Non-polar solvent extraction of high-value natural plant lipids, spice oleoresins, herbal waxes, and aroma compounds from East African botanicals.
Commercial n-Hexane selectively extracts hydrophobic spice oleoresins, floral concretes, and botanical lipids away from water-soluble tannins and sugars, evaporating cleanly under vacuum below 45°C to preserve natural volatile flavors and active phytochemicals.
Botanical oleoresin extraction is the solid-liquid isolation of natural plant resins, essential oils, and lipids using non-polar hydrocarbon solvents.
Key Facts
Primary Use Cases
In natural botanical extraction, solvent selectivity preserves delicate phytochemical profiles:
Dried botanicals (chilies, ginger rhizomes, floral blossoms, agricultural seed hulls) are milled to optimal particle size and packed into percolation extractors. Commercial n-Hexane is circulated through the bed at 40°C to 50°C. With zero water solubility, hexane dissolves hydrophobic carotenoids, capsaicinoids, essential lipids, and aromatic waxes while leaving unwanted tannins, starches, and water-soluble bitter compounds behind.
The rich botanical miscella is directed to falling film vacuum evaporators operating at 40°C under moderate vacuum. Because commercial hexane has a low boiling point (65°C to 70°C), it evaporates smoothly without scorching heat-sensitive natural aromas or degrading bioactive molecules. Concentrated extract passes to a wiped-film vacuum evaporator to strip residual solvent traces.
The resulting crude waxy extract (botanical concrete) is chilled and washed with food grade ethyl alcohol. Natural plant waxes precipitate out and are filtered off, leaving a crystal-clear, highly concentrated botanical absolute or pure spice oleoresin ready for flavoring, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical formulation.
KIKI'S Industrial Chemicals supplies extraction-grade n-Hexane with verified ultra-low non-volatile residues (<10 ppm) to ensure zero off-flavor notes in natural botanical extracts.
Botanical Raw Material Milling
Dry and mill spices, flowers, or seeds to optimal particle size to maximize solvent percolation contact.
Percolation Hexane Washing
Circulate warm commercial n-hexane through botanical beds to selectively dissolve lipids and oleoresins.
Low-Temperature Vacuum Distillation
Strip hexane under vacuum at 40°C to protect delicate flavor and bioactive volatile compounds.
Winterization & Wax Filtration
Chill and wash with ethanol to precipitate plant waxes, yielding pure, clear botanical oleoresins.
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Commercial n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3, UN 1208) supplied in 154kg and 160kg steel drums by KIKI'S Industrial Chemicals for…
CAS 110-54-3 · Industrial Extraction Grade · Liquid
Extracts active lipids and essential oils while rejecting bitter tannins, sugars, and water-soluble contaminants.
Low boiling point protects delicate natural terpenes, antioxidants, and aroma volatiles from heat damage.
Closed-loop condensation recovers virtually all solvent for cost-effective circular re-use.
COMMERCIAL & TECHNICAL GUIDANCE
Technical and process guidance for botanical oleoresin & essential lipid extraction in Kenya and East Africa.
Ethanol is polar and co-extracts sugars, chlorophyll, and water-soluble tannins that create cloudy, bitter extracts. Hexane is non-polar and selectively extracts pure lipids and active resins.