The overall quality of the essential oils that you can extract is influenced by a variety of factors. These factors can include the source of the plant material, the method of extraction used, and the conditions under which the extraction process takes place. Each of these elements plays a significant role in determining the final characteristics of the essential oils, including the aroma, potency, and therapeutic properties.
One of the most important aspects to consider when it comes to the extraction of essential oils is the type of distilling equipment you select for the process. The right essential oil distillation equipment can significantly influence the quality, efficiency, and yield of the extracted essential oils, choosing distilling equipment a crucial factor in the overall operation.
Whether you are a hobbyist or run a large-scale commercial operation, having the right essential oil distillery equipment is vital for achieving high-quality essential oils. EDESA supplies and manufactures various types of distillation units, ranging from small pot stills to large commercial systems, each designed to meet the diverse needs of essential oil producers.
Hobbyist / Small Commercial
If you’re new to distillation but curious to explore it, starting small in your garage or a designated area is a good idea. Practice distillation as a hobby until you grasp the plant materials you’re using, your still, and all the elements that set skilled distillers apart from others. We suggest beginning with a glass still.
Glass Stills
Glass stills are suitable for lab-scale tests and their biggest benefit is their visual presentation of the whole distillation process. You can see the creation of essential oils in front of your eyes.
Our glass distillation units come in these capacities:
- 3 litres
- 5 litres
Heating options:
- electrical
- gas
Stainless Steel Pot Stills
For both small commercial essential oil producers and hobbyists, stainless steel pot stills offer excellent value due to their durability, non-reactivity, efficiency, and easy maintenance. These features help ensure the purity, consistency, and quality of the essential oils being produced while providing a long-lasting investment.
The available capacities for the distillation and extraction equipment include 2 distinct options:
- 8 litres
- 20 litres.
These capacities allow for flexibility depending on the scale of production and your specific needs.
When it comes to heating options, there are two primary methods to choose from:
- electrical heating
- gas heating
Each heating option offers its own set of advantages, providing producers with the ability to select the most suitable method based on their preferences and operational requirements.
Attributes and benefits of Steam Pot Stills:
- Simplified distillation unit – standard pot still
- Can also be used for alcohol distillation
- Steam distillation (bath type) – less efficient than industrial configuration and limited distillation time
- Longer distillation time required for complete recovery of oil
Complete Small Distillation Units
Complete small distillation units offer small essential oil producers and hobbyists a convenient, cost-effective solution with all necessary components in one compact, easy-to-use package. These units save time and space, provide high-quality and consistent results, and are energy-efficient, making them ideal for smaller-scale operations.
With minimal maintenance and user-friendly features, they are perfect for experimenting with different essential oils while ensuring simplicity and affordability.
Our equipment comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate your needs, with capacities available in three distinct options:
- 20 litres – 5kg capacity
- 40 litres – 10 kg capacity
- 80 litres – 20 kg capacity
Additionally, we provide flexible heating options to ensure optimal functionality. You can choose from different methods of heating, including:
- gas
- electricity
- wood – only available for 20kg capacity
Attributes and benefits of Small Distillation Units
- Industrial configuration – live steam feed with continuous water supply (will not run dry)
- Sufficient steam flow for complete recovery of oil in <1h for most plant oil
Optional extras
- Double retort for instantaneous changeover increasing daily capacity
(option for 20kg units) - Continuous Flow Separators
Small Commercial Unit
A small commercial essential oil distillation unit offers small producers an efficient, scalable solution for producing high-quality essential oils in larger quantities. These units provide consistent results, are easy to operate, and support a range of plant materials. Compact and durable, they offer improved productivity and reduced operational time, making them ideal for growing businesses that want reliable, professional-grade distillation without the complexity of larger systems.
Our distillation and essential oils extraction equipment comes in various capacities to suit your specific needs and preferences. Each size is tailored to effectively meet the demands of different production scales, ensuring that you have the appropriate equipment for your operations.
The available size options include:
- 270-litre capacity – 75 kg material
- 360-litre capacity – 100 kg material
- 540-litre capacity – 150 kg material
In terms of heating options, our equipment is versatile and can be adapted to various energy sources to fit your facility’s setup best. This flexibility in heating options allows you to select the method that aligns best with your operational preferences and energy availability. You have the choice of:
- gas
- wood
- coal
- electrical heating solution powered by three-phase electricity, which can offer precise control over the heating process.
Attributes and benefits of Small Commercial Units
- Industrial configuration with hand-tipped retorts for ease of handling
- Dual retorts for improved process flow and continuous distillation throughout the day
- Continuous flow separators
Optional extras:
- Additional cooling system to reduce cooling water usage
- Mobile option: mounted onto a flatbed trailer for operation on multiple sites
Medium Commercial Unit
Our medium commercial distillation unit offers the advantage of higher capacity and handling efficiency than smaller units, allowing for larger batch production and quick distillation changeover cycles. It maintains high-quality, consistent oil extraction and is suitable for scaling up operations without compromising purity. Medium commercial units are set up to suit more logistically complex material flows that must be handled efficiently for smooth daily operational processes, making them ideal for businesses looking to expand or produce essential oils at a higher volume. This variety ensures that you have the right size to suit your operations, whether you are working on a small scale or require equipment for larger production needs.
Capacity
- 720 litres
- 900 litres
- 1800 litres
Heating options
- Wood/coal
- Biomass
- Gas
- Electrical
- diesel/paraffin
You can select from traditional heating methods such as wood and coal, which are often favoured for their cost-effectiveness and availability. Alternatively, there are options for more modern and sustainable energy sources, including biomass, which utilises organic materials. For those who prefer convenience and efficiency, we also offer gas, electrical, and diesel/paraffin heating options, ensuring that you can find a solution that fits your operational requirements and environmental considerations.
Attributes and benefits of Medium Commercial Units
- Industrial configuration with either geared tipped retorts or fixed retorts with overhead gantries for ease of handling
- Dual retorts for improved process flow and continuous distillation throughout the day
- Continuous flow separators
Optional extras
- Conveyor feeding system for optimised material handling
- Mobile option: built into the integrated trailer for distillation on multiple sites
- Additional cooling system to reduce cooling water usage
Large Commercial Unit
These distillation units can be constructed with a variety of retort sizes, ranging from a modest 1,800 litres to a substantial 18,000 litres, which equates to an approximate batch capacity of 5 tons. Additionally, we can design complete manufacturing facilities capable of processing an impressive 500 tons of material per day, ensuring efficiency and productivity for your operations.
We understand that every facility has its unique requirements, which is why there are numerous configurations available that can be tailored to fit seamlessly within your existing infrastructure. This flexibility allows for optimal integration and minimal disruption to your current processes.
We offer both semi-mobile and fully mobile options upon request, providing you with the versatility you need to adapt to various operational scenarios and demands. These options enable you to enhance your production capabilities without compromising on mobility.
