The extraction process comprises five steps: extraction with pressurised hot water, alkali or alcohol – removal of insoluble particles from the extract – selective precipitation of target molecules with alcohol or acid – separation of target molecules – alcohol recovery.
Extraction with pressurised hot water, alkali, alcohol, detergent or enzyme solution may also be used to clean insoluble fibres, e.g. recycled cellulose/pulp fibres.

• Compact skid construction with a size of 3 m x 4 m x 5 m (w/l/h)
• Material of tanks and pipes: stainless steel (1.4404), complying with food grade applications
• ATEX compliance of the whole system
• Peripheral safety systems with sensors and ventilation for preventing explosive atmosphere
• Biomass charge for extractor module up to 5 kg dry mass. Wet material may be added if it can be pumped. Glycan yield with 3 kg dry apple pomace 200 g. For other biomass glycan yield may be up to 1 kg per 3 kg dry mass or higher (e.g. tamarind, guar)
• Volume of extractor 50 L, percolation pump (1.5 kW) maintains flow at 25 L/min for efficient extraction. Sieve plate with 1-mm-holes keeps solids within the extractor.
• Extraction solvents for glycans: pressurised hot water (temperature up to 150 ° C, pressure up to 10 bar, extraction time e.g. 90 min), NaOH (0.5 - 4 M)
• Hot-water extraction mode provides sterile extract
• Extraction solvents for non-carbohydrate compounds (e.g. polyphenols): ethanol or isopropanol (up to 65 °C).
• Extraction module can be operated under inert conditions (N2) for sensitive glycans
• Solvent heating with flow heater (6 kW). For fast extract cooling heat exchanger (0.28 m2)
• Easy removal of extraction residues through swinging extractor bottom plate
• Storage tank (150 L) for extraction solvents or cleaning liquids (CIP cleaning)
• Stainless steel filter unit (gap width 30 µm) for removal of particles from the extract
• Filtrate is pumped into 400 L precipitation reactor with cooling jacket, pH sensor for pH adjustment, stirrer (370 W, 930 rpm), alcohol feed, inspection window, and CIP nozzle
• Stainless steel tank (500 L) for alcohol
• For separation of glycan precipitate double filter unit with bag filters (FiltraLine) with a nominal pore size of 1 µm (e.g. polyester needle felt, Nylon monofilament) operated at a pressure of up to 2 bar. Flow up to 25 L / min
• 350-L-storage tank for remaining aqueous alcohol solution, with CIP nozzle
• Alcohol is recovered using a rectification column: capacity 180 L, length 2.90 m, pressure (bar) -1.0/0.5, temperature (°C) -10/111, heater performance 51 kW