https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

NWU, DTI open R4m fluid extraction lab

30th January 2013

By: Natalie Greve

Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

  

Font size: - +

The North-West University (NWU) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officially opened the continent's first supercritical fluid extraction laboratory and pilot plant at the Bio-Beneficiation Systems Laboratory of the DTI Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing at the NWU’s Potchefstroom campus. 

The green technology, which made use of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) as the solvent, was used to safely extract essential oils, flavourings and other compounds used in the cosmetics, food and medicinal extract industries. 

As a result of the relatively low temperatures involved and the fact that CO2 was used as the solvent, the compounds were extracted without thermal damage or adding harmful chemicals.

The NWU said the R4-million pilot plant would assist South African companies localise and commercialise this technology.

“This technology will enable the beneficiation of an enormous range of raw materials and, thus, contribute to economic growth through industrialisation and job creation, all the while opening a door for consumers to gain access to preservative-free, reasonably priced organic products,” said DTI Advanced Manufacturing chief director Nomfuneko Majaja.

NWU Faculty of Engineering Dean Professor LJ Grobler added that the plant offered  numerous opportunities for the extraction of various compounds from indigenous plants. 

“Previously, if a company was investigating an opportunity, pilot plant tests and trials had to be performed at facilities overseas. The establishment of the pilot plant at the NWU – the first of its kind in Africa – enables companies to do the pilot scale tests at a fraction of the cost of doing it overseas,” he said.

As the plant was a scaled-down version of large production extraction plants, all results obtained during trials on the pilot plant were directly scalable to big production plants.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.
Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.

ENVASS is a customer and solutions-driven environmental consultancy with established divisions, serviced by highly qualified and experienced...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
SMS group
SMS group

At SMS group, we have made it our mission to create a carbon-neutral and sustainable metals industry.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.146 0.208s - 170pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now