Vobis - Short Path Distillation - Molecular Distillation System
Vobis designs, constructs, and provides Short Path Distillation (SPD) systems also known as Molecular Distillation Systems or Molecular Stills, or Short Path Evaporation systems. These systems are similar to our Wiped Film Evaporation systems but have an internal condenser inside the evaporator. The condensing surfaces are very close to the product film distributed on the heat transfer surface (which can have an area up to 100m2). Because the internal condenser is physically so close to the heat transfer surface, pressure drop is minimized due to the reduction of the intermolecular interactions of the vapor molecules. This allows operation at extremely high vacuums (less than 1 micron) for use with very heat sensitive natural products. These high vacuum levels lower the effective boiling point for very gentle evaporation of volatile components..
Industries That Typically Use SPDs
- Chemical
- Flavors and Fragrances
- Food
- Hemp
- Natural materials such as terpenes
- Nutraceutical
- Oils and Fats
- Petrochemical
- Pharmaceutical actives
- Polymer
- Botanicals
Similar to a wiped film evaporator, molecular distillation (also known as short path evaporation or SPD) operates generating a plug flow throughput of the feed material through the evaporator with a very short residence time. The micron levels of vacuum, which are possible, lower the boiling point, and the high surface renewal, through wiping the film across the inner wall of the short path evaporator, make certain that a heat sensitive feed material is treated very gently, minimizing the thermal stress.
The feed material is spread in a thin film on the inside of the heated evaporator body. The condenser is just inside of this and very close to the heated wall covered with feed material. The residence time of the feed material at temperature is only seconds before being discharged from the short path evaporator, thus protecting the heat sensitive products of the separation.
- Concentration of dairy productS
- Concentration of sweeteners, sugars and fruit products
- Distillation of pharmaceutical actives
- Flavor and fragrance purifications and separations
- Fractionation of terpenes
- Fractionation of waxes
- Free Fatty Acids removal from vegetable oils
- Hemp molecular distillation often combined with a preflash and Wiped Film
- Separation of advanced organic intermediates
- Used oil re-refining
- Botanicals
Our Short Path Distillation (SPD), Short Path Evaporation, or Molecular Distillation systems are constructed in a variety of process wetted materials including stainless steels, titanium, or duplex steels according to the client application requirements. They are complete with feed and harvest vessels, vacuum system, all piping, valves, pumps, and PLC control systems.
Short Path Evaporators or Molecular Stills are implemented for a wide variety of processes to separate and purify very heat sensitive natural or synthetic products and actives.
Allen Bradley or Siemens PLC control systems are typically implemented to accurately and reproducibly control our Short Path Distillation evaporation systems.
Skid mounting where appropriate allows easy installation as well as ready access to all piping, control elements, and process vessels.