Capsicum Oleoresin
Capsicum Oleoresin
Purity Levels
Capsaicinoids by HPLC 1%–10% (legacy Mechotech page figure)
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey spices oleoresin extraction plants for Capsicum. Mechotech’s legacy page for the Capsicum Oleoresin Extraction Plant names Capsicum annuum / frutescens and covers red chilli, paprika and cayenne types. It describes hexane or food-grade ethanol extraction to an oleoresin standardised to 1%–10% capsaicinoids by HPLC, with an optional colour-separation step (an adsorbent column) that allows a red paprika colour oleoresin and a capsaicin-rich oleoresin to be collected separately from the same raw-material batch. The Sureka Life Sciences catalogue lists Capsicum Extract with Capsicum annuum L as the botanical source. The product tree lists Capsicum under Spices Oleoresin Extraction Plants with no figure. We supply the complete machinery, from raw-material preparation and solvent extraction to filtration, concentration, solvent recovery and standardisation, configured to the buyer’s raw material and target specification.
Mechotech’s Capsicum plant follows the solvent route described on its legacy page: chilli preparation, solvent extraction, filtration, solvent evaporation, optional decolourisation and standardisation. Pungency is standardised as capsaicinoids by HPLC. Colour is a separate attribute: Mechotech’s Red Chilli legacy page names the carotenoids capsanthin and capsorubin as the red pigments, and Mechotech’s paprika oleoresin case study reports colour as ASTA colour value. Whether a project targets a pungency grade, a colour grade or both, and the solvent, temperature and cycle times, are established during process development and pilot validation. The plant is built in SS 316L with solvent recovery, PLC-based automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Capsicum Oleoresin Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Process Category | Spices Oleoresin Extraction Plants |
| Botanical Name | Capsicum annuum L. (Sureka Life Sciences entry Capsicum Extract); Mechotech’s legacy page names Capsicum annuum / frutescens |
| Raw Material | Red chilli, paprika and cayenne types (per the legacy page) |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Dried chilli / paprika fruit (the legacy page names a chilli preparation step and Mechotech’s paprika case study processes dried fruits); exact feed form, such as whole pod, cut or ground, confirmed with the client |
| Principal Documented Constituents | Capsaicinoids (pungency) and the carotenoids capsanthin and capsorubin (red colour), per Mechotech’s legacy pages |
| Standardisation | Capsaicinoids by HPLC, 1%–10% (Mechotech legacy page figure; the product tree lists no figure for Capsicum). Where a colour grade is targeted, colour is assayed as ASTA colour value, as in Mechotech’s paprika oleoresin case study; no colour range is stated on this page |
| Extract Type | Oleoresin (viscous liquid concentrate) |
| Extraction Method | Solvent extraction with hexane or food-grade ethanol (per the legacy page) in closed, jacketed SS 316L extractors; solvent selection is confirmed per project |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L, electropolished, CIP-cleanable |
| Filtration System | Plate-and-frame filter press with cartridge polish filtration |
| Concentration System | Falling-film / vacuum evaporator at low temperature with closed-loop solvent recovery |
| Colour Separation | Optional adsorbent-column decolourisation / colour separation (per the legacy page), included only where the project calls for it |
| Drying System | Not applicable to the liquid oleoresin; any finishing form is agreed with the client |
| Automation | PLC-based automation; scope confirmed per project |
| Plant Capacity | Configured to requirement |
| Utility Requirements | Steam, chilled/cooling water, vacuum, compressed air, soft water, power (project-specific) |
| Compliance | GMP hygienic design; full documentation for qualification |
| Final Product Form | Standardised capsicum oleoresin (liquid concentrate); finishing form confirmed to the project specification |
Plant Capacities
| Plant Scale | Raw Material Throughput | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Configured to your feedstock and trial plan | Grade development, parameter and assay validation |
| Semi-Commercial | Configured between pilot and commercial scale | Scale-up trials, contract manufacturing |
| Commercial | Configured to raw-material supply and confirmed buyer volume | Commercial production |
Capacity is configured to raw-material supply, confirmed buyer volume and investment timeline; a pilot plant is recommended to validate the target grade and assay methods before scaling.
