Scale Up Your Oil Purification with Pilot-Scale Wiped-Film Molecular Stills

As demand grows for new formulations and increased purities of oils and fats, bridging the gap between lab research and industrial production has become more critical than ever. Pilot-scale molecular stills are the perfect solution—a logical bridge between the lab bench and the production floor. They allow for creating drums of customer samples, meeting material demands, and serving as accurate testing and scale-up tools for large-scale commercialization projects. Whether you’re refining edible and essential oils, bio-based materials, or specialty extract distillates, these molecular short-path distillation systems are designed to meet your unique purification needs, from customer validation to compliance with cGMP, all while enabling the development of new and improved products.

Why Choose Molecular Stills for Purifying Oils and Fats?

Pope 6″ Stainless Steel XP Wiped Film Molecular Still Pilot Plant System

Molecular stills excel at purifying oils and fats due to their ability to separate heat-sensitive, high-boiling-point compounds without degradation. This is achieved through optimized designs featuring high-vacuum continuous operation, which decreases boiling temperatures, and efficiently wiped evaporation surfaces, which limit heat exposure to mere seconds. The results include greater yield and purity, as well as product separations and creations not possible by any other means. Importantly, this continuous-mode technology does not require chemical additives, preserving the integrity of natural products. This is particularly important for applications such as:

• Edible Oils: Removing contaminants and improving yield, flavor, and shelf life.
• Essential Oils and Fragrances: Preserving aromatic compounds while ensuring purity.
• Bio-Based Materials and Specialty Chemicals: Achieving high-purity end products for advanced applications.

Real-World Impact: Purifying Oils with Pope Molecular Stills

At Pope Scientific, we’ve collaborated with companies worldwide in the oils and fats industries to optimize their purification processes. For example, a specialty oil producer sought to remove undesirable compounds to meet FDA compliance while preserving the delicate flavor profile of their products. By utilizing Pope’s expert testing and tolling services and investing in a Pope pilot-scale molecular still system, they achieved:

• Higher purity, yield, and appearance with no thermal degradation or flavor shift.
• Scalability for larger production runs, including reduced energy consumption and material costs.
• Market expansion with new premium-grade and customized flavor products.

Stepping Beyond Molecular Stills with Pope Hybrid Still System Technology

Multi-column design allowing for mid-column feed. Discreet controls and manual operation.

For applications involving compounds with multiple components close in boiling point, a greater degree of separation of heat-sensitive materials is required than molecular distillation alone can provide. For these situations, Pope has developed Hybrid Stills, combining the gentle wiped-film evaporation technique with the high-resolution separation power of multi-theoretical-plate fractional columns. These systems deliver sharper separation cuts for feed materials. Examples include:

• Customizing flavor variations in citrus, mint, and other oils.
• Fine separation of C-14, C-16, and C-18 peaks in FFA and FAME for optimal yield and purity.
• Concentrating DHA, EPA, and other Omega-3 esters from fish or fermented oils.

Prove Your Concept with In-House Lab Trials

• Proof-of-concept validation with your material, plus determination of the optimal still system design.
• A pathway to outsourcing through Pope’s toll processing services before your equipment delivery.
• Actionable knowledge for experimenting, piloting, and operating your own equipment

Why Choose Pope Scientific?

With over 50 years of experience, Pope Scientific has been a trusted partner for companies looking to elevate their distillation processes. Our solutions for purifying oils and fats cater to industries including foods, flavors, fragrances, vitamins, supplements, cannabinoids, terpenes, waxes, botanical extracts, surfactants, monoglycerides, triglycerides, cosmetics, biofuels, and many other oils and derivatives. Our equipment and services offer:

• Customizable Solutions: Tailored to meet your specific needs.
• Proven Performance: Trusted by leading companies worldwide and validated for cGMP processing.
• Exceptional Support: From process development to installation and beyond.

Take Your Process to the Next Level
Ready to scale up your oil purification process? Discover how pilot-scale wiped-film stills from Pope Scientific can help you achieve your goals. Contact us today to schedule an in-house lab trial and take the first step toward production success!