HJCHEM industrial molecular distillation equipment is designed for continuous purification, concentration, devolatilization of heat-sensitive and high-boiling materials.
The industrial series covers 1 to 10 m² evaporation areas, with feed rates up to 600 L/h depending on the material and process. Each system uses a vertical wiped-film short-path evaporator with an internal condenser to minimize vapor travel distance and pressure loss under deep vacuum.
For smaller-scale development, HJCHEM also supplies glass systems for laboratory testing and pilot systems for scale-up validation.
Evaporation Area: 1–10 m²
Wetted Material: SS316L
Feed Rate: 5–600 L/h, depending on model and process
Standard No-Load Vacuum: 0.1–1 Pa
High-Vacuum Option: 0.01–0.1 Pa
Operation: Continuous
Configuration: Single-Stage / Two-Stage / Multi-Stage
Industrial Molecular Distillation Models and Specifications
HJCHEM standard evaporation areas are available from 1 to 10 m². Actual throughput depends on feed viscosity, composition, volatile load, operating temperature, vacuum, and target separation.
| Specification | MD-1SS | MD-2SS | MD-3SS | MD-5SS | MD-10SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective Evaporation Area (m²) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Feed Rate (L/h) | 5–80 | 5–150 | 20–300 | 50–400 | 100–600 |
| Condenser Area (m²) | 2.7 | 4.5 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 28 |
| Wiper Speed (rpm) | 0–350 | 0–350 | 0–350 | 0–350 | 0–350 |
Standard & Optional Configuration
| Specification | Configuration |
| Wetted Material | SS316L; other stainless steels or alloy materials available on request |
| Internal Condenser | Standard |
| Cold Trap | Optional |
| Wiper Type | Centrifugal Wiper System |
| Wiper Material | Composite PTFE |
| Seal Type | Magnetically Coupled Seal |
| No-Load Vacuum | Standard: 0.1–1 Pa / High-Vacuum Option: 0.01–0.1 Pa |
| Feeding Method | Continuous Feeding via Gear Pump |
| Discharge Method | Continuous Discharge via Gear Pump |
| Certification | CE Certification |
Note: Feed rate is application-dependent. Actual throughput varies with feed density, viscosity, composition, volatile content, operating temperature, vacuum level, and target separation. Vacuum values above refer to no-load vacuum; actual operating vacuum depends on process conditions.
Evaporation area and nominal feed rate should not be used as the only sizing criteria. System sizing should also consider feed properties, separation duty, vapor load, and the required number of stages.
Complete Industrial Short Path Distillation System
An industrial system can be configured as a complete continuous processing line rather than a standalone evaporator.
A typical configuration includes:
Feed Tank → Metering Pump → Preheating → Wiped-Film Short-Path Evaporator → Internal Condenser → Continuous Distillate and Residue Discharge
Supporting equipment can include:
- Feed and discharge gear pumps
- Heating system
- Condenser chiller
- Cold trap
- Vacuum pump system
- Temperature and vacuum instrumentation
- PLC control cabinet
- Explosion-proof electrical components when required
The functions and selection of these system components depend on the process and required configuration.
Deep Vacuum for Industrial Molecular Distillation
HJCHEM industrial systems are normally configured for a 0.1–1 Pa no-load vacuum, with a 0.01–0.1 Pa high-vacuum option available when required.
Actual operating vacuum can be higher than the no-load specification because pressure is affected by:
- Feed rate
- Volatile content
- Vapor load
- Operating temperature
- Condensation load
- System leakage
- Vacuum pump configuration
Buyers should compare vacuum specs carefully because no-load vacuum and actual operating vacuum are not the same.
Vacuum pump capacity should be selected according to actual vapor load rather than ultimate pump pressure alone.
From Pilot Validation to Industrial Production
INDUSTRIAL
1–10 m²
SS316L
Up to 600 L/h*
Industrial equipment is normally selected after the key process conditions have been established through laboratory or pilot testing.
A typical scale-up route is:
Laboratory Glass → Pilot Stainless Steel → Industrial Stainless Steel
A pilot molecular distillation system can be used to validate feed rate, evaporation load, vacuum stability, evaporation temperature, condenser duty, product cut, and continuous operation before the final industrial evaporation area and system configuration are selected.
HJCHEM molecular distillation systems cover laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales to support this development route.
Typical Industrial Applications
Industrial wiped film molecular distillation is suitable for selected heat-sensitive, viscous, and high-boiling materials, including:
- Fish oil molecular distillation for omega-3 concentration and selected high-value oil fractionation
- Specialty oils
- Fatty acids and esters
- Vitamins and nutraceutical ingredients
- Pharmaceutical intermediates
- Fine chemicals
- Silicone devolatilization for removing cyclic siloxanes, residual monomers, oligomers, and other volatile fractions
- Acrylic resin devolatilization for reducing residual monomers, solvents, and other volatile fractions from viscous polymer feeds
- Oligomers
- High-boiling specialty chemicals
Application suitability should always be evaluated from actual feed properties and separation targets.
High-Viscosity and Temperature-Sensitive Feeds
High-viscosity feeds require lower feed rates or different operating conditions because viscosity affects pumping, film formation, and heat transfer.
For materials that become very viscous or lose flowability when cooled, HJCHEM can configure feed preheating, heat-traced piping, and jacketed valves according to the material properties. Distillate and residue lines can also be insulated, heat-traced, or temperature-controlled when required to prevent cold spots and maintain flow.
These configurations are application-dependent rather than standard for every system. The behavior of high-viscosity feeds should be evaluated at the expected operating temperature.
How to Select an Industrial Molecular Distillation System
For new or uncertain feeds, final industrial sizing should not begin with evaporation area alone. HJCHEM can first perform a laboratory feasibility test to confirm whether the required separation is practical before the industrial system is finalized.
Once feasibility is confirmed, molecular distillation equipment selection can proceed based on feed rate, viscosity, target purity, operating vacuum, and required production capacity.
Key factors include:
- Feed composition
- Required feed rate
- Feed density and viscosity
- Initial and target concentration
- Required purity
- Distillate/residue ratio
- Operating temperature
- Required operating vacuum
- Number of separation stages
- Required daily operating hours
- Wetted material
- Heating and cooling utilities
- Automation and explosion-proof requirements
Request an Industrial Molecular Distillation System
For equipment sizing and quotation, please provide:
- Feed material and composition
- Required feed rate or daily production capacity
- Feed density and viscosity
- Initial concentration
- Target component and required purity
- Expected light and heavy fractions
- Temperature limitations
- Required vacuum, if known
- Required number of stages, if known
- Preferred wetted material
- Available heating and cooling utilities
- Power supply
- PLC, explosion-proof, or certification requirements
HJCHEM can recommend the evaporation area, vacuum configuration, number of stages, and auxiliary equipment according to your process.