Echinacea Extract Powder (Chicory Acid) - 2% - 4% Chicory Acid by HPLC
Organic Acids Extraction Plants

Echinacea Extract Powder (Chicory Acid) - 2% - 4% Chicory Acid by HPLC

Echinacea Extract Powder (Chicory Acid)

Echinacea Extract Powder (Chicory Acid) - 2% - 4% Chicory Acid by HPLC

Mechotech supplies the complete machinery for echinacea extract powder (chicory acid) production, standardised to 2%-4% Chicory acid (cichoric acid) by HPLC. Echinacea purpurea is rich in chicory acid (cichoric acid), a caffeic acid derivative valued for immune support. Our turnkey plant extracts, concentrates, and spray-dries these actives into a standardised free-flowing powder for the nutraceutical, functional food, and pharmaceutical markets.

Mechotech designs and manufactures the echinacea extract powder (chicory acid) extraction plant as a turnkey solution with SS 316L construction, low-temperature aqueous-ethanol extraction, integrated solvent recovery, and spray drying. The process is engineered to protect the heat-sensitive chicory acid fraction while achieving a consistent 2%-4% assay by HPLC and low moisture, meeting FSSAI, WHO-GMP, and export-grade specifications.

Manufacturing Process

1

Raw Material Preparation

Dried echinacea raw material is authenticated, tested for moisture (target below 10%), and milled to a uniform particle size to maximise solvent contact and release of the chicory acid before extraction.

2

Extraction

Milled material is extracted with warm water or aqueous ethanol (40–70% v/v) in closed jacketed SS 316L extractors at 45–70°C. Multiple cycles with fresh solvent maximise chicory acid recovery while limiting thermal degradation.

3

Filtration

The extract (miscella) is clarified through a plate-and-frame filter press followed by 1–5 micron cartridge polish filters to remove plant particulates before concentration.

4

Purification & Vacuum Concentration

For high-grade specifications, the extract passes a macroporous resin or membrane purification stage to enrich the target actives, then is concentrated in a falling-film evaporator at 50–65°C under vacuum with greater than 95% ethanol recovery.

5

Standardisation

The concentrate is assayed by HPLC for chicory acid content and blended or maltodextrin-adjusted to the declared 2%-4% specification before drying.

6

Spray Drying & Quality Control

The standardised concentrate is spray-dried to a free-flowing powder with controlled inlet/outlet temperature to preserve the actives. Each batch undergoes HPLC assay, residual solvent, heavy metals, microbial, and moisture testing before release.

Applications

  • Nutraceutical capsule and tablet formulations
  • Functional food and dietary supplement manufacturing
  • Pharmaceutical standardised botanical ingredient supply
  • Ayurvedic and traditional medicine preparations
  • Cosmetic and personal care active ingredient supply
  • Export to nutraceutical ingredient buyers in regulated markets

Key Features

  • GMP-Compliant SS 316L Construction

    All product-contact surfaces are electropolished SS 316L, meeting WHO-GMP and Schedule M requirements for botanical extract manufacturing, with clean-in-place (CIP) operation between batches.

  • Standardised 2%-4% Assay by HPLC

    In-process and batch-release HPLC assay hold the finished powder within its declared 2%-4% chicory acid specification for consistent, buyer-ready quality.

  • Closed-Loop Solvent Recovery (>95%)

    Integrated condenser-distillation recovery returns greater than 95% of the ethanol per batch, cutting variable operating cost and meeting CPCB solvent discharge norms.

  • Integrated Spray Drying

    A matched spray dryer converts the standardised concentrate into a free-flowing, low-moisture powder ready for encapsulation and blending, completing the turnkey powder line.

  • Scalable Batch Capacity

    Plants are configured from 100 kg/batch pilot scale to 2,000+ kg/batch commercial capacity, with a modular design that allows expansion without replacing core equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is echinacea extract powder (chicory acid) and why is it commercially extracted?
Echinacea Extract Powder (Chicory Acid) is the concentrated, spray-dried extract of echinacea, standardised to 2%-4% Chicory acid (cichoric acid) by HPLC. It delivers the plant's actives in a stable, consistently dosed form for nutraceutical, functional food, and pharmaceutical use — unlike raw material, which has variable content.
Does Mechotech supply the machinery for echinacea extract powder (chicory acid)?
Yes. Mechotech supplies the complete turnkey machinery — extraction vessels, filtration, purification, vacuum concentration with solvent recovery, and spray drying — engineered, fabricated at our Hyderabad facility, installed, and commissioned as a single performance-verified plant.
What testing method confirms the echinacea extract powder (chicory acid) specification?
The declared 2%-4% specification is confirmed by HPLC assay on every batch, supported by residual-solvent, heavy-metal, microbial, and moisture testing for full certificate-of-analysis documentation required by regulated-market buyers.
What production capacities are available for the echinacea extract powder (chicory acid) plant?
Mechotech manufactures echinacea extract powder (chicory acid) plants from 100 kg/batch pilot systems to 2,000+ kg/batch commercial plants. Capacity is selected based on raw material supply, confirmed buyer volume, and investment timeline, and we recommend a pilot plant to validate process parameters before scaling.

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