Plant - Red Basil
Plant - Red Basil
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey natural colour extraction plants for red basil. In the Mechotech catalogue, Plant - Red Basil is listed in the Redish Purple Colour group alongside Flowers - Dark Red Hibiscus / Day Lillis. According to Mechotech’s article on reddish-purple colour extraction from red basil, the colour comes from anthocyanins, water-soluble flavonoid pigments present in the leaves and stems as glycosides of anthocyanidins such as cyanidin, often acylated with organic acids. The article describes red basil as closely related to holy basil (tulsi), which is distilled for its aroma oil; this page covers the colour route only, and the basil species or cultivar is not named in the catalogue, so it is confirmed with the client.
Mechotech’s Plant - Red Basil 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 the anthocyanin pigment is pH-responsive and sensitive to heat, light and oxygen, the article describes extraction with gently heated water or with mildly acidic or alcoholic solvents, mildly acidic conditions throughout, and gentle vacuum concentration at moderate temperature. Antioxidants, drying and encapsulation options are then used to stabilise the colour. Final parameters are established during process development and pilot validation.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Plant - Red Basil Natural Colour Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Raw Material | Red (purple) basil leaves and stems (catalogue name: Plant - Red Basil) |
| Botanical Name | Not stated in the catalogue; the article treats red and purple basil as a variety of basil closely related to holy basil, and the species or cultivar is confirmed with the client |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Leaves and stems harvested at peak maturity when anthocyanin levels are highest; washed and finely chopped or crushed (per the article); exact feed form confirmed with the client |
| Colour Group | Redish Purple Colour (see the Redish Purple Colour page) |
| Colour-forming Components | Anthocyanins, such as cyanidin glycosides, often acylated with organic acids (per the article); the hue depends strongly on pH |
| 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 with gently heated water, or mildly acidic or alcoholic solvents (ethanol or acidic solutions), kept mildly acidic (the routes the article describes); route 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 (redish purple 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
The harvested red basil leaves and stems are washed to remove dust and soil, then finely chopped or crushed to increase the surface area, so the anthocyanins diffuse readily into the solvent. The article stresses harvesting at peak maturity, when pigment levels are highest.
Extraction
The prepared foliage is extracted in closed jacketed SS 316L vessels at controlled temperature, either with heated water (gentle rather than harsh heat, so the anthocyanins are not degraded) or with ethanol or acidic solutions for a more concentrated, stable colour. The extraction is kept mildly acidic to hold the pigment in its red-purple form; the route and conditions 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 gently in a falling-film / vacuum evaporator at moderate temperature with the pH held on the acidic side, to avoid heat damage to the pigment; solvent is 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. The article notes that antioxidants such as ascorbic acid can be added to improve stability and shelf life.
Drying & Quality Control
The standardised extract is supplied as a liquid concentrate or dried to a powder, per specification; the article mentions freeze-drying or microencapsulation to protect the anthocyanins from moisture, light and oxygen. Release follows 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
- pH adjustment and antioxidant dosing arrangement
- Spray or vacuum dryer
- CIP system
- Automation and instrumentation
Plant Output
Applications
- Natural reddish-purple colour for food and beverage applications (subject to approval of the specific colour in each market)
- Cosmetic and personal-care colour applications
- Textile colouring, where metal mordants fix the pigment and tune the shade (per the article)
- Natural alternative to synthetic colours, as the article describes
Key Features
SS 316L Construction
Electropolished SS 316L product-contact surfaces with CIP operation between batches.
Acid-Protected Extraction
The line holds the extract on the acidic side throughout, because the article notes that near-neutral pH shifts the colour toward purple and alkaline pH toward unstable blue forms.
Gentle Concentration
Vacuum concentration at moderate temperature protects the heat- and light-sensitive anthocyanins.
Stabilisation Options
Antioxidant dosing and, where a powder is wanted, freeze-drying or microencapsulation are the stabilisation routes the article describes.
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 - Red Basil?
What specification can the Plant - Red Basil plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Plant - Red Basil plant?
Which industries use the Plant - Red Basil plant?
What gives red basil its reddish-purple colour?
Why must the extraction be kept mildly acidic?
Which extraction route should be used, water or solvent?
Is red basil colour related to holy basil (tulsi) processing?
How is the extract stabilised?
Where does this page sit in the redish purple colour range?
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