The Botanical Origin and Nutritional Value of Sea Buckthorn Oil
Sea buckthorn seeds are rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. The seed oil is especially abundant in linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, which are essential for heart health. Additionally, sea buckthorn oil is one of the rare plant sources of palmitoleic acid (omega-7), known for its potential to support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, and promote skin health.
These oils are highly valued for their ability to support cardiovascular function, skin health, and overall immune benefits. Due to the plant’s ability to thrive in harsh climates, large-scale plantations across Asia ensure a steady and reliable supply of raw material for oil extraction and refinement.
Sea Buckthorn Oil Processing
Sea buckthorn oil is primarily obtained from the seeds, requiring gentle yet effective separation steps to protect its delicate bioactive compounds. The process involves two key centrifugation stages to achieve high-quality, purified oil suitable for use in nutraceutical and cosmetic applications.
In the first step, a decanter centrifuge is used to process the crushed sea buckthorn berries or the pressed cake that remains after juice extraction. The decanter operates under high g-forces to separate the solids from the oil-rich slurry.
It efficiently removes larger fibers and particulate matter, producing a concentrated liquid with a higher oil content that is then sent to the next stage of processing.
The decanter centrifuge’s high throughput ensures a continuous operation, maximizing oil recovery while minimizing downtime and waste. The slurry produced in this step is typically still cloudy, containing fine particles that need further refinement.
After the decanter centrifuge, the slurry still contains oil droplets suspended in water, along with fine particulate matter. The disc-stack centrifuge utilizes high-speed rotating discs stacked together to provide a much larger settling area. This increases the separation efficiency, allowing it to isolate the oil phase from the water and fine solids with great precision.
The oil extracted through the disc-stack centrifuge is clear, with minimal residual water content, preserving the vibrant color and aroma of the sea buckthorn oil. This purified oil can then be used directly or undergo further refining, depending on the desired end product, such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, or functional foods.
Disc-Stack Centrifuges for High-Purity Oil
After the decanter centrifuge has separated the bulk of the solid matter, the partially clarified liquid still contains oil droplets and fine particles that need further refinement. The disc-stack centrifuge is designed to handle this final stage of clarification.
How the disc-stack centrifuge works:
- Fine Separation: The conical discs create a large surface area, increasing the rate of sedimentation.
- High g-forces: The centrifuge applies g-forces up to 10,000 g, separating even the smallest particles and immiscible liquids, ensuring a clean, pure oil fraction.
- Oil and Water Separation: It effectively separates the oil from the water and solid particles, producing a high-quality oil that meets strict market standards.
This process results in high-purity sea buckthorn oil that retains its natural bioactive compounds, including omega-7 fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocopherols, which contribute to its health benefits and high market value.
Your Partner for High-Value Oil Extraction
Huading’s oil processing systems offer decades of expertise combined with flexibility in design. Our centrifuge solutions can be tailored to different production scales, whether for small nutraceutical producers or large industrial operations.
By using the disc-stack centrifuge to remove oil without excessive heat or chemicals, we preserve the sensitive bioactive compounds that give sea buckthorn oil its unique value. This ensures that the oil retains its colour, aroma, and nutrient profile, making it ideal for use in high-end cosmetics, dietary supplements, and functional food products.
Ready to take your sea buckthorn oil production to the next level?
Contact Huading today to discuss how we can provide you with a customised solution for your production line, maximising your oil yield while maintaining product quality.
