Patent Publication Number: US-2020282329-A1

Title: Method for Extracting Effective Component from Plant by High-pressure Spraying Process

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority of provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/815,117 filed Mar. 7, 2019 which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application generally relates to extracting methods, and more particularly, to a method for extracting effective components from plant by high-pressure spraying process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The plant extract is a product which is extracted from the plant. Specifically, the user may extract and concentrate the specific component(s) of the plant via physical and chemical separation process according to his/her demand without changing its active structure. 
     However, the main drawback of traditional extraction method is that the continuous extraction cannot be achieved since the extraction time is too long. 
     There are two modern extraction methods, supercritical extraction and microwave extraction. The supercritical extraction is a method utilizing supercritical fluid instead of conventional organic solvent for extraction and separation. The microwave extraction is a method utilizing the microwave-absorbing ability difference to selectively heat and extract the specific component(s) in the microwave field. 
     However, modern extraction methods have disadvantages such as large one-time investment and low utilization rate of extraction equipment. As such, modern extraction methods are not suitable for large production, 
     Therefore, a need remains for a method for extracting effective components from plant to provide a simple-operated, convenient and fast method for extraction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application discloses a method for extracting effective components from plant to provide a simple-operated, convenient and fast method for extraction. 
     The method for extracting effective components from plant by high-pressure spraying process, comprising: pulverizing the plant to form raw plant material; atomized extracting the raw plant material to form crude extract; and concentrating the crude extract to remove the extraction solvent to form final extract. The step of atomized extracting the raw plant material to form crude extract comprises: soaking the raw plant material by soaking solution; high-pressure spraying the soaked raw plant material into an extraction solvent; and extracting the soaked raw plant material to form the crude extract. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the step of pulverizing the plant to form raw plant material comprises pulverizing the plant by pulverizer with a built-in 80-120 mesh screen sieve. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the soaking solution is water or an ethanol solution with 30%-98% of volume concentration. 
     In, various exemplary embodiments, the step of soaking the raw plant material by ethanol solution further comprises soaking the raw plant material for 1-2 hours. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the step of soaking the raw plant material by ethanol solution further comprises stirring. the raw plant material. A stirring rate for stirring the raw plant material is 60-100 r/min. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, after soaking the raw plant material by the ethanol solution, the method further comprises filtering the soaked raw material. Specifically, the soaked raw material is filtered by a 60 mesh screen sieve. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, a volumetric weight ratio between the soaking solution and the raw plant material is 6 L:1 kg. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the step of atomized extracting the raw plant material to form crude extract further comprises pre-charging the extraction solvent into a tank before high-pressure spraying the soaked raw plant material into the extraction solvent. An extraction solvent, volume is ⅔-¾ of the tank. The extraction solvent is water or an ethanol solution. A nozzle is inserted 2-3 cm under a liquid surface of the extraction solvent for high-pressure spraying. 
     In addition, in various exemplary embodiments of the above embodiment, the step of atomized extracting the raw plant material to feint crude extract further comprises countercurrent spraying the extraction solvent from a bottom portion of the tank. A speed of countercurrent spraying the extraction solvent is 200-600 L/h. A speed of high-pressure spraying, the soaked raw plant material is 500-1000 L/h. 
     In Various exemplary embodiments, a pressure for high-pressure spraying the soaked raw plant material into the extraction solvent is 1.0-3.0 Mpa. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the step of concentrating the crude extract to form final extract comprises: heating the crude extract to at least 60° C.; spraying the crude extract into a concentrator. wherein a vacuum degree inside the concentrator is −0.9 Mpa; and evaporating the extraction solvent of the crude extract to form the final extract. 
