VEPL Automatic Curcumin Extraction Industrial Plant

Curcumin is extracted from the dried root of the rhizome Curcuma Longa. The process of extraction requires the raw material to be ground into powder, and washed with a suitable solvent that selectively extracts colouring matter. This proess after distillation of the solvent yields an oleoresin with colouring matter content in the region of 25-35 percent along with volatile oils and other resinous extractives. The oleoresin so obtained is subjected to further washes using selective solvents that can extract the curcumin pigment from the oleoresin. This process yields a powdered, purified food colour, known as curcumin powder, with over 90 percent colouring matter content and very little volatile oil and other dry matter of natural origin. The selection of solvents is done with care to meet extractability and regulatory criteria.