The herbal Extraction Concentration unit is the core process of extracting, separating, and concentrating the active ingredients in Chinese medicinal materials through physical or chemical methods, and finally making Chinese medicinal preparations (such as decoctions, granules, oral liquids, injections, etc.). The equipment covers the four key links of extraction, separation, concentration, and drying. 

You can check more details of herbal Extraction Concentration unit: https://youtube.com/shorts/LZaMhVhCCkk 

The following are the mainstream equipment types and characteristics at each stage:

1、 Extraction equipment: Separation of active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicinal materials
Extraction is the first step in the production of traditional Chinese medicine, and the core is to dissolve the active ingredients from the medicinal materials through solvents (water, ethanol, ethyl acetate, etc.). The mainstream equipment types are as follows:
Boiling extraction equipment
Type: Traditional Frying Pot, Multi effect Frying Pot
Features: Simple process, low cost, suitable for thermally stable ingredients (such as mineral medicines and root and stem medicinal herbs); However, it has high energy consumption, low extraction efficiency (requiring multiple decoctions), and is prone to degradation of thermosensitive components such as volatile oils and vitamins.
Applicable scenarios: Primary healthcare institutions, low-cost production of traditional Chinese medicine preparations.
Reflux extraction equipment
Type: Soxhlet extractor, circulating reflux extraction tank
Features: The solvent can be recycled, with high extraction efficiency (solvent utilization rate of over 90%), suitable for small batches of high-value medicinal materials (such as ginseng and deer antler); But the equipment has a large volume and a long extraction cycle (6-12 hours).
Applicable scenarios: Chinese herbal medicine decoction piece factories, high-end Chinese herbal medicine formulation research and development.
Percolation extraction equipment
Type: Percussion tube, continuous percolation machine
Characteristics: The solvent penetrates the medicinal materials from top to bottom, and the concentration of the extraction solution is high, suitable for toxic medicinal materials (such as Aconitum and Aconitum) or valuable medicinal materials (such as musk and bezoar); But the extraction cycle is long (24-48 hours), which is not suitable for large-scale production.
Applicable scenarios: Preparation of raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine pills and powders.
Supercritical CO ₂ extraction equipment
Type: Supercritical Fluid Extraction Machine (SFE)
Features: Using CO ₂ as the solvent, no residue, low-temperature operation (31-60 ℃), perfectly retaining thermosensitive components (such as volatile oils and alkaloids); But the equipment cost is high, and it is only suitable for high value-added ingredients such as ginkgo flavonoids and saffron.
Applicable scenarios: Extraction of raw materials for high-end traditional Chinese medicine health products and traditional Chinese medicine injections.
Ultrasonic extraction equipment
Type: Ultrasonic Extraction Tank, Ultrasonic Microwave Composite Extraction Machine
Features: By using ultrasonic cavitation effect to destroy cell structure, the extraction efficiency is 3-5 times higher than traditional decoction, and energy consumption is reduced by 40%; Low temperature mode (-30 ℃~60 ℃) can retain thermosensitive components such as menthol and borneol.
Applicable scenarios: Efficient extraction of traditional Chinese medicine granules and oral liquids, especially suitable for root and fruit medicinal materials.
Microwave extraction equipment
Type: Microwave extractor, continuous microwave extraction tank
Features: Microwave directly acts on molecules, with a fast heating rate (5 ℃/min) and a shortened extraction time of 10-30 minutes; But it is necessary to control the power to avoid component carbonization, which is suitable for small-scale and multi variety trial production.

Applicable scenarios: research and development of new traditional Chinese medicine drugs, extraction of small batches of characteristic medicinal materials.

2、 Separation equipment: remove impurities and solvents, purify active ingredients
The extraction solution contains a large amount of impurities (such as starch, protein, fiber) and excess solvents, and the effective ingredients need to be purified through separation equipment:
filtration equipment
Type: Plate and frame filter press, vacuum drum filter press, microporous membrane filter
Features: Plate and frame filter press is suitable for solid-liquid separation (such as separation of drug residue and extraction liquid), with a large processing capacity (1-10 tons/hour); The vacuum drum filter can operate continuously and is suitable for large-scale production; Micro porous membrane filters can remove micron level impurities (such as proteins and colloids) and improve the purity of the extraction solution.
