Fenugreek
Fenugreek
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey spice-oleoresin extraction plants for fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum). The catalogue describes fenugreek seed as a source of 4-hydroxyisoleucine, steroidal saponins and oleoresin, used in nutraceutical, food-flavouring, Ayurvedic and cosmetic products. This page covers the oleoresin route; standardised saponin and 4-HIL extracts, and CO2 extraction, have their own pages.
Mechotech’s fenugreek oleoresin plant is configured around the seed feedstock and the target oleoresin. It is built in SS 316L with closed extractors, filtration, vacuum concentration and solvent recovery, PLC-based automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. The legacy catalogue notes that the same platform can be run in sequential campaigns for the oleoresin fraction and the saponin fraction; solvent, defatting and parameters are established during process development and pilot validation.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Fenugreek Oleoresin Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Trigonella foenum-graecum |
| Raw Material | Fenugreek seeds |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Seeds (cleaned and milled) |
| Extract Type | Oleoresin (food-grade solvent extract) |
| Extraction Method | Closed jacketed SS 316L extraction with food-grade solvent (alcohol or acetone), multiple cycles |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L |
| Filtration | Plate-and-frame filter press with cartridge polish filters |
| Concentration | Falling-film / vacuum evaporation with solvent recovery |
| Automation | PLC-based |
| Plant Capacity | Configured to requirement; a reference project is described in the Fenugreek Extraction Plant case study |
| Utility Requirements | Steam, chilled/cooling water, compressed air and power (project-specific) |
| Compliance | GMP hygienic design; full documentation for qualification |
| Final Product Form | Fenugreek oleoresin (semi-solid paste or liquid, per specification) |
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 | 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 parameters before scaling.
Manufacturing Process
Seed Preparation
Fenugreek seeds are cleaned, authenticated and milled to a uniform particle size for solvent contact.
Defatting (Optional)
Where a saponin fraction is also required, the seed can be defatted first so that the oleoresin and saponin fractions are recovered in separate campaigns.
Solvent Extraction
Milled seed is extracted with food-grade solvent in closed jacketed SS 316L extractors under controlled temperature and multiple cycles to recover the oleoresin.
Filtration & Clarification
The extract is clarified through a plate-and-frame filter press followed by cartridge polish filters.
Evaporation & Solvent Recovery
The miscella is concentrated in a falling-film / vacuum evaporator and the solvent is recovered through the condenser return system, leaving the oleoresin as a semi-solid paste.
Standardisation & Quality Control
The oleoresin is tested against the agreed specification, with test methods defined during process development, before release.
Major Plant Equipment
- Seed cleaning and milling system
- Closed jacketed SS 316L extraction vessels
- Solvent storage tanks and transfer pumps
- Plate-and-frame filter press
- Cartridge polish filtration
- Falling-film / vacuum evaporator
- Solvent recovery unit and condensers
- Standardisation / blending vessel
- CIP system
- PLC-based automation and instrumentation
Plant Output
Case Study
Fenugreek Extraction Plant
See how this plant was engineered and delivered for a real project.
Applications
- Food flavouring and spice oleoresin for bakery
- Blood sugar management nutraceuticals
- Testosterone and men’s health supplements
- Breast milk lactation support formulations
- Digestive enzyme and gut health products
- Ayurvedic classical formulations
- Cosmetic hair growth and scalp care products
Key Features
Multi-Fraction Capability
The same extraction platform can be campaigned for oleoresin and for saponin-fraction extracts, as described in the legacy catalogue.
Closed-Loop Solvent Recovery
Condenser-return recovery reuses solvent between batches and limits solvent loss.
SS 316L Construction
Product-contact surfaces are SS 316L, with CIP capability between batches.
Configurable Standardisation
The oleoresin is assayed and adjusted against the client’s declared target specification.
Scalable Capacity
Plants are configured to requirement from pilot scale upward, with modular expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mechotech supply the complete machinery for Fenugreek Oleoresin?
What specification can the Fenugreek Oleoresin plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Fenugreek Oleoresin plant?
Which industries does the catalogue list for the fenugreek plant?
Which part of fenugreek is processed in the plant?
How is fenugreek oleoresin produced?
How does this page differ from Mechotech’s other fenugreek pages?
Has Mechotech delivered a fenugreek extraction plant?
Which related plants does the catalogue list with fenugreek?
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