Closed water circulation system for extraction of phytochemicals (Dweep Aqua Saver)

Technology Background:
During extraction of essential oils, oleoresins, fatty acids and bioactive molecules from spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, continuous water circulation is required for carrying out condensation. This water circulation in most laboratories is done through continuous flow of tap
water throughout the extraction process, which lasts for hours. This results in wastage of large quantity of water. Further, water storage tanks situated at the top of buildings get heated up during the afternoon hours, which cause high temperature of water flowing through taps and thereby impact recovery of phyto-chemicals from the samples. The situation gets critical during summer times. Refrigerated re-circulatory chillers are the available options for the big research laboratories but the costs are too high for small laboratories in research institutes/ colleges/ schools to afford. Further, the schools with science streams also face fund crunch for purchase of high-end laboratory
aids for practical classes in the laboratory.

Technology Description:
To overcome the problem ICAR-CIARI has developed the technology entitled “Dweep Aqua Saver” which could help in saving water during the process of extraction of phytochemicals at laboratory scale. The aid is compact & affordable, and thus could be of great practical utility in colleges, universities and research institutes working on these aspects/ crops. Further, the schools/colleges could also use it for practical classes for their students. Studies have suggested that the essential oil recovery in clove buds and clove pedicels was improved with present technology over traditional tap water circulation, while the oil content remained on par in case of lemongrass herbage.