The multifunctional extraction and concentration unit is a key equipment used for the extraction, separation, and concentration of plant active ingredients in modern pharmaceutical, food, chemical, and health industries. It integrates multiple functions such as dynamic extraction, static soaking, hot reflux extraction, vacuum concentration, and solvent recovery, and can efficiently process raw materials such as Chinese medicinal materials, natural plants, fruits and vegetables, animal extracts, etc., achieving an integrated operation of the entire process from "raw materials → active ingredient extraction → concentrated liquid/paste". Its design takes into account extraction efficiency, concentration accuracy, energy conservation and environmental protection, as well as intelligent operation. It is a typical equipment that deeply integrates traditional extraction processes (such as water extraction and alcohol precipitation, alcohol extraction and water precipitation) with modern engineering technologies (such as vacuum concentration and hot reflux technology). It plays an important role in the modern production of traditional Chinese medicine, the development of functional foods, and the preparation of plant extracts.

1、 Product Features

The multifunctional extraction and concentration unit is not a simple combination of single equipment, but integrates the two core processes of extraction and concentration (some models also integrate functions such as filtration, alcohol precipitation, solvent recovery, etc.) into the same system through modular design, forming a continuous and automated production line. Its core functions include:

1. Extraction unit:

Dynamic extraction (cyclic extraction): By stirring or circulating with a pump, the material is fully contacted with a solvent (such as water, ethanol) to accelerate the dissolution of active ingredients. It is suitable for the extraction of thermosensitive ingredients (such as polysaccharides, flavonoids) or insoluble ingredients (such as alkaloids).

Static soaking extraction: The material and solvent are soaked in a closed tank, relying on molecular diffusion to achieve component dissolution. It is suitable for materials that are sensitive to heat or require long-term soaking (such as certain root and stem medicinal materials).

Hot reflux extraction: Using steam to heat the extraction solution to boiling, the evaporated solvent vapor is condensed and refluxed to the extraction tank, forming a "heating dissolution reflux" cycle, greatly improving the extraction efficiency (especially suitable for organic solvent extraction such as ethanol).

Multi energy extraction: Supports atmospheric/negative pressure (vacuum) extraction, reducing the boiling point of solvents by lowering the pressure inside the tank, achieving low-temperature extraction (such as 40-60 ℃), and protecting thermosensitive components (such as volatile oils and enzymes).

2. Concentration unit:

○ Reduced pressure concentration: Under vacuum conditions (-0.08~-0.095MPa), the boiling point of the solution is lowered (the boiling point of water can be lowered to 40-50 ℃, and the boiling point of ethanol can be lowered to around 30 ℃). The solvent is quickly evaporated by steam heating to avoid high temperature damage to the active ingredients (such as polysaccharide paste and alkaloid decomposition).

Dual effect/multi effect concentration (some models): The secondary steam generated by the first effect evaporation is used as the second effect heating source to transfer heat in sequence, significantly reducing energy consumption (saving 30% -50% energy), suitable for large-scale continuous production.

Online density monitoring: Real time detection of concentrated liquid density (such as relative density of extract 1.2-1.4g/cm ³), automatic control of concentration endpoint, ensuring that the finished product concentration meets process requirements.

2、 Structure and Technical Characteristics

A typical multifunctional extraction and concentration unit consists of modules such as extraction tank, concentration tank, condenser, cooler, liquid receiving tank, filter (optional), solvent recovery device (optional), etc. Each module is linked through pipelines and valves to form a closed-loop process flow. Its key technical features include:

1. Extraction tank:

Material: 304/316L stainless steel (compliant with GMP requirements), corrosion-resistant and easy to clean;

Design: Equipped with a stirring device (paddle/frame type, adjustable speed), jacket heating (steam/thermal oil), and a bottom slag discharge door (quick opening structure for easy discharge of slag);

• Function extension: Some models are equipped with ultrasonic or microwave-assisted extraction modules to further improve extraction efficiency (such as ultrasonic cavitation effect destroying cell walls and promoting component dissolution).

