Mechotech develops practical, scale-ready process engineering packages for extraction and distillation projects, converting product objectives into defined unit operations, operating parameters, equipment duties, utilities and control requirements.
Mechotech has engineered extraction and distillation solutions since 1997, serving pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, botanical-extract, essential-oil, oleoresin, natural-colour and food-processing applications across laboratory, pilot and commercial scales and multiple extraction technologies.
What This Service Delivers
- Raw-material and product specification review
- Process route and solvent-system selection
- Block flow diagram and process flow diagram development
- Material and energy balance
- Equipment duty and capacity definition
- Utility consumption estimation
- Solvent recovery and recycle philosophy
- Process safety, operability and scale-up review
1Our Engineering Approach
Our process engineering approach begins with the product and process — not with a standard equipment catalogue. The engineering team reviews feedstock behaviour, target specification, capacity, extraction medium, batch philosophy, solvent-recovery needs, utility availability, quality requirements, site constraints and future expansion, converting this into an executable technical scope with defined equipment duties and interfaces.
For solvent- and alcohol-based systems, special attention is given to containment, recovery, condensation, vacuum operation, compatible materials of construction and safe operating philosophy. For aqueous systems, the focus includes extraction efficiency, filtration, evaporation load, thermal exposure and downstream concentration or drying requirements. Final design decisions remain project-specific and are confirmed during engineering.
2Applications
Process engineering underpins every major unit operation in a botanical processing plant:
- Solid-liquid extraction
- Filtration and clarification
- Vacuum concentration
- Solvent recovery
- Purification and standardization
- Drying and final product handling
3Typical Project Workflow
A process engineering package develops through a defined sequence:
- 1. Requirement review: Requirement and product specification review.
- 2. Process basis: Process concept and capacity basis.
- 3. Engineering: Engineering calculations and flow definition.
- 4. Equipment & layout: Equipment selection, layout and utility integration.
- 5. Implementation: Manufacturing, procurement and implementation.
- 6. Installation: Inspection, installation and integration.
- 7. Commissioning: Pre-commissioning and commissioning.
- 8. Handover: Training, documentation and post-startup support.
4Why Mechotech
- Extraction and distillation engineering focus since 1997.
- Turnkey capability across process engineering, equipment, automation, installation and commissioning.
- Experience with herbal extracts, spice oleoresins, floral extracts, natural colours, proteins, gums, resins, polyphenols and other botanical products.
- Engineering for laboratory, pilot and commercial production scales, subject to process requirements.
- Support for greenfield projects, brownfield expansion, modernization and performance improvement.
- Single technical interface across mechanical, process, piping, instrumentation and automation disciplines.
5What We Need From You
Sharing the following information helps us define the right process package:
- Raw material / botanical name and form.
- Target extract, active marker or product specification.
- Required production capacity or raw-material input per day.
- Preferred extraction solvent or medium, if already developed.
- Expected yield and batch cycle, if known.
- Final product form: liquid, concentrate, resin, powder or purified fraction.
- Available utilities and site/building information.
- Applicable GMP, quality, electrical or local compliance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is process engineering important in an extraction plant?+
Can a laboratory extraction process be scaled to production?+
Does Mechotech prepare process flow diagrams?+
Can process engineering reduce operating cost?+
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Talk to Our Engineers About Process Engineering
Tell us about your process and target output, and Mechotech will scope the right solution for your project.
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