Tech Team · Kintek Solution

Molecular distillation is a specialized technique used primarily for the separation, purification, and concentration of heat-sensitive and high-value compounds. It is widely applied in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemicals, where maintaining the integrity of delicate substances is crucial. Key applications include the separation of vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and carotenoids, as well as the purification of oils, recovery of tocopherols, and production of synthetic and natural vitamin E. This process is also effective for deodorization, decolorization, and the removal of contaminants, making it ideal for handling heat-sensitive materials and achieving high-purity products without the need for chemical treatments.

Key Points Explained:

1. Separation of Heat-Sensitive Compounds:

   • Molecular distillation is particularly effective for separating heat-sensitive compounds such as vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and carotenoids. These substances are often damaged by traditional distillation methods due to high temperatures, but molecular distillation operates at lower temperatures and reduced pressure, minimizing thermal degradation.

2. Purification of Oils and Functional Products:

   • It is extensively used for the purification of oils, including borage oil, soybean oil, and palm oil. For example, it enriches borage oil in γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and recovers tocopherols from soybean oil deodorizer distillate. This process ensures the removal of impurities while preserving the natural properties of the oils.

3. Recovery of High-Value Compounds:

   • Molecular distillation enables the recovery of valuable compounds like tocopherols (vitamin E), carotenoids, and monoglycerides. These compounds are often present in small quantities and require precise separation techniques to achieve high purity.

4. Deodorization and Decolorization:

   • The process is commonly used for deodorizing and decolorizing products. It removes volatile substances, unwanted odors, and colorants from materials such as spices, oils, and health products, enhancing their quality and marketability.

5. Handling of Heat-Sensitive Materials:

   • Due to its low-temperature operation, molecular distillation is ideal for processing heat-sensitive materials, including essential oils, natural extracts, and pharmaceutical intermediates. This ensures minimal thermal damage and preserves the bioactive properties of the compounds.

6. Concentration of Valuable Compounds:

   • It is used to concentrate valuable compounds like carotene, squalene, and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A. This is particularly important in industries where high-purity and high-concentration products are required.

7. Environmental and Cleaner Production:

   • Molecular distillation improves traditional production processes by reducing the need for chemical treatments and minimizing waste. This aligns with cleaner production goals, making it an environmentally friendly option for industries.

8. Separation of Radioactive and Complex Mixtures:

   • The technique is also applied in specialized fields, such as the separation of radioactive nuclides from irradiated media and the purification of complex mixtures like lanolin and synthetic compounds.

9. Preservation of Natural Properties:

   • By eliminating the need for chemical additives, molecular distillation preserves the natural properties of materials, making it ideal for producing high-quality natural health products and functional oils.

10. Optimization of Product Synthesis:

    • The process optimizes product synthesis by removing undesired by-products and contaminants, resulting in higher-quality end products. This is particularly valuable in the production of synthetic and natural vitamin E, as well as other high-purity compounds.

In summary, molecular distillation is a versatile and essential technology for industries requiring the separation, purification, and concentration of delicate and high-value compounds. Its ability to operate at low temperatures and reduced pressure makes it indispensable for handling heat-sensitive materials, ensuring high-purity products, and supporting cleaner production processes.

Summary Table:

Key Applications	Benefits
Separation of vitamins, fatty acids, carotenoids	Preserves heat-sensitive compounds, minimizes thermal degradation.
Purification of oils (e.g., borage, soybean)	Removes impurities, preserves natural properties.
Recovery of tocopherols, carotenoids	Achieves high-purity separation of valuable compounds.
Deodorization and decolorization	Enhances product quality by removing odors and colorants.
Handling heat-sensitive materials	Ensures minimal thermal damage, ideal for essential oils and natural extracts.
Concentration of valuable compounds	Produces high-purity, high-concentration products like carotene and squalene.
Environmental benefits	Reduces chemical treatments and waste, supports cleaner production.

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