Curcumin (Curcuma longa) — up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC
Spices Oleoresin Extraction Plants

Curcumin (Curcuma longa) — up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC

Curcumin (Curcuma longa) — up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC Spices Oleoresin Extraction Plants — Mechotech

Curcumin (Curcuma longa) — up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC

Purity Levels

Up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC (custom specifications available)

Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey curcumin extraction plants that process turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome into a consistent, specification-grade curcuminoid extract — standardised up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC — for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and fragrance industries.

Curcumin is heat-, light-, and oxidation-sensitive, and the curcuminoid yield depends heavily on solvent choice and closed-loop handling — generic extraction equipment struggles to hit pharma-grade purity consistently. Mechotech's plant is engineered from first principles around this chemistry: built in SS 316L with integrated solvent recovery (>95%), automation, and full documentation, each plant is delivered as a commissioned, performance-verified turnkey system that reliably meets the declared curcuminoid specification from day one. As a turnkey extraction and distillation plant manufacturer and exporter based in Hyderabad, India, with offices in the USA (United States), UAE (United Arab Emirates), Singapore, UK, and Germany, Mechotech supplies and commissions curcumin extraction plants for buyers in India and export markets including the USA (United States), UAE (United Arab Emirates), and Nigeria. Where a project calls for it, extraction can also be engineered around supercritical CO2, ultrasound-assisted, or microwave-assisted methods in addition to the standard solvent-extraction route above — available on request and scoped during process design. The plant is built around the curcumin extraction tank, filtration system, and vacuum concentrator described in the process below, engineered together as a single integrated line.

Manufacturing Process

1

Raw Material Preparation

Turmeric rhizome is authenticated with an incoming curcuminoid assay, washed, dried, and milled to a uniform particle size to maximise surface area for solvent contact.

2

Solvent Extraction

Milled turmeric is extracted in closed, jacketed SS 316L extraction tanks (batch, percolation, rotary, or maceration-type extractors, selected to suit throughput and feedstock) under controlled temperature and agitation. Solvent (ethanol, acetone, or hydro-alcoholic blends) is selected to match the target grade — food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade extraction carry different solvent and residue requirements.

3

Filtration & Clarification

The extract (miscella) is clarified through a plate-and-frame filter press and centrifugal separator, followed by cartridge polish filters, to remove fines and fibrous matter.

4

Concentration & Solvent Recovery

The miscella is concentrated in a falling-film / vacuum concentrator (evaporator) with greater than 95% solvent recovery through the condenser return system, cutting solvent cost and CPCB discharge load.

5

Purification, Isolation & Standardisation

The concentrate is purified and the curcuminoid fraction isolated, then assayed by HPLC and adjusted to the declared curcuminoid specification — typically up to 95%, or a custom grade on request — before drying.

6

Drying & Quality Control

The standardised curcumin extract is spray- or vacuum-dried to a free-flowing powder, then released after assay, residual-solvent, heavy-metal, microbial, and moisture testing with a full certificate of analysis.

Applications

  • Pharmaceutical standardised ingredient supply
  • Nutraceutical capsule, tablet, and supplement manufacturing
  • Natural food colour and flavour applications
  • Cosmetic and personal care active ingredients
  • Ayurvedic and traditional medicine preparations
  • Export to regulated-market ingredient buyers

Key Features

  • GMP-Compliant SS 316L Construction

    Electropolished SS 316L product-contact surfaces meet WHO-GMP and Schedule M requirements, with CIP operation between batches.

  • Closed-Loop Solvent Recovery (>95%)

    Integrated recovery returns greater than 95% of the solvent per batch, cutting operating cost and meeting CPCB discharge norms.

  • Standardised to Specification

    In-process and batch-release HPLC assay hold the finished curcumin extract within its declared curcuminoid specification, including 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC grades.

  • Integrated Drying

    A matched spray/vacuum dryer produces a free-flowing, low-moisture powder ready for encapsulation and blending.

