Mace
Mace
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey roots / husk distillation plants for Mace (Myristica fragrans). We supply the complete machinery to process dried mace husk — the aril of the nutmeg seed — into an essential oil configured to the client’s target specification. The product tree lists the entry as “Mace (Husk)”, and the legacy Mace page describes the dried aril (mace husk) of nutmeg seeds. Nutmeg kernel oil and nutmeg oleoresin are covered on separate pages.
Mechotech’s Mace distillation plant is configured around the raw material and the target oil. It is built in SS 316L with integrated condensers and oil–water separation, PLC-based automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. The legacy listing describes steam distillation of the mace aril; the distillation mode and operating parameters are established during process development and pilot validation. Myristicin is the listed marker compound.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Mace Distillation Plant |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Myristica fragrans (per the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry for Mace Distillation, Roots & Husk Distillation Plants; the legacy Mechotech Mace page also names Myristica fragrans) |
| Raw Material | Mace (husk): the dried aril of the nutmeg seed |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Dried aril (mace husk), as described in the legacy Mechotech Mace page; exact feed form confirmed with the client |
| Marker Compound | Myristicin (per the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry) |
| Product Category | Roots / Husk Distillation Plants |
| Extraction Method | Steam distillation (per the legacy listing); steam, hydro, vacuum or pressure modes are evaluated and the final route is confirmed during process development |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L |
| Condensation | Multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation |
| Oil–Water Separation | Stainless-steel Florentine flask |
| Finishing | Polish filtration; drying over anhydrous sodium sulphate or by vacuum |
| Automation | PLC-based |
| Plant Capacity | Configured to requirement |
| Utility Requirements | Steam, chilled/cooling water, compressed air and power (project-specific) |
| Compliance | GMP hygienic design; full documentation for qualification |
| Final Product Form | Mace essential oil; aromatic hydrosol as co-product |
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
Dried mace husk (the aril of the nutmeg seed) is cleaned of foreign matter and, where required, reduced in size so that steam reaches the oil-bearing material evenly; the feed form is set during process development.
Charging & Distillation
The prepared Mace charge is loaded into the SS 316L still and distilled by steam, hydro, vacuum or pressure distillation, selected during process development for the volatility and heat-sensitivity of the target oil.
Condensation
Vapours pass through a multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation, condensing the oil and hydrosol.
Oil–Water Separation
Condensate is separated in a stainless-steel Florentine flask; the oil is collected and the hydrosol is drawn off and can be recovered as a co-product.
Polishing & Drying
The crude oil is polish-filtered and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate or by vacuum to remove residual moisture.
Quality Control
Each batch is sampled for GC-MS profile and physical parameters — specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation — against the client’s specification.
Major Plant Equipment
- Raw material cleaning and sorting system
- Size-reduction unit (where required)
- SS 316L distillation still / extractor
- Multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation
- Stainless-steel Florentine flask (oil–water separator)
- Polish filtration system
- Drying unit (anhydrous sodium sulphate or vacuum)
- CIP system
- PLC-based automation and instrumentation
Plant Output
Applications
- Aromatherapy and wellness product formulations
- Natural perfumery and fine fragrance compositions
- Cosmetics and personal care — moisturisers, serums, shampoos
- Pharmaceutical topical formulations and liniments
- Food flavouring and beverage applications (food-grade, where permitted)
- Insect repellent and household cleaning product formulations
- Spa and massage oil products
- Natural air fresheners and home fragrance diffusers
Key Features
SS 316L Construction
Product-contact surfaces are SS 316L for corrosion resistance and product purity, with CIP capability between batches.
Efficient Condensation
Multi-tube condensers with chilled-water circulation condense the volatile oil and hydrosol and limit loss of volatile top-notes.
Husk-Charge Distillation
The still is configured for the dried mace husk charge, with the distillation mode set during process development.
Hydrosol Recovery
Integrated oil–water separation allows the aromatic hydrosol to be drawn off and recovered as a co-product.
Scalable Capacity
Plants are configured to requirement from pilot scale upward, with modular expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mechotech supply the complete machinery for Mace?
What specification can the Mace plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Mace plant?
Which industries does the legacy catalogue list for the Mace plant?
Which part of mace is processed in the distillation plant?
How is Mace oil produced in the plant?
Which botanical and marker does the catalogue list for Mace oil?
How does this Mace page differ from Mechotech’s Nutmeg pages?
Can one plant distil both mace and nutmeg?
Which other root and husk distillation plants does Mechotech list next to Mace?
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