Solvent Extraction Equipment is a complete set of vessels, piping, heating/cooling, agitation, filtration, and solvent-recovery units used to extract target compounds from solids (botanicals, APIs, food ingredients, flavors/fragrances materials) using a suitable solvent (e.g., ethanol, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, hexane, IPA, water mixes).
In practice, people usually need a system (not just a tank): extraction → solid/liquid separation → concentration → solvent recovery → optional vacuum drying.
At Nanjing Hjchem Equipment Co.,Ltd, we build closed-loop solvent extraction systems (extraction → filtration → vacuum concentration → solvent recovery).
Designed for ethanol/solvent botanicals & ingredients, scalable from pilot to industrial.
Request a configuration by feed type, batch size, solvent, recovery rate, and compliance (ATEX/GMP).
Continue Reading: Solvent Extraction Plant: Process & Scale-up
What Is a Solvent Extraction System?
A Solvent Extraction System is specialized equipment designed to extract valuable compounds from raw materials using solvents such as water, ethanol, or organic solvents. After extraction, the mixture undergoes evaporation and separation to obtain concentrated and purified extracts.
Typical extracted substances include:
Plant active ingredients (flavonoids, polysaccharides, terpenoids)
Herbal and TCM extracts
Nutraceutical ingredients
Food and beverage components
Pigments, fragrances, essential oils
Chemical intermediates
The equipment is engineered to maximize extraction efficiency while protecting thermally sensitive components.
Applications Across Industries
Herbal medicine & TCM
Natural plant extracts
Biopharmaceuticals & APIs
Essential oil and aroma recovery
Food and beverage ingredients
Chemical and industrial intermediates
Pigments, fragrances, and flavors
What the System Typically Includes (and why it matters)
1) Extraction module (core)
Agitated extraction tanks / extraction vessels (SS304/SS316L, jacketed)
Heater/chiller interface (steam, hot water, thermal oil; chilled water)
Closed-loop design to reduce solvent loss and odor
Why buyers care: extraction efficiency, cycle time, safety, and scale-up stability.
2) Solid–liquid separation
Common choices:
Bag filter / cartridge filter (simple, low CAPEX)
Filter press (higher throughput for fibrous material)
Nutsche filter / ANFD (best for closed, solvent-heavy, GMP-style operations)
Why buyers care: clarity, yield loss in cake, operator workload, and solvent emissions.
3) Concentration & solvent recovery
Vacuum evaporator / concentrator
Condenser + solvent receiver
Optional multiple-effect or falling film (for larger throughputs)
Why buyers care: solvent cost, product heat exposure, throughput, and compliance.
4) Controls & safety (non-negotiable for many markets)
Explosion-proof (ATEX/IECEx-ready) electricals when required
Inerting (N₂), grounding/bonding, safety valves, pressure/vacuum protection
CIP-ready piping for faster turnaround (optional but valuable)
Relaed reading: “ATEX/IECEx for Solvent Extraction Equipment: What Buyers Must Specify“
Process Flow (Simple, Buyer-friendly)
1.Load & wetting (solid + solvent, controlled ratio)
2.Agitated extraction (temperature/time/agitation)
3.Drain/transfer to separation
4.Filtration (clarify extract).Related reading: “Filtration Options: Bag vs Filter Press vs Nutsche vs ANFD (Comparison Table)“
5.Vacuum concentration (reduce solvent, protect heat-sensitive actives)
6.Solvent condensation & recovery (reuse solvent, reduce OPEX): Related reading: “Solvent Recovery Unit Sizing: Condenser, Vacuum, Receiver Tank“
7.Optional: polishing filtration / further refining / drying
The 8 key Questions That Determine The Right Configuration
If you can answer these, a supplier can size and configure the line accurately:
What is the feed material? (type, particle size, fibrous/gummy/oily?)
What is the target product? (oil, resin, extract, aroma, pigment, intermediate)
Which solvent(s) are used? Are they flammable? Is recovery mandatory?
Batch size: kg per batch and batches per day
Temperature limits: is the product heat-sensitive?
Preferred filtration: bag/cartridge, filter press, Nutsche/ANFD
Compliance needs: ATEX/IECEx, GMP documents/validation, etc.
Utilities available: steam/hot water, chilled water, vacuum, cooling capacity
Our Supply Scope
Scope of supply (typical):
Extraction vessel(s) + agitator + jacket
Filtration module (bag/filter press/Nutsche/ANFD)
Vacuum concentrator + condenser + receivers
Solvent recovery + vacuum system
Piping skid + instruments + control panel
FAT documents + manuals + drawings
Options:
Explosion-proof electricals (ATEX/IECEx-ready)
SS316L / special alloys
PLC/HMI recipe control + data logging
Solvent storage & transfer skid
When choosing a supplier, look for a manufacturer with complete system-integration capability (extraction + filtration + vacuum concentration + solvent recovery + controls/safety), proven sealed designs for solvents, and flexible material/compliance options (e.g., SS316L, explosion-proof controls, CIP-ready piping).
For buyers sourcing in China, Nanjing Hjchem (a professional manufacturer of extraction and solvent-recovery systems) can typically provide a turnkey configuration tailored to your capacity, solvent type, recovery target, and compliance requirements.
Product FAQ
Q1: What solvent is best for botanical extraction—ethanol or something else?
For food-grade projects, ethanol extraction system is the most common choice (often ethanol/water). Non-polar solvents (e.g., hexane) may be selected for oils/waxes depending on selectivity, safety, regulations, and downstream purification.
Q2: Can it process heat-sensitive ingredients?
Yes—vacuum concentration lowers the evaporation temperature to help protect heat-sensitive bioactives while still enabling efficient solvent removal.
Q3: Is the system suitable for essential oil extraction?
It can support aroma/oil recovery via condenser and oil-water separation. But for “pure essential oil” workflows, steam distillation equipment is often the dedicated solution, depending on your raw material and target product.
Q4: Can the system be explosion-proof?
Yes—depending on your solvent and site classification, the line can be designed as ATEX/IECEx solvent extraction equipment with defined explosion-proof scope, grounding/bonding, and safety instrumentation.
Q5: Is solvent recovery efficient?
Recovery can be high, but it depends on condenser design, solvent type, and operating conditions. See solvent recovery unit sizing to understand key factors such as condenser capacity, vacuum level, and receiver tank design.
Q6: Can the equipment be customized?
Yes—agitated extraction tanks and complete lines can be customized by working volume, heating method, automation level, and material grade (SS304/SS316L), plus filtration and recovery configuration.
Q7: Can one line handle multiple botanicals/SKUs?
Yes—design for flexible CIP system, quick change filters, modular piping, and recipe-based controls.
Q8: What’s the difference between solvent extraction vs ultrasonic extraction?
Ultrasonic extraction equipment can reduce extraction time and solvent use for some botanicals, while solvent extraction is more universal and scalable. The best route depends on material behavior, target compounds, and scale-up requirements.
Q9: What information should I provide to get an accurate quotation?
For a fast quote, paste these into the message box: feed material, solvent(s), batch size (kg/batch), daily capacity (kg/day), temperature limit, filtration preference, recovery target, utilities available, and compliance needs (ATEX/IECEx, GMP, CIP).
REQUEST A QUOTE
Need a configuration for your material? Send your feed + solvent + batch size, and we’ll propose a process flow (PFD) and a budgetary quote.
Get a turnkey solvent extraction line—designed for yield, safety, and solvent recovery. Talk to an engineer today.