Sea Buckthorn Processing from Fruit to Oil and Juice

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) has long been known for its potent nutritional profile and versatility. As interest in this superfruit grows, so does its ability to be processed into a range of high-value products, including oils and juices. This blog takes a deep dive into the journey of sea buckthorn from the moment it is harvested to when it becomes the high-quality oil and juice we recognize on the market.

Harvesting Sea Buckthorn

The journey of transforming sea buckthorn into juice and oil starts in the fields, where the berries are harvested. Sea buckthorn is a hardy shrub, thriving in tough climates such as arid, saline, and mountainous regions. The small, orange berries grow in clusters along thorny branches, making harvesting a delicate process.

Methods of Harvesting

Harvesting can be done by hand, by mechanically shaking the branches to drop the berries onto tarps, or using mechanical harvesters designed for large-scale production. In some regions, the berries are frozen on the plant before harvesting to make removal easier and help preserve nutrients like vitamin C.

After being harvested, the berries are sorted and cleaned to remove leaves, twigs, and damaged fruit. This ensures only the highest quality berries are used in the next processing steps.

The Separation Process

Once cleaned, sea buckthorn berries are ready to be processed into oil and juice. The first stage involves separating the pulp from the seeds, which can be done through a combination of mechanical methods and centrifugation.

Pulp and Seed Separation

To separate the pulp from the seeds, the berries are first crushed or pulped, breaking down the fruit and releasing the juice. During this process, mechanical pulpers remove the seeds. The seed cake, which is left after the juice extraction, can then be dried and processed into oil, while the pulp moves forward for juice extraction. For oil production, sea buckthorn seeds, rich in beneficial fatty acids, are the key focus, while the pulp is used to produce juice.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis

Before moving forward, the pulp undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis. This process uses natural enzymes to break down pectin in the pulp, making it easier to extract juice and increasing yield. Enzymatic hydrolysis is particularly beneficial for sea buckthorn. It allows producers to obtain more juice without relying on excessive heat or chemicals, which could otherwise damage delicate nutrients.

After enzymatic hydrolysis, the pulp is ready for centrifugation. Here, the solids and liquids are separated through a decanter centrifuge, which extracts the juice while removing large solids and fibers. The remaining solid particles in the juice are typically reduced to 10-50 µm, ready for further clarification.

Extracting Oil and Juice from Sea Buckthorn

The processing of sea buckthorn begins with the separation of pulp from seeds, but the journey doesn’t stop there. After the initial separation, we move into the advanced steps that ultimately deliver high-quality sea buckthorn oil and juice. This crucial process involves highly efficient machinery. It is designed to preserve the fruit’s delicate bioactive compounds while ensuring maximum yield.

Mechanical Extraction and Pre-Processing

The first step in the production of sea buckthorn oil and juice is the mechanical extraction of oil and juice from the pulp and seeds. After the berries are pulped and the seeds are separated, the pulp is subjected to mechanical pressure to extract as much liquid as possible. This pre-processing method helps remove a significant amount of the liquid and oil before moving to further refinement.

This step focuses on achieving an initial extraction, reducing waste and preparing the material for more thorough processing. The pulp left after extraction can be treated and converted into powder, while the seeds are further processed for oil extraction.

Oil Refining and Juice Clarification

Once the initial extraction is done, sea buckthorn oil and juice are ready for further processing. In this stage, both the oil and juice undergo refinement to remove impurities and improve their quality.

For oil refining, the extracted oil from the seeds is processed in specialized equipment that helps remove residual solids and water. At this stage, the oil undergoes either mechanical filtration or advanced separation methods to achieve higher purity. This oil will then go through the decantation process, where denser particles settle. The oil is further purified to remove any remaining water content.

For juice clarification, the freshly extracted juice still contains fine particles and suspended solids that affect its clarity. This juice is filtered using fine mesh filters or, in some cases, membrane filtration techniques. This step ensures that the juice is not only clear but also rich in nutrients and free of undesirable particles. The clarified juice then proceeds to either be concentrated or packaged directly for sale.

The Final Product

After the pulp is processed through the decanter centrifuge, the remaining juice still contains fine particles and oil droplets. To ensure clarity, the juice undergoes another round of centrifugation using the disc-stack centrifuge. This results in clear, smooth juice that retains the beneficial compounds of sea buckthorn without excessive sediment or oil.

The final product, whether in concentrated or ready-to-drink form, is nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and omega fatty acids. Sea buckthorn juice is known for its tart flavor, which can be sweetened or blended with other juices to appeal to a wider consumer base.

The Nutritional Benefits of Sea Buckthorn Juice and Oil

Both sea buckthorn juice and oil are praised for their health benefits, particularly their high concentrations of omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins.

• Omega-3, -6, -7, and -9 fatty acids: These essential fats are beneficial for heart health, skin hydration, and reducing inflammation.
• Vitamin C and antioxidants: Sea buckthorn juice contains one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C among fruits, which boosts immunity and combats oxidative stress.
• Palmitoleic acid (omega-7): This rare fatty acid is believed to help with cholesterol regulation and promote skin health, making sea buckthorn oil highly sought after in the cosmetic industry.

Market Trends and Innovations in Sea Buckthorn Processing

As the demand for functional foods and natural ingredients grows, so does the popularity of sea buckthorn. Advances in processing techniques, including supercritical CO₂ extraction and membrane filtration, are allowing producers to further enhance the quality of sea buckthorn oil and juice.

These technologies preserve delicate nutrients while improving extraction efficiency, offering better yields and product consistency.

In addition to oil and juice, sea buckthorn powder is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient in supplements and as a natural food additive. Its ability to retain the fruit’s nutrients while being easy to incorporate into various products makes it a valuable option for manufacturers looking to tap into the growing demand for plant-based, nutrient-dense ingredients.

Conclusion

Turning sea buckthorn into high-quality juice and oil is a detailed process, but it’s essential for keeping all the valuable nutrients intact. With the help of advanced decanter and disc-stack centrifuges, producers can efficiently separate and purify both the oil and juice, ensuring higher yields while preserving the beneficial bioactive compounds.

As more people discover the health benefits of sea buckthorn, these cutting-edge techniques will continue to meet the growing demand for natural, sustainable products.

Thanks to its rich nutritional profile and wide range of uses in food, cosmetics, and supplements, sea buckthorn is set to stay a top contender in the natural products market for many years to come.

Interested in incorporating sea buckthorn into your products? Get in touch with us today to explore how our separation solutions can help you produce high-quality, nutrient-rich sea buckthorn juice and oil!

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