The quantity of raw material depends on the percentage of the fraction targeted for yield and analysis. This can vary from a few kilos to a few dozen kilos depending on the pilot test.
Pilote Hall
Phase 3, “Pilot Hall”, is the validation phase of tests on a “semi-industrial” scale, an essential step in the validation of technologies and expected extraction performances, before moving the innovation project to phase 4 of industrialization.
This phase 3 follows naturally from phase 1 “preliminary validation” and phase 2 “R&D”.
It can also be initiated by our customers from their own R&D elements.
WiNatlab and its partners support you in the realization of tests on the platform on one or several appropriate technologies, in order to validate the developments made during the R&D phase, and to reach the optimal choice of a reliable and performing industrial solution.
These tests are carried out on a pilot scale, i.e. on equipment with a capacity generally between 30 and 300 liters, which allows to project oneself in an industrial context.
Access to our equipements
The WiNatLab pilot hall gives you direct access to the following technologies:
Other technologies are nevertheless available on demand, within the framework of customized tests via third-party technologies.
As part of the pilot tests, we may need to perform additional post-treatment operations to refine the product obtained in the previous step, such as drying or solvent evaporation. The realization of pilot tests makes it possible to bring the necessary guarantees to the development of a reliable and powerful industrial solution. It is in this context that Tournaire Equipment can provide performance guarantees on these equipments developed from the studies and tests performed at WiNatLab.
Your Role
WiNatLab proposes a tailor-made offer for which you are free to choose, according to your needs, the phases on which you wish to be accompanied.
The support on phase 3 can follow preliminary developments, either studies or tests done during the previous phases (phases 1 and 2). It is therefore natural that the output data obtained will be used to feed phase 3. Nevertheless, in case of direct access to phase 3, without going through the preliminary phases, you will have to send us a well-defined specification, provide the raw material, position yourself on the process you wish to use and define the test protocol with our teams. You will have the possibility to attend the tests if you wish with one or more accompanying persons.
Generally speaking, we work with you to define an experimentation plan and carry out the tests with your raw material. You will then receive the product and the report with all the data collected.
Role of our partners
WiNatLab’s process and technology partners support you in this third phase by providing you with the key elements that will allow you to access the next phase. Each partner is at the forefront of its field of expertise.
As a “process” partner, EcoXtract brings an agro-based solvent solution to replace hexane, in order to achieve “green” extractions, more respectful of the environment.
EcoXtract supports you in the validation and optimization of operating parameters, the validation of the extract profile(s), the validation of the finishing steps and to access to representative quantities of industrial quality to launch the product on the market.
Two partners are involved in the “technology” part. They are IDCO and Nova Extraction.
IDCO is specialized in the design and marketing of industrial microwave equipment for plant extraction. It accompanies you in the transposition of the results obtained in the laboratory, the validation or correlation of the obtained results, as well as in the realization of the dimensioning of the desired equipment.
Nova Extraction, as for it, accompanies you on extraction tests with supercritical CO₂ with an installation equipped with a system of 25 liters capacity. This allows for larger scale trials than in the previous R&D phase (phase 2), to make a more in-depth study and in line with the industrial production of extracts.
Finally, the WiNatLab “expertise” partner, BotaniCert, intervenes after the realization of the pilot tests for the analysis of the results by measuring the quality of the product by chemical analysis, or the safety if based on substances not to be found. Our partner carries out formulation tests with the ingredient obtained and the raw materials defined in the specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the quantity of raw material to be supplied for the pilot tests?
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What is the average cost of a trial?
Unless otherwise specified, the cost of the tests is calculated on the basis of 1,200 €, exclusive of tax, per day, to which are added the costs related to: the preparation and cleaning of the equipment, the supply of solvent, the writing of a report, the carrying out of analyses, the destruction of waste, the sending of samples, etc. Depending on the process used and the number of tests to be performed, the duration of the tests is variable and the cost generally varies between 2,400 € and 15,000 €, excluding VAT.
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Are the tests carried out only at your site in Grasse, France?
Most of the tests are performed at the WiNatLab site in Grasse. Nevertheless, some tests can be performed directly on our partners’ sites.