CRITICAL PROCESSES Ltd

UNIT 2A, BRICKYARD ROAD, ROECLIFFE, NORTH YORKSHIRE, YO51 9NS

TEL +44(0) 1423 325238 FAX +44(0) 1423 325296

E-mail peter@criticalprocesses.com

SUPERHEATED WATER EXTRACTION OF A

PLANT MATERIAL

A BBSRC LINK funded project (Phytoderm) to investigate the extraction and efficacy of polysaccharides from Marsh Mallow Root for skincare applications proved to be very effective. The superheated water extract from hydroponically grown root has now been commercialised by Boots plc for use in skincare and suncream formulations.

The roots of a plant are extracted with liquid water at 150°C to give a solution containing a little more than 1.3% by weight of solids, which is then used in the formulation of a sun cream. The plant was used as a traditional remedy for sunburn and the sun cream is also very effective.

A schematic diagram of the plant is shown above. Water is pumped from a container through a first heat exchanger in which it is heated by the product coming from the cell. It is then heated to 150°C in a second heat exchanger heated by oil. The product, cooled in the first heat exchanger, is collected in another container. About 70% of the heat used is recycled. The plant is made of stainless steel.

The product is high value and the volume is relatively low. The cell has a useable volume of 30 L, which can contain 6 kg of biomass. The flow rate is about 40 L per hour. 150 L of product is made in about 4 hours. The water and product containers are stainless steel tanks of 400 l.

A picture of the plant before installation is shown below. The extraction cell is the tall lagged cylinder. The 2 containers are at either side of the plant. The oil heater is at the bottom behind the pumps. One heat exchanger can be seen to the left of the extraction cell.

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