  • Scalable Batch Capacity

    Plants are configured from 100 kg/batch pilot scale to 2,000+ kg/batch commercial capacity with modular expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mechotech supply the complete machinery for curcumin extraction?
Yes. Mechotech supplies the complete turnkey plant for curcumin extraction — engineered, fabricated at our Hyderabad facility, installed, and commissioned as a single performance-verified system that produces specification-grade output from day one of handover.
What curcuminoid purity can the plant achieve?
Standard configurations reach up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC. Custom specifications are available depending on feedstock and downstream use, confirmed by batch-release testing with full certificate-of-analysis documentation.
What solvents are used in curcumin extraction?
Ethanol, acetone, or hydro-alcoholic blends are used depending on target grade — food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade extraction have different solvent-selection and residue requirements, which we help you specify during process design.
What production capacities are available for the curcumin plant?
Mechotech builds curcumin plants across a batch-capacity range from 100 kg/batch at pilot scale to 2,000+ kg/batch at commercial scale, with modular expansion between the two. The right capacity for your plant depends on raw-material supply, confirmed buyer volume, and production goals.
Which industries use the curcumin extraction plant?
Pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food and flavour, cosmetic, and fragrance manufacturers across India and export markets use Mechotech plants for consistent, compliant curcumin production.
Do you also supply specialised curcumin formats like nano curcumin or tetrahydrocurcumin?
Yes. Alongside the standard curcumin extraction plant, Mechotech builds dedicated systems for nano curcumin (20-100nm particle size, for enhanced bioavailability) and tetrahydrocurcumin (THC 99%, a colourless, high-stability derivative) — see the related products in this category.
What is the difference between curcumin and turmeric oleoresin?
Curcumin is the purified, standardised curcuminoid fraction of turmeric — typically up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC — used where pharmaceutical- or nutraceutical-grade purity is required. Turmeric oleoresin is a broader spice extract that retains the volatile oil along with the curcuminoids, used mainly for food colour and flavour applications. If you need the broader multi-spice oleoresin rather than purified curcumin, see our spices oleoresin extraction plant range.
How do I set up a curcumin extraction plant?
Setting up a curcumin extraction plant starts with confirming your target curcuminoid specification, feedstock supply, and production capacity, then engineering the extraction, filtration, concentration, purification, and drying train around those targets. Mechotech handles the complete process — design, fabrication in SS 316L, installation, and commissioning — as a single turnkey scope; contact us to work through your specific requirements.
Is "curcumin oleoresin" the same as curcumin?
No — they are not the same product. This page is specifically about curcumin, the purified curcuminoid fraction; if what you need is the broader oleoresin extract, see our spices oleoresin extraction plant range instead.
What are curcuminoids?
Curcuminoids are the group of yellow-orange polyphenolic compounds naturally present in turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome — principally curcumin along with demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. "Curcumin" is commonly used to mean the standardised curcuminoid fraction as a whole, assayed and declared as total curcuminoids by HPLC.
How much does a curcumin extraction plant cost?
Cost depends on target capacity, curcuminoid specification, choice of solvent-recovery and drying equipment, and site-specific installation requirements, so we don't quote a fixed price without those details. Share your required capacity and specification through a project consultation and we'll provide a project-specific quotation and CAPEX estimate.
How do I choose the right curcumin extraction plant?
Start from your target curcuminoid specification (e.g. up to 95% Curcuminoids by HPLC) and confirmed production capacity, then match the extraction, filtration, concentration, and drying equipment to that specification rather than the other way round. Mechotech works through feedstock, solvent, capacity, and compliance requirements with you during process design before committing to an equipment configuration.
What equipment is used for curcumin extraction?
A curcumin extraction plant is built around jacketed SS 316L extraction tanks, a plate-and-frame filter press with centrifugal separation, a falling-film or vacuum concentrator with closed-loop solvent recovery, and a spray or vacuum dryer — matched to the target curcuminoid specification and batch capacity, as detailed in the process steps above.
What capacity and investment range does a curcumin factory need?
Mechotech builds curcumin plants across three broad scales. A pilot plant (200 kg/day turmeric input) suits businesses validating the market with confirmed orders of 300–500 kg/month, at a capital investment of roughly ₹30–50 lakhs. A semi-commercial plant (2 tonnes/day turmeric input) suits established nutraceutical ingredient suppliers with contracted annual volumes, at roughly ₹1.5–2.5 crore. A commercial plant (10 tonnes/day turmeric input) suits large-scale producers supplying multiple pharmaceutical and nutraceutical buyers, at roughly ₹4–8 crore. Share your target capacity and specification through a project consultation for a project-specific quotation.

Ready to discuss your project?

Get a free quote and technical consultation from our engineering team.

Get A Free Quote
★Review Us