Thyme
Thyme
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey leaves oils distillation plants for Thyme. The product tree lists the entry as Thyme (Leaves / Flowers / Buds), and Mechotech’s legacy page describes steam distillation of thyme essential oil from the leaves, flowers and buds. The Sureka Life Sciences (SLS) catalogue lists Thyme Leaves Distillation with Thymus vulgaris as the botanical source and a 20–55% thymol offering grade. The exact feed form, fresh or dried herb, is confirmed with the client before the plant is configured.
Mechotech’s Thyme 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 | Thyme Essential Oil Distillation Plant |
|---|---|
| Raw Material | Thyme leaves, flowers and buds (Thymus vulgaris) |
| Botanical Name | Thymus vulgaris (per the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry for Thyme Leaves Distillation; Mechotech’s legacy page names no species) |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Leaves / flowers / buds, as the product tree lists them (the exact form, such as fresh or dried herb, is confirmed with the client) |
| Marker Compound | Thymol (per the Sureka Life Sciences catalogue entry) |
| Catalogue Offering Grade | 20–55% thymol (Sureka Life Sciences catalogue figure for the offered oil, a wide range; not a delivered specification) |
| Product Category | Leaves Oils 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 | Thyme 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
Thyme herb is cleaned and sorted, and size-reduced where required, so that the charge packs evenly in the still and steam can reach the leaf tissue; whether the herb is fresh or dried, and the handling of the flowering tops, are set during process development.
Charging & Distillation
The prepared Thyme 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
- Herb cleaning 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
- Respiratory-support products (catalogue use area)
- Skin-care and scalp-care products
- Oral-hygiene products (catalogue use area)
- Aromatherapy applications
- Natural-disinfectant formulations (catalogue use area)
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 herb charge 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 Thyme?
What specification can the Thyme plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Thyme plant?
Which application areas does the catalogue list for the Thyme plant?
Which part of Thyme is processed in the distillation plant?
How is Thyme oil produced in the plant?
What is the botanical source and marker compound of Thyme on this page?
Which neighbouring plants does the product tree list with Thyme?
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