Botanical Extraction Equipment for Pure Plant Oils

In today's growing health and wellness market, botanical extraction plays a vital role in producing high-purity oils, tinctures, and concentrates from natural plant materials. Whether you're a nutraceutical company, herbal supplement manufacturer, or cannabis producer, having the right botanical extractor or herb extraction machine is crucial for consistency, quality, and safety.

Our System

supercritical co2 extraction
Level 1: 5 L x 2
Supercritical Fluid Extraction System

Our Level 1 SCFE Systems are ideal for small scale producers or research and development labs with pilot extraction requirements.

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supercritical co2 extraction
Level 2: 25 L x 2
Supercritical Fluid Extraction System

Our Level 2 extraction systems are ideal for automated extraction at sub-critical and supercritical process parameters.

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supercritical co2 extraction
Level 3: 100 L x 2
Supercritical Fluid Extraction System

Production scale extraction requires robust extraction systems that can deliver efficiency, speed, and high quality end products.

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Supercritical CO2 Extraction Walkthrough

Here's an explanation of our system, benefits, and a detailed walkthrough of the supercritical fluid (CO2) extraction technology.

Buffalo Extraction Systems Botanical Extraction Equipment

At Buffalo Extraction Systems, we specialize in delivering cutting-edge botanical extraction solutions tailored for industries like cannabis, essential oils, nutraceuticals, and herbal products. We offer turnkey systems using advanced technologies such as supercritical CO₂, cryogenic ethanol, and hydrocarbon extraction. Our focus is on helping our clients achieve high yields and purity, all while ensuring compliance with international quality standards. Through our expertise and innovation, we’re proud to support businesses in unlocking the full potential of natural botanicals.

Botanical Extraction Process: Understanding Botanical and Herbal Extraction

Botanical extraction is the process of isolating bioactive compounds like essential oils, cannabinoids, alkaloids, and terpenes from plant materials. These extracts are then used in a wide range of products, including dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. At Buffalo Extraction Systems, we specialize in ensuring that this process is efficient, high-quality, and fully aligned with industry standards. Let’s walk you through the stages we follow in the extraction process:

1. Preparation of Raw Material

Before we begin extraction, the raw botanical material must be properly prepared. The quality and efficiency of the extraction process depend largely on how well the plant material is conditioned.

Drying : We dry fresh herbs and botanicals to reduce moisture content, which can interfere with solvent efficiency and encourage microbial growth. Drying ensures better solvent penetration and prolongs shelf life.

Grinding/Milling : Once dried, we grind the material into smaller particles. This increases the surface area, making it easier for the solvent or CO2 to come into contact with more plant cells during extraction.

Sieving/Screening : To ensure uniformity and remove any oversized particles or stems that could clog our machinery or reduce yield, we sieve the ground material.

2. Extraction Phase

This is the core stage, where we extract active compounds like alkaloids, cannabinoids, flavonoids, and essential oils from the plant material.

Solvent-Based Extraction : The process typically begins with Pre-Processing of the raw botanical material. This involves drying, grinding, or milling the plant matter to increase its surface area and enhance the efficiency of solvent penetration. Proper pre-processing ensures that the solvents can access more of the plant’s internal structures, leading to better extraction yields and reduced processing time.

CO2 Extraction : Using supercritical CO2 (pressurized carbon dioxide), we create a clean, high-purity extract without leaving residual solvents. This method is especially popular in industries like cannabis and essential oils.

Hydrocarbon Extraction: : We also use hydrocarbons like butane or propane for extracting specific compounds like terpenes, though these methods require extra safety measures.

Using a botanical extractor or herbal extraction machine, we apply controlled conditions of temperature, pressure, and solvent flow to optimize compound separation.

3. Filtration and Separation

Once the extraction phase is done, the mixture contains both the solvent and dissolved plant compounds, along with unwanted plant debris. Here’s how we ensure clarity:

Primary Filtration : We begin by removing the bulk of solid plant matter, like fibers, stems, and large particles. Equipment such as mesh screens, filter bags, and filter presses are used for this phase, and this step prevents clogging of downstream machinery.

Fine Filtration : After the primary filtration, we remove micro-particles, fine plant dust, and other contaminants. This step involves precision-engineered filters with pore sizes from 0.2 to 20 microns. Fine filtration ensures a clearer extract and protects sensitive downstream processes like evaporation or chromatography.