2. Concentrator tank:

Heating method: jacket steam heating or electric heating, temperature controllable (room temperature -100 ℃);

Vacuum system: Equipped with a vacuum pump (water ring pump/Roots pump) to maintain negative pressure inside the tank and reduce boiling point;

• Gas liquid separation: After the top steam is cooled into liquid by the condenser, light components (such as ethanol) enter the cooler for recovery, while heavy components (such as water) reflux or discharge.

3. Auxiliary system:

• Condenser: Spiral plate/tube structure, efficient cooling of steam (circulating water or chilled water as refrigerant);

• Solvent recovery device: By condensation and layer separation, organic solvents such as ethanol are recovered (recovery rate ≥ 95%), reducing production costs and environmental risks;

• Automation control: PLC/touch screen human-machine interface, can set parameters such as extraction temperature, time, vacuum degree, concentration density, etc., real-time monitoring of pressure, temperature, liquid level and other data, supports remote monitoring and fault alarm.

3、 Advantages: Efficient, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and flexible

1. One machine with multiple functions and integrated processes: Traditional processes require decentralized equipment (extraction tank+concentration pot+condenser+recovery device) to operate step by step, while multifunctional units integrate extraction, concentration (even filtration and alcohol precipitation) into a continuous process, reducing material transfer losses and shortening production cycles (increasing efficiency by 30% -50%).

2. Precise control and protection of active ingredients: Through techniques such as vacuum low-temperature concentration and dynamic cycle extraction, high temperatures are avoided from damaging thermosensitive ingredients (such as volatile oils, polysaccharides, enzymes), and the biological activity of effective ingredients is retained (such as a flavonoid retention rate of ≥ 90% in traditional Chinese medicine extracts).

3. Energy saving and environmental protection, cost reduction:

Hot reflux extraction utilizes secondary steam cycle heating to reduce fresh steam consumption;

Multi effect concentration utilizes heat cascade, with energy consumption only 50% -70% of single effect concentration;

The solvent recovery system reduces waste of organic solvents (such as ethanol) and complies with environmental regulations (such as VOCs emission limits).

4. Strong adaptability and wide application: It can handle solid (medicinal herbs), semi-solid (extracts) or liquid (extracts) raw materials, compatible with various processes such as water extraction, alcohol extraction, mixed solvent extraction, etc. It is suitable for production scenarios such as traditional Chinese medicine formula granules, functional foods (such as enzymes, oral liquids), plant extracts (such as ginkgo leaf extract, tea polyphenols), cosmetic raw materials (such as hyaluronic acid precursors), etc.

4、 Typical application scenarios

Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmaceuticals: Extraction of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces (such as astragalus polysaccharides and tanshinone), production of classic prescriptions (such as concentrated water extract of Huoxiang Zhengqi), and preparation of traditional Chinese medicine formula granules;

Food and health products: concentrated fruit and vegetable juices (such as goji berry pulp and blueberry extract), plant protein extracts (such as soy isoflavones), functional ingredients (such as concentrated probiotic fermentation broth);

Chemical and daily chemical industries: natural pigments (such as chlorophyll and capsaicin), spices (such as rose essential oil precursor extraction), and surfactant raw material extraction;

Research and Laboratory: Optimization of Extraction Processes on a Small/Medium Scale (such as Active Ingredient Screening in New Drug Development).

5、 Development Trend: Intelligence and Greening

With the upgrading of demand for "continuous production" and "intelligent manufacturing" in the pharmaceutical industry, modern multifunctional extraction and concentration units are developing towards forward automation control (such as AI algorithm optimization of extraction parameters), continuous countercurrent extraction (improving solute mass transfer efficiency), green energy drive (such as solar assisted heating), and modular customization (flexible combination of modules according to process requirements). Some models have integrated online near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) detection technology to analyze the content of active ingredients in the extraction solution in real time, achieving closed-loop management of the entire process of "extraction concentration quality control".