Great! Here’s a detailed equipment list for setting up a Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) lab focused on essential oil extraction from high-value crops like Aquilaria malaccensis (agarwood), sandalwood, cinnamon, etc.
???? UAE Lab Equipment List for Essential Oil Extraction
???? 1. Ultrasonic Processor (Main Equipment)
- Ultrasonic bath or ultrasonic probe (sonicator)
- Frequency: 20–100 kHz
- Power: 100–1000+ watts (scale-dependent)
- Adjustable amplitude and pulse settings
- Probe-type sonicators are more efficient for UAE than bath types
- Example: Hielscher UP400S, Qsonica Q700
???? 2. Extraction Vessels
- Borosilicate or stainless-steel containers, depending on solvent
- Volume: 100 mL (lab scale) to 10 L (pilot scale)
- Must be solvent-resistant (glass or PTFE-lined)
????️ 3. Temperature Control System
- Chiller or heating circulator to maintain solvent temp during sonication
- Prevents overheating which can degrade volatile oils
⚗️ 4. Solvents (Depending on target compound)
- Food- or pharma-grade ethanol (95%)
- Hexane (for lipophilic compounds)
- Water (for hydrosol or mild extractions)
- Ethanol–water mixtures (common for balanced polarity)
???? 5. Filtration and Separation Tools
- Vacuum filter setup (Büchner funnel + vacuum pump)
- Filter papers or membranes (0.45 µm for final filtration)
- Glass or stainless-steel separators (for solvent-oil separation)
???? 6. Solvent Recovery System (Optional but recommended)
- Rotary evaporator (Rotavap)
- For solvent evaporation under reduced pressure
- Preserves volatile essential oils
- Includes vacuum pump and water bath
- Example: Heidolph, Buchi R-300
???? 7. Essential Oil Collection and Storage
- Amber glass vials or bottles (light-sensitive)
- Air-tight seals, dropper caps
- Labels for date, source, batch ID
???? 8. Quality Control & Analysis (Optional, but ideal)
- Refractometer (to measure oil purity)
- pH meter
- Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) (for full oil profiling)
- Moisture analyzer (if drying raw materials)
???? 9. Safety Equipment
- Fume hood or local exhaust ventilation
- Fire extinguisher (especially for ethanol or hexane use)
- PPE: lab coats, gloves, goggles
- Chemical spill kit
???? Optional Add-ons for Scaling Up:
- Ultrasonic flow cell reactor for continuous extraction
- Industrial-scale ultrasonic extractors (for commercial oil production)
- PLC/automation controls for repeatability
Would you like a layout/floor plan for a basic UAE extraction lab or a cost estimate for small-scale setup?