Systems, Methods, And Equipment For Chemical Extraction
Novel thermal evaporative processes for the recovery of heat-sensitive constituents, raw essential oil concentrates, and other compounds from plant biomass material are disclosed, as are systems for implementing such processes. Particularly, the processes include a solvent-less process for either batch-wise or continuous removal and recovery of refined oils, such as volatile aroma components and heavier oils, from plant material.
Claim CLM-00001. 1. A method for extracting at least one chemical compound from plant material without the use of a solvent, comprising:
a) preparing a feedstock by at least one of chopping, cutting, treating, pelletizing, and grinding the plant material; b) preheating the feedstock to a first temperature at atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure for a preselected time to form a preheated feedstock; c) heating the preheated feedstock to a second temperature at sub-atmospheric pressure in an evaporation chamber to form a heated feedstock; d) introducing a heated motive gas through the evaporation chamber to drive the at least one chemical compound from the heated feedstock, thereby forming a pregnant motive gas; and e) condensing a portion of the pregnant motive gas to recover the at least one chemical compound.
Claim CLM-00012. 12. A system for extracting at least one chemical compound from plant material without the use of a solvent, comprising:
a) a feedstock preparation unit, configured to size-reduce the plant material by at least one of chopping, cutting, grinding, and shredding to form a feedstock; b) a preheater, configured to receive the feedstock from the feedstock preparation unit and heat the feedstock at sub-atmospheric or atmospheric pressure to drive off moisture and low-boiling volatile components to form a preheated feedstock; c) a vacuum evaporator, configured to receive the preheated feedstock from the preheater; d) a means for introducing a motive gas to the evaporator to form a pregnant motive gas; and e) a recovery unit, configured to receive the pregnant motive gas from the evaporator and to condense the pregnant motive gas to recover the at least one chemical compound.
Claim CLM-00015. 15. A system for extracting at least one chemical compound from plant material without the use of a solvent, comprising:
a) a feedstock preparation unit, configured to size-reduce the plant material to form a feedstock; b) a preheater, configured to receive the feedstock from the feedstock preparation unit and heat the feedstock at sub-atmospheric or atmospheric pressure to drive off moisture and low-boiling volatile components to form a preheated feedstock; c) a means for delivering a motive gas to the preheater to form a first pregnant motive gas; d) a first recovery unit, configured to receive the first pregnant motive gas from the preheater and condense the pregnant motive gas to recover moisture and low-boiling volatile components; e) a vacuum evaporator, configured to receive the preheated feedstock from the preheater; f) a means for introducing a motive gas to the evaporator to form a second pregnant motive gas; and g) a second recovery unit, configured to receive the second pregnant motive gas from the evaporator and to condense the second pregnant motive gas to recover the at least one chemical compound.
Claim CLM-00018. 18. A continuous method for extracting a chemical compound from solid plant material without the use of a solvent, comprising:
a) providing a continuous flow of solid plant material; b) contacting the solid plant material with an introduced non-oxidizing motive gas stream at sub-atmospheric pressure to form a pregnant motive gas comprising the chemical compound; and c) condensing the chemical compound from the pregnant motive gas.
