Innovation of traditional techniques: Manual stainless steel filter press helps biotechnology achieve efficient recovery and quality improvement of high-value plant extracts

I. Customer Background and Challenges

Customer: A Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Industry: Plant Extraction / Fine Chemicals
Core Product: High-purity Ginkgo Leaf Extract

Challenges faced:

The company had previously been using a combination of traditional centrifuges and box-type filter presses for solid-liquid separation. However, when dealing with the extract of ginkgo leaves, they encountered several difficult problems:

High loss of yield: The extract is thick and contains extremely fine plant fibers and gums. The centrifugal separation is not thorough, and a large amount of active ingredients remain in the filtrate, resulting in a relatively low yield of the final product.

Insufficient product purity: The sealing performance of traditional equipment is average. Under high pressure, it is prone to leakage, and there is a risk of cross-contamination, which affects the purity and color of the extract.

Equipment corrosion and cleaning problems: The extract solution is weakly acidic and corrosive to carbon steel equipment. This not only affects the lifespan of the equipment but also poses a risk of iron ion contamination in the products. The cleaning process is cumbersome and time-consuming.

Small-scale production is not cost-effective: Their experimental lines and medium-to-small batch orders require the use of large-scale fully automatic equipment, which is energy-intensive, operationally complex, and not flexible or cost-efficient.

II. Solution

After in-depth technical communication and sample testing, we recommended and provided the following customized solutions to XX Biotechnology:

Recommended equipment: Manual hydraulic cylinder stainless steel plate frame filter press

Key Configuration:

Compression method: Integrated manual hydraulic system

Material: All components in direct contact with the materials are made of 316L stainless steel, providing excellent corrosion resistance.

Filter cloth: Specialized polyester filter cloth with high precision and easy detachment has been selected for it.

III. Results and Value

After three months of stable operation, this manual filter press has brought significant benefits to the customer:

Significant improvement in economic benefits:

Recovery rate improvement: The recovery rate of the active ingredient has increased by approximately 8% compared to the previous process, directly generating higher economic value.

Cost reduction: No need for electrically-driven compression, energy saving and power conservation; The equipment has a simple structure and extremely low maintenance costs.

Product quality has been significantly improved:

Higher purity: The 316L material eliminates metal ion contamination, resulting in better light transmittance of the filtrate, superior product color, and meeting the requirements of high-end customers.

Consistent stability: The reliable sealing performance ensures that the filtration effect of each batch is stable and controllable.

Improvement in operation and operational efficiency:

Flexible and convenient: Perfectly meets the small-batch and multi-variety production needs of customers. During product conversion, the equipment is thoroughly cleaned with no residues left.

Sanitation and Safety: The stainless steel surface is smooth without any dead corners, meeting food-grade hygiene standards. It supports CIP cleaning, and the cleaning efficiency is increased by 50%.

Fast return on investment: Compared to fully automatic equipment, this solution addresses the core issues with minimal investment and has received feedback from customers that the investment payback period is less than 6 months.