NRDC Technology offer-MENTHOL FROM MINT OIL

PLANT PARAMETERS
Capacity, TPA	100
No.of Shifts / day	3
Working days / Yr	365
Land Area, m²	3500
Covered Area, m²	2000
MANPOWER
Managerial	2
Skilled	5
Unskilled	15
RAW MATERIAL
(Tonne per Tonne	of Product)
Mint oil	1.6
UTILITIES
(Per Tonne	of Product)
Power, KwH	700
Water, KL	10
PLANT & MACHINERY
Filtration unit	Centrifuge
Heating drums	Boiler
Saponafication bath	Cooling chamber
Distillation unit	Storage tank
Refrigeration unit	Water receiver
GI Trays	Seives

Menthol is a monocyclic, saturated secondary terpene alcohol. In nature it occurs as l - menthol or dl - menthol, but the former has commercial application. It has a distinct peppermint flavour. When placed on the tongue the material imparts a biting sensation and slightly bitter taste followed by a pleasant feeling of cold. It finds application in various pharmaceutical formulations and in condiment industry. It possesses cool stimulating action on the skin and mucous membranes, and therefore, it is used in mouthwashes, shaving creams, tooth pastes, chewing gums, jellies, cigarettes, chest rubs, alcoholic liquors and several other products.

The demand of menthol both in India and abroad has increased substantially due to increase in the cosmetic products. The economics of menthol production greatly depends on the availability of mint oil which again depends on the cultivation of the Herb and extraction of the oil by steam distillation.

PROCESS

Menthol is generally obtained by chilling mint oil and subsequent centrifuging to separate out the menthol crystals. The process may be divided into two steps , firstly menthol flakes are produced by chilling mint oil and secondly menthol flakes mixed with mint oil again chilled to produce bold crystals of menthol. The total recovery of menthol in the first step is around 70% . The time cycle for first step is around 6-7 days. In the second step, menthol flakes mixed with certain proportion of mint oil kept under temperature control for about 25 days. The mother liquor (conc. Mint oil ) is a bye product and can be used again till decolourisation of oil occurs. Total recovery of bold menthol crystals is about 50 % .

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

The product obtained conforms to Indian standard specification IS : 3134-1965 , which states that the product shall be colourless, acicular or prismatic crystals with a peppermint like odour.

Characteristics	Requirements
	Grade - I	Grade - II
Melting range	42-44	32.5-54
Optical rotation	49 to 51	-2+2
Congealing pt.	-	22 to 28

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