Spikenard
Spikenard
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey roots / husk distillation plants for Spikenard. The product tree lists Spikenard under Roots / Husk Distillation Plants in the same group as a separate Jhatamansi / Spikenard entry, and Mechotech’s legacy Spikenard page describes steam distillation of spikenard essential oil from the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi. The Sureka Life Sciences (SLS) catalogue lists Spikenard Distillation with Nardostachys jatamansi as the botanical source and jatamansone as the offering grade. Because the Jhatamansi / Spikenard page names the same plant and route, the two overlap and are cross-linked below. The exact root form, fresh or dried, is confirmed with the client before the plant is configured.
Mechotech’s Spikenard plant is configured around the raw material and the target oil. It is built in SS 316L with integrated condensers and oil–water separation, PLC-based automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. The distillation mode and operating parameters are established during process development and pilot validation.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Spikenard Essential Oil Distillation Plant |
|---|---|
| Raw Material | Spikenard roots (Nardostachys jatamansi) |
| Botanical Name | Nardostachys jatamansi (per Mechotech’s legacy Spikenard page and the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry for Spikenard Distillation) |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Roots, as the product tree and the legacy page list them (the exact form, fresh or dried, cut or crushed, is confirmed with the client) |
| Marker Compound | Jatamansone (per the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry; see the FAQ on the catalogue CAS number) |
| Product Category | Roots / Husk Distillation Plants |
| Extraction Method | Steam, hydro, vacuum or pressure distillation — selected for the volatility and heat-sensitivity of the target oil |
| Product-contact Material | SS 316L |
| Condensation | Multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation |
| Oil–Water Separation | Stainless-steel Florentine flask |
| Finishing | Polish filtration; drying over anhydrous sodium sulphate or by vacuum |
| 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 | Spikenard essential oil; aromatic hydrosol as co-product |
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
Spikenard roots and rhizomes are cleaned of soil and cut or crushed, as agreed with the client, so that the charge packs evenly in the still and steam can reach the root tissue; the particle size and whether the material is fresh or dried are set during process development.
Charging & Distillation
The prepared Spikenard charge is loaded into the SS 316L still and distilled by steam, hydro, vacuum or pressure distillation, selected during process development for the volatility and heat-sensitivity of the target oil.
Condensation
Vapours pass through a multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation, condensing the oil and hydrosol.
Oil–Water Separation
Condensate is separated in a stainless-steel Florentine flask; the oil is collected and the hydrosol is drawn off and can be recovered as a co-product.
Polishing & Drying
The crude oil is polish-filtered and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate or by vacuum to remove residual moisture.
Quality Control
Each batch is sampled for GC-MS profile and physical parameters — specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation — against the client’s specification.
Major Plant Equipment
- Root washing, cutting and size-reduction system
- Perforated basket or false-bottom charge support
- SS 316L distillation still / extractor
- Multi-tube condenser with chilled-water circulation
- Stainless-steel Florentine flask (oil–water separator)
- Polish filtration system
- Drying unit (anhydrous sodium sulphate or vacuum)
- CIP system
- PLC-based automation and instrumentation
Plant Output
Applications
- Aromatherapy and meditation products
- Skin-care and hair-care products
- Massage products
- Perfumery and Ayurvedic preparations (per Mechotech’s legacy page)
Key Features
SS 316L Construction
Product-contact surfaces are SS 316L for corrosion resistance and product purity, with CIP capability between batches.
Efficient Condensation
Multi-tube condensers with chilled-water circulation condense the volatile oil and hydrosol and limit loss of volatile top-notes.
Configurable Distillation Mode
The still is configured for steam, hydro, vacuum or pressure distillation, selected during process development for the dense root feedstock and the target oil.
Hydrosol Recovery
Integrated oil–water separation allows the aromatic hydrosol to be drawn off and recovered as a co-product.
Scalable Capacity
Plants are configured to requirement from pilot scale upward, with modular expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mechotech supply the complete machinery for Spikenard?
What specification can the Spikenard plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Spikenard plant?
Which application areas does the catalogue list for the Spikenard plant?
Which part of Spikenard is processed in the distillation plant?
How is Spikenard oil produced in the plant?
What is the botanical source and marker compound of Spikenard on this page?
Why is the catalogue CAS number not used here?
How does Spikenard differ from the Jhatamansi pages?
Which neighbouring plants does the product tree list with Spikenard?
Ready to discuss your project?
Get a free quote and technical consultation from our engineering team.