Marigold
Marigold
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey floral concrete and absolute extraction plants for marigold (Tagetes erecta). Mechotech’s legacy page names Tagetes erecta and Tagetes patula, values marigold for its floral scent and natural pigment content, and lists its concrete and absolute for perfumery, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications. The plant produces a floral concrete by hexane extraction and an absolute by ethanol washing of the concrete. This is the concrete and absolute route; the yellow natural colour and lutein routes for marigold are on separate pages.
Mechotech’s marigold plant follows the floral-concrete route: extraction of the flowers with food-grade hexane to a concrete, filtration and quality check, ethanol washing of the concrete to an absolute, then ethanol recovery and concentration. It is built in SS 316L with solvent recovery, PLC-based automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. Solvents, temperatures and cycle times are established during process development and pilot validation.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Marigold Floral Concrete & Absolute Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Tagetes erecta (Sureka Life Sciences catalogue); Mechotech’s legacy page names Tagetes erecta and Tagetes patula — species confirmed with the client |
| Raw Material | Marigold flowers |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Flowers (exact form, such as fresh or dried, whole flower heads or petals, confirmed with the client) |
| Extract Type | Floral concrete and absolute |
| Marker Compound | Lutein (catalogue marker per the Sureka Life Sciences entry for Marigold Extract, floral concrete route; see FAQ) |
| Extraction Method | Solvent extraction with food-grade hexane to concrete; ethanol washing of the concrete to absolute |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L |
| Filtration | Concrete filtration and quality check |
| Concentration | Solvent recovery; ethanol recovery and absolute concentration |
| Automation | PLC-based |
| Plant Capacity | Configured to requirement |
| Utility Requirements | Steam, chilled/cooling water, compressed air and power (project-specific) |
| Compliance | GMP hygienic design; solvent-handling areas specified for flammable solvents; full documentation for qualification |
| Final Product Form | Marigold floral concrete; marigold absolute |
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
Floral Material Harvesting & Preparation
Marigold flowers are received, inspected and prepared for extraction; handling time and condition are set with the client because flower aroma is perishable.
Hexane Extraction (Concrete Production)
The prepared flowers are extracted with food-grade hexane in closed SS 316L extraction vessels, and the solvent is removed and recovered to leave the floral concrete.
Concrete Filtration & Quality Check
The concrete is filtered and checked against the agreed specification before the absolute stage.
Ethanol Washing (Absolute Production)
The concrete is washed with ethanol, which takes up the aromatic fraction and leaves the waxes largely undissolved.
Ethanol Recovery & Absolute Concentration
The ethanolic solution is filtered and concentrated and the ethanol recovered, giving the absolute.
Quality Control & Packaging
The absolute is tested against the client’s specification and packed with batch documentation.
Major Plant Equipment
- Flower receiving and preparation area
- Closed SS 316L extraction vessels for hexane extraction
- Solvent storage tanks and transfer pumps
- Filtration system for miscella and concrete
- Evaporator and concrete stripping vessel
- Ethanol washing vessel and filtration unit
- Absolute recovery and concentration unit
- Solvent recovery system with condensers
- CIP system
- PLC-based automation and instrumentation
Plant Output
From Plant to Product
Marigold Extract
This botanical is also in the product range of Sureka Life Sciences, our sister concern in botanical ingredients.
Applications
- Perfumery
- Cosmetics and skin care
- Pharmaceutical applications
Key Features
Two-Stage Concrete-to-Absolute Route
The line produces a floral concrete first and then an absolute by ethanol washing, so either form can be taken as the finished product.
Solvent Recovery
Hexane and ethanol are recovered through the plant’s condenser-based solvent recovery system.
Flammable-Solvent Safety
Solvent-handling areas are specified for flammable solvents; the hazardous-area scope and any certification are confirmed per project.
SS 316L Construction
Product-contact surfaces are SS 316L, with CIP capability between batches.
Scalable Capacity
Plants are configured to requirement from pilot scale upward, with modular expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mechotech supply the complete machinery for Marigold?
What specification can the Marigold plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Marigold plant?
Which industries use the marigold concrete and absolute plant?
Which part and species of marigold are processed?
How is marigold absolute produced in the plant?
What is the difference between a floral concrete and an absolute?
Which marker does the marigold concrete and absolute carry?
How does this page differ from Mechotech’s other marigold pages?
Which related floral concrete and absolute plants does Mechotech list?
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