Manufacturing Process
Chilli Preparation & Size Reduction
Dried capsicum fruit is authenticated, cleaned, tested for moisture and milled to a uniform particle size so that the solvent reaches the oleoresin-bearing tissue; the feed form is confirmed with the client.
Solvent Extraction
The prepared material is extracted with hexane or food-grade ethanol (per the legacy page) in closed, jacketed SS 316L extractors at controlled temperature over multiple cycles; solvent, temperature and cycle times are established during process development and pilot validation.
Filtration
The extract (miscella) is clarified through a plate-and-frame filter press followed by cartridge polish filters.
Solvent Evaporation & Recovery
The filtered miscella is concentrated in a falling-film / vacuum evaporator at low temperature, with solvent recovered through the condenser return system. Mechotech’s paprika case study describes the carotenoid pigments as sensitive, which is why concentration is run under vacuum.
Decolourisation / Colour Separation (Optional)
Where the project calls for it, the legacy page describes an adsorbent column that allows a red paprika colour oleoresin and a capsaicin-rich oleoresin to be collected separately from the same raw-material batch. Inclusion of this step is decided per project.
Standardisation
The concentrate is assayed for capsaicinoids by HPLC and, where a colour grade is targeted, for ASTA colour value, then adjusted to the client’s target specification. The release-testing scope and documentation are agreed with the client.
Major Plant Equipment
- Raw-material cleaning and moisture testing
- Mill (size reduction)
- Jacketed SS 316L solvent extraction vessels
- Solvent storage tanks
- Solvent transfer pumps
- Plate-and-frame filter press
- Cartridge polish filters
- Falling-film / vacuum evaporator
- Closed-loop solvent recovery system (condenser return)
- Condensers and vacuum pumps
- Adsorbent column (optional colour separation, per the legacy page)
- Standardisation / blending vessel
- CIP (clean-in-place) system
- PLC-based control panel, MCC and instrumentation
Plant Output
From Plant to Product
Capsicum Extract
This botanical is also in the product range of Sureka Life Sciences, our sister concern in botanical ingredients.
Applications
- Standardised capsaicin for pharmaceutical pain relief (per the legacy page)
- Food pungency standardisation (per the legacy page)
- Red paprika natural colour for the food industry (per the legacy page)
- Processed foods, snack seasonings, sauces and ketchup, meat products, dairy products, instant foods, nutraceutical formulations, cosmetics and natural food colouring (the uses listed in Mechotech’s paprika oleoresin case study)
Key Features
SS 316L Construction
Electropolished SS 316L product-contact surfaces with CIP operation between batches.
Configurable Pungency or Colour Route
The legacy page describes optional colour separation, so a capsaicin-rich oleoresin and a red paprika colour oleoresin can be collected separately from one raw-material batch; the grade targeted is agreed with the client.
Low-Temperature Concentration
Vacuum concentration keeps heat exposure low for the carotenoid pigments, which Mechotech’s paprika case study describes as sensitive.
Closed-Loop Solvent Recovery
Integrated condenser-return recovery reuses solvent between batches and reduces solvent loss.
Standardised to Specification
In-process and batch-release assay are used to check the finished oleoresin against its agreed target specification.
Scalable Batch Capacity
Plants are configured to requirement from pilot scale upward, with modular expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mechotech supply the complete machinery for Capsicum oleoresin?
Can one Capsicum plant produce both a pungency grade and a colour grade?
What raw material and plant part is used for Capsicum oleoresin?
Which solvents does the Capsicum plant use?
Why does the concentration step run at low temperature?
How is this Capsicum page different from the Red Chilli pages?
What production capacities are available for the Capsicum oleoresin plant?
Which applications does Mechotech list for Capsicum oleoresin?
What drives the cost and delivery timeline of a Capsicum oleoresin plant?
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