Applicable scenarios: Initial filtration and refined filtration of extraction solution.
Centrifugal separation equipment
Type: Disc centrifuge, tube centrifuge, tripod centrifuge
Features: Fast separation of solid-liquid (such as drug residue and crystallization) through centrifugal force, with high processing efficiency (disc centrifuge can reach 5-10 tons/hour); Disc centrifuges are suitable for separating emulsions (such as oil-water separation), while tube centrifuges are suitable for separating high viscosity liquids.
Applicable scenarios: extraction liquid solid-liquid separation, crystallization separation.
Adsorption and separation equipment
Type: Macroporous resin adsorption column, activated carbon adsorption tank
Features: Macroporous resin can selectively adsorb active ingredients (such as flavonoids and saponins) and remove impurities (such as sugars and pigments); Activated carbon can adsorb pigments and odors, improving the purity of formulations.
Applicable scenarios: Purification of raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine injections, decolorization of oral liquids.
Membrane separation equipment
Types: ultrafiltration membrane, nanofiltration membrane, reverse osmosis membrane
Features: Ultrafiltration membrane can separate large molecules (such as proteins and polysaccharides) while retaining small molecule active ingredients (such as alkaloids and glycosides); Nanofiltration membranes can concentrate extraction solutions while removing some impurities; Reverse osmosis membranes can recover solvents and reduce production costs.
Applicable scenarios: Protein removal for traditional Chinese medicine injections and concentration for oral liquids.
3、 Concentrating equipment: reduce solvent content and increase effective ingredient concentration
Concentration is a key step in evaporating the solvent in the extraction solution to increase the concentration of active ingredients. The mainstream equipment types are as follows:
Single effect concentration equipment
Type: Single effect evaporator (jacket type, tube type)
Features: Simple structure, low cost, but high energy consumption (requiring 3-5 times the amount of steam as concentrated liquid), only suitable for small-scale production or low value-added products.
Applicable scenarios: Concentration of traditional Chinese medicine decoctions and low concentration extracts.
Multi effect concentration equipment
Type: Double effect, Three effect, Four effect Evaporator
Features: By using the steam from the previous stage to heat the subsequent stage, the steam utilization rate is increased by 50% -70%, and energy consumption is reduced by 30% -50%; The three effect evaporator is a mainstream configuration in the traditional Chinese medicine industry, suitable for large-scale production (such as traditional Chinese medicine granules and oral liquids).
Applicable scenarios: Batch concentration of traditional Chinese medicine granules and oral liquids.
Thin film concentration equipment
Type: falling film evaporator, rising film evaporator, scraper film evaporator
Features: The liquid forms a thin film inside the heating tube, with a large evaporation area and high concentration efficiency (completed in 1-2 hours); Low temperature operation (60-80 ℃), suitable for thermosensitive ingredients such as vitamins and volatile oils; The scraper film evaporator can handle high viscosity liquids (such as honey and ass hide glue).
Applicable scenarios: High purity concentration of traditional Chinese medicine oral liquids and injections.
Vacuum concentration equipment
Type: Vacuum concentration tank, vacuum belt dryer
Features: The boiling point of the solvent decreases in a vacuum environment (such as ethanol boiling at 25 ℃ at 0.08MPa), and concentration can be completed at low temperatures to avoid component degradation; The vacuum belt dryer can directly dry the concentrated liquid into particles, achieving the integration of "concentration drying".
Applicable scenarios: Concentrated drying of thermosensitive traditional Chinese medicines (such as Ginkgo biloba leaves and Salvia miltiorrhiza).
4、 Drying equipment: make the concentrated liquid into the final formulation
Drying is a key step in evaporating residual solvents from concentrated solutions to produce solid or semi-solid formulations. The mainstream equipment types are as follows:
Spray drying equipment
Type: centrifugal spray dryer, air flow spray dryer
Features: After atomizing the concentrated liquid and contacting it with hot air, it is instantly dried into powder with high drying efficiency (completed in 1-2 minutes), good product fluidity, and suitable for large-scale production.
