Roots - Iris
Roots - Iris
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey natural colour extraction plants for iris roots. In the Mechotech catalogue, Roots - Iris is listed in the Grey to Black Colour group alongside Galls - Oak Galls, Leaves - Sumac, Hulls - Walnut, Dried Bean - Black Beans, Grains - Black Rice and Vegatables - Balck Carrot / Black Currant. No Mechotech article, case study or legacy page describes iris root colour: the iris 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. Mechotech’s Grey to Black Colour hub page describes two colour mechanisms in the group, iron-tannate colour from tannin-rich materials reacted with iron, and anthocyanins in pigmented grains, beans and vegetables, but does not say which applies to iris. This page is separate from the Iris / Orris distillation page, which is a different product and route.
Mechotech’s Roots - Iris 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 iris root pigments or a colour route, the line is specified generically for solid-liquid extraction, filtration, vacuum concentration and standardisation, and the solvent system, extraction conditions, any iron reaction and the pH are established during process development and pilot validation on the client’s iris root.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Roots - Iris Natural Colour Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Raw Material | Iris roots (catalogue name: Roots - Iris); the species is not stated in the catalogue |
| Botanical Name | Not stated for this colour entry in any Mechotech source; the iris species is confirmed with the client (the separate Iris / Orris page names Iris germanica and Iris pallida for orris oil, which does not settle the colour entry) |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Roots as named in the catalogue; cleaned and size-reduced before extraction; the exact root or rhizome form is confirmed with the client |
| Colour Group | Grey to Black Colour (see the Grey to Black Colour page) |
| Colour-forming Components | Not stated in any Mechotech source; the pigment, the colour mechanism within the Grey to Black group and the 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 (grey to black 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
Iris root is authenticated, washed free of soil, 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 root 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 for this raw material and are set during process development.
Filtration
The extract is separated from the spent root 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. Whether an iron reaction is part of the route is not stated in any source and is decided 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 Iris Root
No source describes iris root 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 Roots - Iris?
What specification can the Roots - Iris plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Roots - Iris plant?
Which industries use the Roots - Iris plant?
Which iris and which part does this page cover?
What colour does iris root give?
Is this the same as the Iris / Orris page?
How is the extraction route chosen without a source?
Where does this page sit in the Grey to Black Colour range?
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