Centrifugation : In some workflows, we use centrifugation to separate high-viscosity extracts or emulsions. This mechanical separation uses rapid spinning to create centrifugal force, pushing denser particles outward while keeping lighter components in the center. At Buffalo Extraction Systems, we offer centrifugal separation as an optional feature for our advanced extraction systems.

4. Evaporation/Distillation

The filtered extract still contains the solvent or CO2 used during the extraction phase. We need to remove these to isolate the concentrated botanical compounds:

Rotary Evaporation : We apply vacuum to lower the boiling point of the solvent, gently heating it until it evaporates without degrading the sensitive compounds.

Falling Film or Wiped Film Distillation : For large-scale operations, we use high-efficiency systems that allow rapid solvent recovery and high throughput.

CO2 Recover : In supercritical CO2 extraction systems, we depressurize the gas and recycle it, leaving behind the pure extract.

5. Purification

After evaporation, we often need further refinement to isolate specific compounds or to meet pharmaceutical or food-grade standards. Here’s how we take it a step further:

Winterization : To ensure cleaner, more stable oils, we mix the extract with ethanol and chill it to precipitate out waxes and lipids, which are then filtered out.

Decarboxylation : For cannabis and other botanicals, we apply controlled heat to convert inactive acid forms (like THCA to THC or CBDA to CBD) into their active forms.

Chromatography : To separate and purify specific compounds, we use advanced techniques like flash or HPLC chromatography, which separates based on molecular weight and polarity.

Crystallization or Distillation : For ultra-pure isolates, we may perform additional crystallization or short-path distillation.

Why Choose Buffalo Extraction Systems: Botanical Extraction Equipment

High-Performance Botanical Extractors
Our botanical extractor lineup is engineered for optimal yield and efficiency. Whether we are working with small-scale R&D or industrial-scale production, our machines deliver consistent, high-quality output. These extractors are compatible with ethanol, CO2, and hydrocarbon solvents, and come equipped with advanced control systems for temperature, pressure, and flow rate monitoring, ensuring the best results every time.

State-of-the-Art Herb Extraction Machines
Our herb extraction machine range is built with pharmaceutical-grade stainless steel, ensuring superior hygiene and durability. Designed to handle a wide variety of botanicals—from hemp to traditional Ayurvedic herbs—these machines feature automated operation, rapid cycle times, and easy-to-clean components. In addition, our Cold Water Extraction Systems

Efficient Herbal Extraction Machines Our herbal extraction machine systems offer the perfect balance of power and precision. Equipped with advanced safety features, real-time monitoring, and customizable programs, these machines are ideal for manufacturers who want to maintain regulatory compliance and product consistency. Additionally, we provide end-to-end consultation, installation, and technical support to ensure a hassle-free experience for our clients.

At Buffalo Extraction Systems, we are committed to providing the most reliable and efficient extraction solutions to meet the growing demands of the botanical extraction industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

While both serve similar functions, a botanical extractor typically refers to equipment designed for broad plant-based material, including roots, leaves, and flowers. A herb extraction machine may be specialized for leafy, aromatic herbs with medicinal properties.

It depends on your desired end product. Ethanol is excellent for full-spectrum extracts, CO2 is ideal for clean and solvent-free extracts, and hydrocarbons are favored for terpene-rich outputs. Buffalo Extraction Systems are compatible with all three.

Consider your production scale, target compounds, regulatory requirements, and available budget. Buffalo Extraction Systems offers customizable options to fit various production needs, from pilot-scale labs to full-scale commercial plants.

Most botanical extractors and herbal extraction machines are versatile and can process a wide range of plant materials including hemp, cannabis, ginseng, turmeric, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, and traditional Ayurvedic or Chinese herbs. The right setup ensures optimal results for your specific botanical.

Routine maintenance includes regular cleaning of all contact surfaces, checking and replacing filters, calibrating temperature and pressure sensors, and inspecting seals and gaskets. Buffalo Extraction Systems offers machines designed for easy disassembly and CIP (Clean-In-Place) compatibility, reducing downtime and ensuring hygiene.

Yes, all Buffalo Extraction Systems botanical extraction equipment is engineered to meet international cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. The systems are also compliant with FDA, EU, and WHO guidelines for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical production.

Yields depend on the type of plant material, extraction method, and machine efficiency. For example, CO2 extraction might yield 10–15% essential oils from lavender, while ethanol extraction of hemp can yield 12–20% crude extract. Buffalo Extraction Systems precision-engineered botanical extractor systems are optimized to deliver maximum yield with minimal loss.

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