Applicable scenarios: Chinese medicine granules, Chinese medicine powders (such as cold granules, nourishing granules).
Vacuum drying equipment
Type: Vacuum drying oven, vacuum freeze dryer
Features: Low temperature drying under vacuum environment (-50 ℃~60 ℃), perfectly retaining thermosensitive components (such as proteins and enzymes); The vacuum freeze dryer can directly freeze liquids into ice crystals, retain the activity of ingredients after sublimation drying, and is suitable for high-end traditional Chinese medicine (such as traditional Chinese medicine injections and biological products).
Applicable scenarios: drying of raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine injections and drying of valuable medicinal herbs such as Cordyceps sinensis and bird's nest.
Fluidized bed drying equipment
Type: boiling dryer, fluidized bed spray dryer
Features: The material is fluidized in hot air, evenly heated, and has high drying efficiency; It can integrate granulation function to achieve the integration of "concentration granulation drying".
Applicable scenarios: granulation and drying of traditional Chinese medicine granules and tablets.
Oven drying equipment
Type: Hot air circulation oven, vacuum oven
Features: Simple operation, low cost, but slow drying speed (4-12 hours required), suitable for small batch, high value-added products (such as traditional Chinese medicine pills and capsules).
Applicable scenarios: drying of traditional Chinese medicine pills and capsules, laboratory trials.
5、 Equipment selection and trend recommendations
Selection core logic:
Select equipment based on the characteristics of raw materials (thermal sensitivity, viscosity, component polarity) (such as selecting low-temperature concentration/drying equipment for thermal sensitive components);
Select equipment based on production scale (small-scale, pilot, mass production) (such as microwave/ultrasonic equipment for small-scale trials and multi effect/thin film concentration equipment for mass production);
Select equipment according to product requirements (purity and form) (such as ultrafiltration/vacuum drying equipment for injections and spray drying equipment for granules).
Industry Trends:
Greening: Multi effect concentration and membrane separation technology reduce energy consumption, supercritical CO ₂ extraction reduces the use of organic solvents;
Intelligence: The equipment integrates a PLC control system to achieve automatic parameter adjustment, fault warning, and data tracing;
Continuation: upgrade from "intermittent" to "continuous" production (such as continuous percolation, continuous spray drying) to improve production efficiency.

There are various types of herbal extraction concentration unit, and in recent years, the most commonly used one is the hot reflux extraction unit. Its main equipment includes extraction tanks, concentration tanks, etc. Now, we will briefly introduce them, hoping to be helpful.
1. Characteristics of hot reflux extraction unit
(1) By integrating the three principles of reflux extraction, percolation extraction, and Soxhlet extraction of existing extraction equipment, combined with external heat cycle concentration technology, the extraction and concentration processes are centralized and carried out simultaneously on one device.
(2) The secondary steam generated by concentration is continuously sent into the extraction tank as a new heat source for extraction, maintaining the extraction temperature inside the tank.
(3) A large amount of steam in the extraction tank enters the reflux condenser and condenses into hot condensate, which falls back into the extraction tank and is uniformly added to the surface of the medicinal herbs as a new solvent. The new solvent passes through the layer of medicinal herbs from top to bottom, dissolving the soluble substances in the medicinal herbs to the bottom of the extraction tank, eliminating the cold pile of medicinal herbs, and ensuring sufficient extraction. The extraction solution enters the concentration tank, continuously reducing the concentration difference of the herbal solution in the extraction tank, and maximizing the yield of active ingredients; Due to the low amount of solvent used, there is less need to concentrate the medicinal solution, and the extraction and concentration process takes less time, saving energy.
2. Precautions for using the hot reflux unit
(1) To determine the dosage of medicinal herbs in each can through verification, the principle of hot reflux extraction determines that the dosage is larger than that of the multifunctional extraction tank.
