Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom
Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey natural colour extraction plants for larkspur and dyer’s broom. In the Mechotech catalogue, Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom is listed in the Green Colour group alongside Flowers - Tea Tree / Yarrow / Black Eyed Susans, Leaves - Spinach / Chamomile / Nettle and Skins - Red Onions. The only Mechotech source that covers any of the listed plants is its article on yellow colour from St. John’s wort and larkspur, which describes larkspur (genus Delphinium) as a source of yellow dye from flavonol glycosides. No Mechotech source describes dyer’s broom, or how a green shade is obtained from either plant, so the plant parts, the pigment and the target shade are confirmed with the client before the plant is configured.
Mechotech’s Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom plant is configured around the raw material and the target colour extract. It is built in SS 316L with integrated solvent recovery, automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. For larkspur, the article describes hot-water extraction of the flowers below boiling to dissolve flavonol glycosides, then gentle vacuum concentration and drying; limited heat and oxygen are used to keep polyphenol pigments from dulling. No source describes the route for dyer’s broom or for a green shade, so the plant parts, solvent system and conditions are established during process development and pilot validation.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom Natural Colour Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Raw Material | Larkspur and dyer’s broom plant material (catalogue name: Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom); the plant parts are not stated in the catalogue |
| Botanical Name | Larkspur: genus Delphinium (per Mechotech’s article); dyer’s broom: not stated in any Mechotech source and confirmed with the client |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Larkspur: flowers gathered at full bloom, fresh or shade-dried (per the article). Dyer’s broom: not stated. Exact feed form confirmed with the client |
| Colour Group | Green Colour (see the Green Colour page) |
| Colour-forming Components | Larkspur: flavonol glycosides (the article names quercetin and kaempferol glycosides as the flavonoid family of St. John’s wort and larkspur) giving a yellow dye; dyer’s broom: not stated in any Mechotech source |
| Process Category | Natural Colour Extraction Plants |
| Extract Type | Natural colour extract (liquid concentrate or dried powder, per specification) |
| Extraction Method | Closed jacketed SS 316L extraction at controlled temperature; hot water below boiling is the route the article describes for larkspur flavonoids, with route and solvent confirmed during process development |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L |
| Filtration System | Plate-and-frame filter press with cartridge polish filters |
| Concentration System | Falling-film / vacuum evaporator with solvent recovery where a solvent is used |
| Drying System | Spray or vacuum dryer, where a powder is required |
| 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 | Natural colour extract (green colour group) |
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
Plant material is authenticated, cleaned and tested for moisture. Larkspur flowers are gathered at full bloom and used fresh or shade-dried (per the article); the feed forms for larkspur and dyer’s broom are confirmed with the client and the material is chopped or crushed to open the tissue.
Extraction
The prepared charge is extracted in closed jacketed SS 316L vessels at controlled temperature over several cycles. For larkspur the article describes simmering the chopped flowers in water below boiling to dissolve the flavonoid glycosides; the solvent, temperature and cycles for each plant, and for a green shade, are set during process development.
Filtration
The extract is separated from the spent material and clarified through a plate-and-frame filter press followed by cartridge polish filters.
Concentration & Solvent Recovery
The extract is concentrated in a falling-film / vacuum evaporator, with solvent recovered through the condenser return system where a solvent is used. The article describes gentle vacuum concentration, with limited heat and oxygen to keep the polyphenol pigments clean and bright.
Standardisation
The concentrate is assayed and adjusted to the declared target colour specification, such as shade and colour strength, with the raw material and extraction conditions held consistent between batches. The shade actually obtained from these plants, and whether a green is achievable, is established in trials.
Drying & Quality Control
The standardised extract is supplied as a liquid concentrate or spray- or vacuum-dried to a powder, per specification, then released after assay, residual-solvent (where a solvent is used), heavy-metal, microbial and moisture testing.
Major Plant Equipment
- Raw material cleaning, authentication and moisture testing
- Size-reduction system
- Closed jacketed SS 316L extraction vessels
- Solvent storage tanks
- Plate-and-frame filter press
- Cartridge polish filtration
- Falling-film / vacuum evaporator
- Solvent recovery unit and condensers
- Standardisation / blending vessel
- Spray or vacuum dryer
- CIP system
- Automation and instrumentation
Plant Output
Applications
- Natural colour and dye ingredient supply
- Natural textile dyeing, where the article describes mordant-assisted dyeing of wool and silk with larkspur flavonoids
- Cosmetic and personal-care colour applications
- Food colour applications (subject to approval of the specific colour in each market)
Key Features
SS 316L Construction
Electropolished SS 316L product-contact surfaces with CIP operation between batches.
Gentle, Oxygen-Limited Processing
The article notes that flavonoid polyphenols dull if over-heated or exposed to air, so extraction and concentration are run at controlled temperature.
Trial-Defined Shade
No source gives a route to a green shade from these plants, so shade and pigment are established on pilot runs rather than assumed.
Standardised to Specification
In-process and batch-release assay are used to check the finished extract against the agreed target specification, such as shade and colour strength.
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 Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom?
What specification can the Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom plant?
Which industries use the Plant - Larkspur / Dyer's Broom plant?
Which plants are covered, and which plant parts?
Does larkspur give a green colour?
What gives larkspur its dye colour?
How does this page relate to the St. John’s wort pages?
Is the green shade the same as a chlorophyll colour?
Where does this page sit in the green colour range?
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