CO2 Extraction Plants

Fenugreek Oil (CO2)

Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey CO2 extraction plants for fenugreek oil (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Supercritical CO2 extraction of fenugreek seed recovers the fenugreek oleoresin fraction without an organic solvent as the extraction medium, for flavour, fragrance, nutraceutical and related ingredient applications.

Mechotech’s fenugreek oil (CO2) plant is configured around the seed feedstock and the target extract. It is built in SS 316L, rated for the high-pressure supercritical CO2 process, with integrated CO2 recovery and recirculation, PLC-based automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. An ethanol modifier can be evaluated during process development where polar fractions are also required; operating pressure and temperature are set in process development.

Technical Specifications

Product	Fenugreek Oil (CO2) Extraction Plant
Botanical Name	Trigonella foenum-graecum
Raw Material	Fenugreek seeds
Plant Part / Feed Form	Seeds (cleaned and conditioned)
Marker Compound	Diosgenin (per the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry for Fenugreek Oil (CO2))
Extract Type	Fenugreek oleoresin / oil (CO2 extract)
Extraction Method	Supercritical CO2 extraction
Product-contact Material	SS 316L, rated for high-pressure supercritical CO2
Solvent Recovery	CO2 recompression, condensation and recirculation
Automation	PLC-based
Plant Capacity	Configured to requirement
Compliance	GMP hygienic design; full documentation for qualification
Final Product Form	Fenugreek oleoresin / oil (CO2 extract)

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

Raw Material Preparation

Fenugreek seeds are cleaned, sorted and conditioned so the oleoresin is accessible to supercritical CO2; moisture and particle size are set during process development.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction

Prepared seed is charged into the high-pressure SS 316L extraction vessel, where CO2 is pressurised and heated past its critical point to act as the extraction medium, drawing out the oleoresin.

Separation

The CO2–extract mixture is passed to a separator vessel where pressure is reduced, so the CO2 reverts to gas and releases the extract.

CO2 Recovery & Recirculation

Released CO2 gas is recompressed, condensed and recirculated back into the extraction cycle, limiting make-up CO2.

Collection & Quality Control

The extract is collected and each batch is tested against the agreed specification, with test methods defined during process development, before release.

Major Plant Equipment

Seed cleaning and size-reduction system
High-pressure SS 316L supercritical CO2 extraction vessel
Separator vessel
CO2 recompression, condensation and recirculation system
Extract collection system
CIP system
PLC-based automation and instrumentation

Plant Output

Fenugreek oleoresin / oil (CO2 extract)

From Plant to Product

Fenugreek Oil

This botanical is also in the product range of Sureka Life Sciences, our sister concern in botanical ingredients.

Applications

Flavouring and food applications
Cosmetics and skin care
Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements
Hair-care formulations

Key Features

SS 316L Construction
Electropolished SS 316L product-contact surfaces with CIP operation between batches.
Closed-Loop CO2 Recovery & Recirculation
Integrated recovery recompresses and recirculates CO2, reducing solvent consumption.
Solvent-Free Extraction Medium
Supercritical CO2 replaces a conventional organic solvent as the extraction medium.
High-Pressure Rated Vessels
Extraction and separator vessels are engineered for the operating pressures of the supercritical CO2 process.
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 Fenugreek Oil (CO2)?

Yes. Mechotech supplies the complete turnkey plant for Fenugreek Oil (CO2) — engineered, fabricated at our Hyderabad facility, installed and commissioned as a single integrated system. Final process parameters are established during process development and pilot validation.

What specification can the Fenugreek Oil (CO2) plant achieve?

The plant is configured to the client’s target specification for Fenugreek Oil (CO2); the specification achieved is established during process development and pilot validation, and each batch is released with batch-release testing and certificate-of-analysis documentation.

What production capacities are available for the Fenugreek Oil (CO2) plant?

Capacity for the Fenugreek Oil (CO2) plant is configured to raw-material supply, confirmed buyer volume and investment timeline, starting at pilot scale; a pilot plant is recommended to validate parameters before scaling.

Which part of fenugreek is processed in the CO2 plant?

Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum). The exact feed form and conditioning are confirmed with the client before the plant is configured.

How is fenugreek oil produced by supercritical CO2 extraction?

Conditioned seed is charged into a high-pressure SS 316L extraction vessel where CO2, pressurised and heated past its critical point, dissolves the oleoresin. Pressure is reduced in a separator so the CO2 reverts to gas and releases the extract, and the CO2 is recompressed and recirculated.

Does Mechotech list other routes for fenugreek?

Yes. This page covers the supercritical CO2 route. Fenugreek is also listed as an oleoresin plant (Fenugreek — Oleoresin) and as standardised extract plants (Fenugreek Extract — 40% Lucin Saponins and Fenugreek Extract — 40% Iso Lucin 4-HIL). The delivered Fenugreek Extraction Plant case study covers the standardised-extract route.

When is CO2 extraction preferred over solvent extraction for fenugreek?

CO2 extraction suits buyers who want a solvent-free extraction medium for the oleoresin fraction; solvent extraction is the usual route for saponin and other polar targets. The route is chosen after screening against the target specification.

Which marker does the catalogue list for fenugreek oil by CO₂?

The Sureka Life Sciences catalogue lists diosgenin as the marker for fenugreek oil (CO₂), a steroidal sapogenin that is not typically a CO₂-soluble oil constituent, so the marker and the achievable specification are agreed with the buyer and established during process development.

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Fenugreek Oil (CO2)