Do you know Ultrasonic propolis extraction Machine?

Do you know Ultrasonic propolis extraction Machine?

Ultrasonic propolis extraction is a modern process that leverages the ultrasonic cavitation effect to efficiently separate the active ingredients in propolis. Compared to traditional methods, it maximizes the retention of active substances such as flavonoids and polyphenols at low temperatures and in a short period of time. It is currently one of the mainstream technologies in the deep processing of propolis (food, health supplements, and pharmaceuticals). The following is a detailed analysis of the core technical aspects:

1. Core Principle: How does ultrasound efficiently unlock propolis components?
The key to ultrasonic extraction is the phenomenon of liquid cavitation. When ultrasound waves propagate through the extraction solvent (such as ethanol or water), they periodically generate "microcavitation bubbles." These bubbles rapidly expand and then instantly rupture, releasing localized high pressure (thousands of atmospheres) and micro-jets, which have a triple effect on the raw propolis:

Physical disruption: The impact of the cavitation bubble rupture directly destroys the colloidal structure of propolis, as well as the attached beeswax and plant cell walls, breaking down the "encapsulation barrier" of the active ingredients and allowing easier penetration of the solvent. Accelerated Mass Transfer: Ultrasonic vibrations enhance the relative movement of the solvent and propolis particles, reducing the concentration difference between the active ingredients within the raw material and the solvent, allowing the ingredients to dissolve more rapidly (increasing mass transfer efficiency by 3-5 times).

Low-Temperature Protection: Eliminates the need for high-temperature heating (typically 25-40°C), preventing the decomposition of heat-sensitive components (such as some flavonoids and enzymes) caused by traditional heating (60-80°C), thereby improving activity retention. Standardized Extraction Process: Key Steps from Raw Material to Finished Product

Ultrasonic propolis extraction requires strict control over the four major steps of "pretreatment - extraction - separation - purification." The parameters of each step directly impact the quality of the final product:

1. Raw Material Pretreatment: Laying the Foundation for Extraction

Impurity Removal: Propolis raw materials are first manually screened to remove visible impurities such as sawdust and bee limbs. If the propolis contains a large amount of beeswax, it can be brittled by freezing it at -10-20°C. The propolis is then crushed (to 20-40 mesh particles) to prevent clumping of the wax. Raw Material Screening: Prioritize raw materials that meet the "GB/T 24283-2009 Propolis" standard (total flavonoid content ≥ 15%, lead content ≤ 0.5 mg/kg) to avoid heavy metals or inferior raw materials that may affect the safety of the finished product.

3. Ultrasonic Extraction Parameter Control (Key Influencing Factors)
Parameters must be optimized through orthogonal experiments. Typical reasonable ranges are as follows:

Ultrasonic Power: 200-500W (Too low a power will weaken cavitation and slow extraction; too high a power will easily cause the solvent temperature to exceed 45°C, destroying activity).
Ultrasonic Time: 20-60 minutes (Traditional soaking requires 24-72 hours, which can be shortened to 1 hour; exceeding this time does not significantly improve efficiency).
Solid-to-Liquid Ratio: 1:5-1:15 (propolis: solvent, typically 1:10. Too low a power will result in incomplete dissolution, while too high a power will increase the concentration cost). Extraction Times: 1-2 times (one extraction yield reaches over 85%, and two extractions can be increased to 90%+; a balance between efficiency and cost is required).

4. Subsequent Separation and Purification
Filtration/Centrifugation: After extraction, filter through a 400-mesh filter cloth or centrifuge at 5000-8000 rpm for 10-15 minutes to remove undissolved residue (such as beeswax and fibers).
Concentration: If an extract/powder is desired, remove the solvent using a rotary evaporator (40-50°C under reduced pressure) to obtain a brown-yellow propolis extract. The extract is then freeze-dried in a vacuum oven to produce a readily soluble propolis powder.
Purification (Optional): Pharmaceutical-grade products require the removal of heavy metals (such as lead). Macroporous resin adsorption or chelating resin methods are commonly used. If a single component (such as high-purity rutin) is desired, column chromatography can be used for separation.

Application Scenarios and Key Considerations
1. Main Application Areas
Food/Health Products: Production of propolis tincture (for direct dilution and consumption), propolis soft capsules (using extract as raw material), propolis hard candies, etc.
Pharmaceuticals: Extraction of high-purity flavonoids for the preparation of antibacterial ointments (such as oral ulcer ointment) and mouthwashes (leveraging the antibacterial activity of propolis).
Cosmetics: Extraction using an ethanol-glycerin solvent to prepare propolis essences and facial masks (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and reduces skin irritation).

2. Safety and Quality Points to Note
Solvent Residue: After ethanol extraction, ensure that the residual content meets national standards (≤0.5g/kg in food) to avoid compromising safety.
Equipment Protection: The operating noise level of ultrasonic equipment must be ≥85dB, and operators must wear earmuffs. Ethanol is a flammable solvent, so the workshop must be explosion-proof and ventilated.
Batch Stability: Industrial production requires the use of "multi-frequency continuous ultrasonic equipment" to avoid batch variations found in small laboratory equipment and ensure consistent composition across each batch. V. Technological Development Trends
Currently, ultrasonic propolis extraction is being upgraded towards greener and more precise methods:

Green solvent replacement: Supercritical CO₂ combined with ultrasound replaces ethanol, achieving solvent-free extraction suitable for pharmaceutical-grade, high-purity raw materials.

Multi-technique integration: Ultrasound + enzymatic hydrolysis (preparing cellulase to decompose plant residues) and ultrasound + microwaves further increase extraction yields to over 95%.

Intelligent control: A PLC system monitors power, temperature, and material-liquid ratio in real time, automatically adjusting parameters to reduce human error.

In summary, ultrasonic extraction technology, by addressing the inefficiency and quality issues of traditional processes, has become a core pillar of the high-quality development of the propolis industry. Process optimization continues to drive product upgrades towards safer and more active products.