Technology
A fine balance of modern technology and artisanal traditions
AT SAWAI, OUR MISSION IS TO REINVENT AND REFINE OUR PRODUCTS BY MEANS OF NEW-AGE TECHNOLOGY. BY KEEPING PACE WITH INDUSTRY TRENDS, WE ENSURE WE’RE AHEAD OF THE CURVE BY CONTINUOUSLY EXPANDING OUR RANGE OF STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY. OVER TIME, WE HAVE ADOPTED SEVERAL INNOVATIONS SUCH AS GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY, MASS SPECTROSCOPY, AUTOMATIC BLENDING UNIT, HEAD SPACE AND ELECTRONIC NOSE HOWEVER, WE ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT NOT ALLOWING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT STIFLE TRADITIONAL METHODS OF PRODUCTION, THEREBY PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR AGE-OLD WISDOM ON THE EXTRACTION OF ESSENCE.
We specialize in the following techniques of extraction:
HYDRO DISTILLATION
Both Hydro Distillation & Steam Distillation can be used for flavour or essential oil extraction process. In water distillation or hydro distillation, elevated pressures is used with plants whose essential oils are difficult to extract at higher temperatures.
During hydrodistillation the essential oil components form an azeotropic mixture with water. Most of the essential oils do not mix well with water in the liquid phase so after condensation, they are separated by decantation. What Essential Oils are Extracted : Floral & Spice attars, Shamama
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
The vessels used for solvent extraction are usually made from stainless steel and can contain between 1,000-1,200 litres. The raw material being treated is placed on one of many trays which have holes over their surface, allowing the solvent to pass through the material. The solvent is then mixed with the raw material; the length of time it remains in contact with it varies from one material to another.
The resulting mixture is decanted to remove moisture and generally undergoes a partial distillation under reduced pressure leaving behind a thick, waxen paste which has to be processed to remove its valuable oils.
STEAM DISTILLATION
In steam distillation, plant material is placed into a steam distillation chamber. Steam is forced into the chamber with it. As the essential oil interacts with the steam, the steam flows into the chilled condensed chamber, turning back into a liquid, providing the essential oil. A fractional distillation unit with arrangements to operate it at reduced pressure & indirect heating system for processing of essential oils into isolates and aroma chemicals to a high degree of purity with acceptability to perfumers/flavourist is the attraction of this unit. This fractional distillation column is equipped with pneumatically controlled reflux divider with automatic timer and temperature sensors at all segments of the column for efficient operation and better separation of the isolates. What Essential Oils are Extracted : Nagarmotha, Vetiver, Geranium & Palmarosa
CO2 SOLVENT EXTRACTION
The Supercritical CO2 extraction process creates phase changes in carbon dioxide utilizing temperature and pressure. CO2 is known as a “tunable solvent” making it extremely versatile for creating a multitude of end product by controlling temperature and pressure. These phase changes create an environment to drop out differing weights of components in the plant material. The unique design of the Hi-Flo Series systems allow for separation and collection of these constituents during a single extraction. This enables collection of light essential oils separately from other desirable constituents and heavier lipids. Supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SCFE) methodology delivers a clean, unaltered, consistent-yet- flexible product.