A Case Study of RIT-Pilot Plant for Thai Neem-based Extract Processing : From Research in BRD to Small-scale Industrial Production in Thailand

Abstract

Neem-based extract processing at Rajamangala Institute of Technology (RIT) in Patumtani province involves a long chain of operations and various equipment. The steps are : seed decorticating, crushing, oil expel, agitation, filtration, evaporation and formulation. As raw material, Thai neem seeds (Azadirachta indica var. siamensis (Valeton)) are used. They are firstly decorticated to obtain the seed kernel, then crushed and finally pressed to separate neem oil by screw expellor. By moving-bed contacting extraction technique, defatted neem cake will be extracted with methanol in an agitated-extraction vessel. After decantation of crude cake in mixing-settling tank, the neem solution is drained out, then filtered and proceeded to the next procedure. The solution will be further evaporated until a specific volume, the so-calledconcentrated alcoholic neem-based extract.