     Based on the above, the present application increases the contacting area between the solute and the solvent due to spraying technique. In addition, the solute diffusion is improved since the solvent is continuously countercurrent moving. Therefore, the rate of producing the final extract can be increased by 5-6 times. enhancing the extraction efficiency. Moreover, the solvent usage and consumption are greatly reduced, which in turn reduces the costs. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present application will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of disclosed embodiments, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, features and advantages of the present application will be more readily appreciated upon reference to the following disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify identical components in the various views, and wherein reference numerals with alphabetic characters are utilized to identify additional types, instantiations or variations of a selected component embodiment in the various views, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing the extraction equipment and process. 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  are flow charts of a method for extracting effective components from plant by high-pressure spraying process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present representative embodiments of the present application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing the extraction equipment  100  and process,  FIGS. 2A-2B  are flow charts of a method  200  for extracting effective components from plant by high-pressure spraying process. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2B , the extraction equipment  100  comprises plant container  1 , a mixer  2 , a sieve  3 , a mixer  4 , a high-pressure piston pump  5 , am extraction tank  6 , a mixer  7 , a pump  8 , an extract container  9 , a residue container  10 , a condenser  11 , a solvent tank  12  and a concentrator  13 . 
     As shown in step  201 , a plant is pulverized inside the plant container  1  to form raw plant material. In detail, the plant is pulverized by a pulverizer with a built-in 80-120 mesh screen sieve. 
     Next, atomized extracting the raw plant material to form crude extract as shown in step  202 . Specifically, the first step in the step  202  is soaking the raw plant material by soaking solution for 1-2 hours as shown in step  202   a . The soaking solution in the present application can be water or an ethanol solution. If the soaking solution is the ethanol, a volume concentration of the ethanol solution is 30-98%. The volumetric weight ratio between the soaking solution and the raw plant material is 6 L:1 kg. 
     And then, stirring the raw as shown in step  202   b . A stirring rate for stirring the raw material is 60-100 r/min. It should be noted that the step  202   b  can be done at the same time with the step  202   a , the present application is not limited thereto. 
     Next, as shown in step  202   c , filtering the soaked raw material by a 60 mesh screen sieve  3  and flows it into the mixer  4 . 
     On the other hand, the extraction solvent is pre-charged into the extraction tank  6  as shown in step  202   d . The extraction solvent volume is ⅔-¾ of the extraction tank  6 . The extraction solvent may be water or an ethanol solution. 
     Next, as shown in step  202   e  and  FIG. 1 , a nozzle is inserted 2-3 cm under a liquid surface of the extraction solvent. The high-pressure piston pump  5  sprays the soaked raw plant material into the extraction solvent. A speed of high-pressure spraying the soaked raw plant material is 500-1000 L/h. A pressure for high-pressure spraying the soaked raw plant material into the extraction solvent is 1.0-3.0 Mpa. 
     As shown in step  202   f , a pump is driven to countercurrent spraying the extraction solvent from the solvent tank  12  to a bottom portion of the extraction tank  6 . The extraction solvent is water or an ethanol solution, depending on different types of plants. The present application utilizes the ethanol solution as an example. A speed of countercurrent spraying the second extraction solvent is 200-600 L/h. The temperature inside the extraction tank  6  is room temperature. 
     The crude extract is discharge from the extraction tank  6  to the extract container  9 . A speed of discharging the crude extract is 400-900 L/h. 
     Next, as shown, in step  203 , concentrating the crude extract to form final extract. Specifically, the first step of the step  203  is heating the crude extract to at least 60° C. as shown in step  203   a . Then, spraying the crude extract into the concentrator  13  as shown in step  203   b . A vacuum degree inside the concentrator  13  is −0.9 Mpa. 
     During the process of dropping, the extraction solvent of the crude extract will be evaporated as shown in step  203   c . Last, as shown in step  203   d , transforming the evaporated solvent back to liquid form via the condenser  11 . The final extract is stay in the concentrator  13 . 
     Based on the above, the present application increases the contacting area between the solute and the solvent due to spraying technique. In addition, the solute diffusion is improved since the solvent is continuously countercurrent moving. Therefore, the rate of producing the final extract can be increased by 5-6 times, enhancing the extraction efficiency. Moreover, the solvent usage and consumption are greatly reduced, which in turn reduces the costs. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present application without departing from the scope or spirit of the present application. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present application cover modifications and variations of this application provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.