Molecular Distillation Solutions for the Flavor and Fragrance Industry

Introduction

In the flavor and fragrance industry, molecular distillation has become an essential extraction and purification technology. YHCHEM's molecular distillation systems are engineered to meet the diverse processing needs of fragrance manufacturers, enabling efficient separation and refinement to achieve high-purity, high-value aromatic ingredients. With wide applications across food, cosmetics, personal care, fine fragrances, and other sectors, YHCHEM has established a strong presence in the global market through its advanced equipment, professional engineering capabilities, and comprehensive technical service system.

Our team is composed of experienced process engineers and application specialists who provide customized solutions tailored to the customer's raw materials, production scale, and quality requirements. From early-stage laboratory testing to full-scale industrial deployment, we ensure that each molecular distillation system delivers optimal performance. By adopting YHCHEM's technologies, clients can significantly enhance product purity, improve market competitiveness, reduce operating costs, and simultaneously meet environmental and sustainability criteria.

Full-Process Customized Services: From Raw Material Handling to Industrial Production

YHCHEM offers complete end-to-end engineering solutions for the flavor and fragrance sector, covering the entire lifecycle from material pre-treatment to final production startup.

For known and well-established process materials, we provide both standard model selection and fully customized configurations. Through software simulation, process calculations, and parameter optimization, we develop an initial process design that accurately matches production requirements.

For new or unknown materials, our approach is carried out in progressive stages:

1. Laboratory-Scale Trials

Development of experimental schemes

Exploration and optimization of key process parameters

Generation of detailed test reports

Parameter analysis for scale-up

2. Pilot-Scale Verification

Integration of small-scale data with simulation results

Engineering calculations for process amplification

Preliminary and detailed system design

Once the process is confirmed, our engineering team completes the full equipment workflow including manufacturing, assembly, factory testing, transportation, onsite installation, and commissioning. We also provide operator training, technical consulting, and long-term after-sales support to guarantee stable, efficient plant operation.

For materials with established industrial processes, YHCHEM supports full engineering validation—from model selection to process simulation and system design—ensuring feasibility, reliability, and high-efficiency operation.

Core Application Scenarios: Broad Coverage Across Fragrance Categories

YHCHEM's molecular distillation and thin-film evaporation technologies are widely used in the processing and purification of numerous natural and synthetic fragrances, including but not limited to:

Natural alcohols: high-purity β-phenylethanol, α-terpineol, β-terpineol, phytol, methanol, ethanol, geraniol, citronellol

Essential oils and aroma oils: rose oil, neo-jasmonal, peach aldehyde, citral, cedarwood oil, vetiver oil, patchouli oil (patchoulol, patchoulone), litsea cubeba oil, cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon oil), sandalwood

Fatty acids & intermediates: long-chain dibasic acids (C9–C18), p-toluic acid, fatty acids, keto acids

Esters: methyl salicylate, methyl acetate, methyl propionate

Ketones & other aroma compounds: ionone, methyl heptenone

Fine chemicals & intermediates: paraformaldehyde, 3-methylindole, angelica extract, methylamine, hydrogen peroxide

Case Study: High-Efficiency Purification of Rose Essential Oil

Rose essential oil—often referred to as the "queen of floral oils"—is one of the most valuable and sought-after natural fragrances. Its unique aroma profile makes it indispensable in high-end perfumes, skincare formulations, aromatherapy, and premium food applications. Due to the complex cultivation and extraction process, rose oil is expensive, and efficient purification technologies play a critical role in maximizing product value.

Traditional Extraction Methods and Limitations

Steam Distillation: Widely used with low equipment investment, but suffers from low recovery efficiency and potential loss of heat-sensitive components.

Solvent Extraction: Higher yield yet introduces risks of solvent residues, restricting applications in food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Supercritical Fluid Extraction: Offers excellent selectivity and purity, but requires high capital investment.

To overcome these challenges, modern processors increasingly adopt short-path molecular distillation, a technique that offers superior separation efficiency under extremely low pressure, making it ideal for heat-sensitive, high-value aromatic compounds.

Process Overview: Two-Stage Molecular Distillation for Rose Oil Refinement

The purification workflow typically includes:

Step 1: First-Stage Wiped-Film Distillation

The melted rose concrete is fed into the molecular distillation unit, where the wiper system spreads the material into a thin film on the heated surface. Under high vacuum, low-boiling impurities rapidly evaporate and condense on the internal condenser to form the light fraction. The heavy fraction flows downward for further processing.

Step 2: Second-Stage Wiped-Film Distillation

The heavy fraction from the first stage enters a second distillation module to remove waxes and high-boiling residues. The resulting light fraction from this stage is the high-purity rose essential oil.

Key Advantages

Removal of both low-boiling and high-boiling impurities

Higher purity compared to conventional distillation

Enhanced yield and minimal thermal degradation

Continuous processing capability for industrial production

This case demonstrates the unique value of short-path distillation for fragile, complex natural aromatic compounds.

Specialized Equipment Portfolio for Diverse Production Requirements

To support the wide variety of materials in the fragrance sector, YHCHEM provides several equipment configurations:

1. Glass Short-Path Molecular Distillation Systems

Ideal for research, laboratory tests, and high-value niche products

Full visibility for real-time observation

Excellent chemical inertness

Optimal for materials sensitive to metal ion contamination

2. Stainless Steel Short-Path Molecular Distillation Systems

Suitable for GMP-compliant, large-scale continuous production

Robust construction, easy cleaning and maintenance

Applicable to most natural and synthetic fragrances

Designed for thermal-sensitive separation, deodorization, and decolorization

3. Glass/Stainless Steel Thin-Film Evaporators

Used as pre-treatment or standalone evaporation modules

Efficient for concentration, solvent removal, and medium-vacuum fractionation

Easily integrated with short-path systems for flexible production lines

These equipment solutions are widely used not only in rose oil purification but also in citrus oil deterring, vanilla extract refinement, synthetic musk fractionation, and other applications requiring high purity and low-temperature separation.

Conclusion

YHCHEM's molecular distillation technology provides the flavor and fragrance industry with reliable, efficient, and scalable purification solutions. By delivering end-to-end engineering services—from laboratory development to industrial commissioning—combined with multiple equipment configurations for different raw materials and production scales, we help manufacturers achieve higher purity, better yield, and sustainable production outcomes.