(2) Determine the start time of reflux based on the concentration of the medication. If the reflux time is too early and the concentration of the extraction solution is low, it will prolong the effective extraction time. If the reflux time is too late and the concentration of the extraction solution is saturated, it is not conducive to the extraction of active ingredients and also wastes energy. After 1 hour of extraction (boiling), some of the medicine should be placed in the concentration tank, refluxed and timed. Note that when boiling in the extraction tank, the air inside the tank should be eliminated, otherwise pressure will be generated inside the tank.
(3) The temperature of the reflux liquid should be controlled and not too low. At the same time, it is necessary to control the temperature inside the extraction tank and try to maintain a constant temperature. Cold extraction (below 90 ℃) has less impurities and good clarity, while hot extraction has high efficiency but poor clarity. The purpose of boiling is to enhance the diffusion and permeation of the solution. Although boiling can reduce the concentration difference of the solution in a short period of time, it will dissolve many large molecular impurities. The main purpose of reflux is to dynamically reduce the concentration difference of the solution in the extraction tank through percolation at an appropriate temperature. Under the action of osmotic pressure, the concentrated solution inside the cell continuously expands outward, and the extracellular solvent continuously enters the cell.
(4) Determine the extraction time. Excessive extraction will increase impurities in the extraction solution, making later separation more difficult. If the extraction time is too short, it will be incomplete and waste raw materials (the solution concentration needs to be checked during the extraction process).
2、 Concentrating equipment
1. Dual effect concentrator
When the dual effect concentrator is working, the secondary steam generated by the first steam concentration is used for the next concentration step. The concentrated liquid is then connected in series to the first effect concentration, and so on for the multiple effects. Its fundamental purpose is to save energy. The steam generated from the first concentration serves as the heat source for the second concentration, achieving energy conservation. If low-temperature continuous concentration is carried out under vacuum conditions, it is more suitable for thermosensitive materials.
2. Single effect concentrator
The ethanol recovery capacity of a single effect concentrator is high, sometimes referred to as an ethanol recovery device, but its energy-saving effect is not as good as that of a double effect and triple effect concentrator. The equipment adopts a combination of external heating natural circulation and vacuum negative pressure evaporation, with fast evaporation speed and a concentration ratio of up to 1.3; Easy to clean (simply open the top cover of the heater for cleaning), simple to operate, and occupies a small area.

The main application areas of traditional Chinese medicine herbal extraction concentration unit
The traditional Chinese medicine extraction concentration unit covers the entire process of traditional Chinese medicine production (extraction, separation, concentration, drying), and plays a core role in multiple segmented fields according to different dosage forms, raw material characteristics, and process requirements. The following are specific application scenarios and values:
1、 Traditional Chinese medicine formulations: decoctions, pills, and powders
Core requirements: Low cost, large-scale production, suitable for heat stable raw materials such as roots, minerals, etc.
Device application:
Extraction process: Multi effect decoction tank (3-4 effects, steam utilization rate of 70%), ultrasonic extraction tank (efficiency increased by 3 times, shortening extraction time to within 1 hour);
Concentration process: Three effect evaporator (reducing energy consumption by 40%, suitable for concentrating large volume soup);
Drying process: Boiling dryer (realizing the integration of "concentration granulation drying", increasing the efficiency of granule production by 50%).
Typical products: Cold clearing heat granules, Liuwei Dihuang pills, Fuzi Lizhong pills.
2、 Modern dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicine: oral liquids, granules, capsules
Core requirement: High purity, low-temperature operation, retaining thermosensitive components (such as volatile oils and vitamins).
Device application:
Extraction process: Ultrasonic microwave composite extraction machine (heating rate of 5 ℃/min, extraction time shortened to 10-30 minutes), supercritical CO ₂ extraction equipment (no solvent residue, suitable for high value-added raw materials such as ginkgo leaves and saffron);
Separation process: macroporous resin adsorption column (selectively adsorbing flavonoids and saponins, removing sugars and pigments), ultrafiltration membrane (removing proteins and polysaccharides, improving injection grade purity);
Concentration link: scraper film evaporator (for processing high viscosity extracts, such as ass hide glue and honey, the concentration efficiency is increased by 3 times);
Drying link: spray drying tower (drying in 1-2 minutes, good product fluidity, suitable for granules and powders), vacuum freeze dryer (retaining biological activity, suitable for raw materials of traditional Chinese medicine injections).
