Woody Stems - Ivy
Woody Stems - Ivy
Mechotech designs and manufactures turnkey natural colour extraction plants for ivy woody stems. In the Mechotech catalogue, Woody Stems - Ivy is listed in the Brown Colour group alongside Bark - Oak Bark / Birch, Hulls - Walnut, Roots - Dandelion, Grinds - Coffee, Plant - Yellow Dock, Shoots - Golden Rod and Leaves - Tea / Sumac. According to Mechotech’s article on brown colour extraction from ivy woody stems, the plant is most commonly Hedera helix, and the lignified stems carry tannins and wood-derived phenolics that give warm brown tones. The article describes the colour as stable across a wide pH range and tolerant of heat, because the pigments are tannins and wood phenolics rather than pH-sensitive anthocyanins, and notes that the raw material is often a landscaping and land-clearance waste stream. This page is the stem colour route; the ivy extract powder page is a separate leaf extract product.
Mechotech’s Woody Stems - Ivy plant is configured around the raw material and the target colour extract. It is built in SS 316L with integrated automation and full documentation, and is delivered as a commissioned turnkey system. The article describes a leaching route: stems cleaned, chipped or shredded and dried, extracted with hot water at 80 to 100 degrees Celsius over an extended contact time with a mild alkaline adjustment such as sodium carbonate, then drained, pressed and filtered over several successive leaches, concentrated under vacuum and supplied as a liquid concentrate or spray-dried, standardised on colour value and tannin content. The conditions for a given project are established during process development and pilot validation.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Woody Stems - Ivy Natural Colour Extraction Plant |
|---|---|
| Raw Material | Ivy woody stems (catalogue name: Woody Stems - Ivy) |
| Botanical Name | Hedera helix (the article says ‘most commonly’ this species; the product tree names no species) |
| Plant Part / Feed Form | Lignified woody stems, cleaned of soil and leaves, chipped or shredded and dried (per the article); older, more woody stems give a richer extract; the exact feed form is confirmed with the client |
| Colour Group | Brown Colour (see the Brown Colour page) |
| Colour-forming Components | Tannins and wood-derived phenolics (condensed and hydrolysable tannins, phenolic acids); stable across a broad pH range and heat-tolerant, not an anthocyanin colour (per the article) |
| Process Category | Natural Colour Extraction Plants |
| Extract Type | Natural colour extract (liquid concentrate or dried powder, per specification) |
| Extraction Method | Hot-water extraction of chipped stems in closed jacketed SS 316L vessels (the article gives 80 to 100 degrees Celsius) with a mild alkaline adjustment and several successive leaches; 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 (brown 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
Woody stems from landscaping cuttings or clearance are cleaned of soil and leaves, then chipped or shredded to expose the tannin-rich inner tissue; the article notes that intact woody material releases colour only slowly. The chips are dried for stable storage before extraction.
Extraction
The chipped stems are extracted with hot water in closed jacketed SS 316L vessels, typically at 80 to 100 degrees Celsius according to the article, over an extended contact time. A mild alkaline adjustment, such as a small addition of sodium carbonate, helps release bound phenolics; temperature, time and any adjustment are set during process development.
Filtration
The brown liquor is drained and pressed from the spent chips and filtered through a plate-and-frame filter press and cartridge polish filters; the article notes that woody material benefits from several successive leaches, with the liquors pooled.
Concentration & Solvent Recovery
The clarified extract is concentrated under vacuum in a falling-film / vacuum evaporator to build colour intensity. The route in the article uses water, so solvent recovery applies only where a solvent is introduced for a particular grade.
Standardisation
The concentrate is standardised on colour value, tannin content and solids, with cleanliness of the extract also checked; the article notes that batch-to-batch variation in stem age and composition is managed by blending and standardising to a declared strength.
Drying & Quality Control
The standardised extract is supplied as a liquid dye concentrate or spray-dried, often with a carrier, into a stable brown powder, then released after assay, heavy-metal, microbial and moisture testing.
Major Plant Equipment
- Stem cleaning and moisture-testing system
- Chipping or shredding system
- Drying unit
- Closed jacketed SS 316L extraction vessels (hot water, alkali dosing)
- Press and plate-and-frame filter press
- Cartridge polish filtration
- Falling-film / vacuum evaporator
- Standardisation / blending vessel
- Spray or vacuum dryer
- CIP system
- Automation and instrumentation
Plant Output
Applications
- Natural textile dye for wool, silk, cotton and linen in tan to deep brown tones, extending to grey-brown and near-black with iron and alum mordants (per the article)
- Wood stain and colourant for craft and finishing (per the article)
- Leather colouring and tanning agent (per the article)
- Natural brown tint in cosmetics and personal care (per the article)
Key Features
SS 316L Construction
Electropolished SS 316L product-contact surfaces with CIP operation between batches.
Tannin-Based, pH-Stable Colour
The article describes the colour as tannin and wood-phenolic based, so it does not swing hue with pH and tolerates the heat of extraction and dyeing.
Mordant-Dependent Shade Range
The article describes iron shifting the extract toward deep brown, grey-brown and near-black and alum giving lighter, warmer browns, so one extract serves a family of shades.
Waste-Stream Feedstock
The article describes ivy stems as a landscaping and clearance waste; supply, stem age and consistency are confirmed with the client.
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 Woody Stems - Ivy?
What specification can the Woody Stems - Ivy plant achieve?
What production capacities are available for the Woody Stems - Ivy plant?
Which industries use the Woody Stems - Ivy plant?
Which part of ivy is processed?
What gives ivy woody stems their brown colour?
How does mordanting change the colour?
How is colour extracted from tough woody stems?
Is this the same as the Ivy Extract Powder page?
Where does this page sit in the Brown Colour range?
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