Ginger Oil (CO2)
Ginger Oil (CO2)
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey CO2 extraction plants for ginger oil (Zingiber officinale). Supercritical CO2 extraction of ginger rhizome recovers the volatile oil and gingerols without an organic solvent as the extraction medium, for flavour, fragrance, nutraceutical and related ingredient applications. Steam distillation and solvent oleoresin routes are listed on separate pages.
Mechotech’s ginger oil (CO2) plant is configured around the rhizome 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 | Ginger Oil (CO2) Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Zingiber officinale |
| Raw Material | Ginger rhizome |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Rhizome (cleaned and conditioned) |
| Marker Compound | Gingerol (per the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry for Ginger Oil (CO2)) |
| Extract Type | Ginger 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 | Ginger 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
Ginger rhizome is cleaned, sorted and conditioned so the oil and gingerols are accessible to supercritical CO2; moisture and particle size are set during process development.
Supercritical CO2 Extraction
Prepared rhizome 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 oil.
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
- Rhizome 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
From Plant to Product
Ginger Oil (CO2 Extracted)
This botanical is also in the product range of Sureka Life Sciences, our sister concern in botanical ingredients.
Applications
- Fine perfumery
- Flavouring and food applications
- Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements
- Aromatherapy
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 Ginger Oil (CO2)?
What specification can the Ginger Oil (CO2) plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Ginger Oil (CO2) plant?
Which part of ginger is processed in the CO2 plant?
How is ginger oil produced by supercritical CO2 extraction?
Does Mechotech list other routes for ginger?
When is CO2 extraction preferred over distillation or solvent extraction for ginger?
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