Typical products: Banlangen Oral Liquid, Antiviral Granules, Compound Danshen Dropping Pills.
3、 Traditional Chinese Medicine Injection: High Purity, Aseptic Production
Core requirements: Ultimate purity (removal of proteins and endotoxins), sterile assurance, and compatibility with clinical drug safety standards.
Device application:
Extraction process: Supercritical CO ₂ extraction (no solvent residue, avoiding degradation of thermosensitive components), ultrasonic extraction (low-temperature wall breaking, improving component dissolution rate);
Separation process: ultrafiltration membrane (molecular weight cutoff of 1-10 kDa, removing large molecular impurities), activated carbon adsorption tank (decolorization, odor removal);
Concentration process: Vacuum concentration tank (at 0.08MPa, the boiling point of ethanol drops to 25 ℃, and low-temperature concentration avoids component deactivation);
Drying/Sterilization Process: Vacuum Freeze Drying Machine (retains ingredient activity), Aseptic Filling Machine (GMP standard, ensures sterile environment).
Typical products: Qingkailing Injection, Shenmai Injection, Xuesaitong Injection.
4、 Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Products: Extraction of High Value Added Components
Core requirements: Retain biological activity, enhance natural properties of products, and adapt to "medicinal food homology" raw materials.
Device application:
Extraction process: Ultrasonic extraction (adapted to raw materials such as goji berries, ginseng, and lingzhi, increasing extraction efficiency by 50%), microwave extraction (rapidly extracting polysaccharides and saponins, such as lingzhi spore powder);
Concentration process: Thin film evaporator (low-temperature concentration, retaining vitamin and antioxidant activity);
Drying process: Fluidized bed drying (granulation+drying integration, producing capsule and tablet raw materials).
Typical products: Ginsenoside capsules, Ganoderma spore powder, Goji berry puree.
5、 Traditional Chinese Medicine Cosmetics: Extraction of Natural Active Ingredients
Core requirements: Low temperature operation, no chemical residue, suitable for skincare active ingredients such as centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid.
Device application:
Extraction process: Ultrasonic extraction (low-temperature wall breaking, extraction of aloe polysaccharides and centella asiatica glycosides, activity retention rate ≥ 90%);
Concentration process: vacuum concentration (to avoid oxidation and deterioration of components caused by high temperature);
Separation process: membrane separation (removing impurities, improving ingredient purity, and adapting to cosmetic raw material standards).
Typical products: aloe moisturizing essence, Centella asiatica repair cream, ginseng anti-aging facial mask.
6、 Traditional Chinese Medicine and Veterinary Drugs: Large scale and Low cost Production
Core requirement: Adapt to animal medicinal materials (such as bezoar and musk), high-dose raw materials, and reduce production costs.
Device application:
Extraction process: Multi effect decoction tank (suitable for precious medicinal herbs such as bezoar and musk, with a solvent recycling rate of 90%);
Concentration process: Three effect evaporator (large-scale concentration, reducing unit cost);
Drying process: Boiling dryer (for producing granules and powders, suitable for animal administration needs).
Typical products: Angong Niuhuang Wan (animal version), Banlangen granules (pet version).
7、 Research and pilot testing of traditional Chinese medicine: process validation, small-scale trial production
Core requirement: Flexible adaptation to multiple varieties, small batch trial production, and rapid verification of industrial feasibility.
Device application:
Extraction process: Laboratory ultrasonic extractor (200-1000W, supports single/multi-mode switching), microwave extractor (10-500W, quickly screens process parameters);
Concentration process: Small film concentrator (1-10L, suitable for small-scale trial production);
Drying process: Vacuum drying oven (small batch drying, retaining ingredient activity).
Typical scenarios: pilot scale-up of new drug development, process validation of characteristic medicinal herbs, and development of customized traditional Chinese medicine formulations.

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