Plant - Lichens
Plant - Lichens
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey natural colour extraction plants for lichens. In the Mechotech catalogue, Plant - Lichens is listed in the Pink Colour group alongside Fruit - Avacado / Cherries, Flower - Roses and Roots - White Bedstraw. No Mechotech article, case study or legacy page describes lichen colour: the lichen species, the pigment, the shade and the extraction route are not stated in any source, so they are confirmed with the client before the plant is configured. The plant is configured around the raw material and the target colour extract. This page is separate from the Oak Moss (moss / lichen) wood-absolute page, which is a different product and route.
Mechotech’s Plant - Lichens 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. Because no Mechotech source describes lichen pigments or a lichen colour route, the line is specified generically for solid-liquid extraction, filtration, vacuum concentration and standardisation, and the solvent system, extraction conditions and pH are established during process development and pilot validation on the client’s lichen.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Plant - Lichens Natural Colour Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Raw Material | Lichens (catalogue name: Plant - Lichens); the species is not stated in the catalogue |
| Botanical Name | Not stated in any Mechotech source; the lichen species is confirmed with the client |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Whole lichen thallus as supplied; cleaned and size-reduced before extraction; exact feed form confirmed with the client |
| Colour Group | Pink Colour (see the Pink Colour page) |
| Colour-forming Components | Not stated in any Mechotech source; the pigment and target shade are confirmed with the client and established during process development |
| 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; solvent system (water, alcohol / aqueous or other) and conditions 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 (pink 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
Lichen is authenticated, cleaned of bark, soil and other debris, tested for moisture and size-reduced so the extraction liquor can reach the tissue; the particle size is set during process development.
Extraction
The prepared lichen is extracted in closed jacketed SS 316L vessels at controlled temperature over several cycles. The solvent system, temperature and pH are not described by any Mechotech source and 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.
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 and pigment strength are 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
- Cosmetic and personal-care colour applications (subject to the shade obtained)
- 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.
Route Set on the Client’s Lichen
No source describes lichen pigments, so solvent, conditions and shade are established on pilot runs with the client’s material rather than assumed.
Closed-Loop Solvent Recovery
Where a solvent is used, integrated condenser-return recovery reuses solvent between batches and reduces solvent loss.
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 - Lichens?
What specification can the Plant - Lichens plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Plant - Lichens plant?
Which industries use the Plant - Lichens plant?
Which lichen and which pigment does this page cover?
Is this the same as the Oak Moss page?
Does the catalogue promise a pink shade?
How is the raw material chosen within the Pink Colour group?
How does this page differ from the Usnic Acid page, which also processes lichen?
Where does this page sit in the pink colour range?
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