DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING ACTIVE PRINCIPLES FROM NATURAL SOURCES, USING A COUNTER-FLOW EXTRACTOR ASSISTED BY A SOUND TRANSDUCTION SYSTEM

摘要

The invention relates to a apparatus and method for extracting active principles from natural sources, using a counter-flow extractor assisted by a sound transduction system, which allows a cavitation sound field to be applied in the zone containing the material formed by the raw material of the natural product and a solvent extraction medium. According to the invention, the apparatus (11) comprises: an inclined casing (12) containing a helical conveyor screw (13) having a plurality of blades (17), said casing including a lower end (15) and an upper end (16); a material inlet (21) for introducing the material, which is disposed on top of the lower end (15) such that it is inclined at an angle ¸ in relation to the surface of the casing (12), said material inlet (21) including a second helical conveyor screw (22); an discharge hopper (31) for releasing the treated material, which hopper is located at the upper end (16) of the casing (12); a first load line (23) for loading the solvent extraction medium, which load line is located at the upper end (16); a discharge outlet (26) for discharging the liquid extract, which discharge line is located at the lower end (15) and is provided with a filter (27); and a sound transduction system (29) for producing ultrasound, which is located at the lower end (15) on a surface portion (28). The method comprises the following steps: (a) preparing the raw material; (b) supplying the product and the solvent to the device, in counter-flow mode; (c) applying a sound field to the product together with the solvent; (d) extracting the product with the extraction liquid, in counter-flow mode; and (e) collecting the liquid extract and the depleted material.