosmetic and personal care active ingredient supply
- Pharmaceutical standardised botanical ingredient supply
- Export to nutraceutical ingredient buyers in regulated markets
Key Features
GMP Hygienic SS 316L Construction
All product-contact surfaces are electropolished SS 316L, using GMP hygienic design for botanical extract manufacturing, with clean-in-place (CIP) operation between batches.
Wide Specification Range (20%-80% by UV)
An optional resin/membrane purification stage lets the same plant produce standard 20% grades through to enriched 80% polyphenol powders by UV, matching different buyer specifications.
Closed-Loop Solvent Recovery
Integrated condenser-distillation recovery returns ethanol to the process for reuse.
Integrated Spray Drying
A matched spray dryer converts the standardised concentrate into a free-flowing, low-moisture polyphenol powder ready for encapsulation and blending, completing the turnkey powder line.
Scalable Batch Capacity
Plants are configured to requirement from pilot scale upward, with a modular design that allows expansion without replacing core equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which feedstock and target extract does the Apple Extract Powder plant cover?
What is apple extract powder and why is it commercially extracted?
Does Mechotech supply the machinery for apple extract powder?
How does Mechotech achieve high-grade 80% apple polyphenol powder?
What production capacities are available for the apple extract powder plant?
Which extraction technologies are candidates for Apple pomace?
What equipment does the Apple Extract Powder extraction plant include?
Which related Mechotech extraction pages cover the same material or target?
Is a pilot trial recommended for Apple pomace extraction?
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