Smart Extractor for Essential Oils (SEEO)

Our machine is a modernized version of the Clevenger apparatus that has been widely used for
the manufacture of essential oils for many years. The whole system is placed inside a metal box
that on the front has a touch-screen display (tablet) which shows all the information that is relevant
for the extraction process, like temperature for cooling and heating in different stages of the process
plus the ambient temperature inside the machine. The machine has a user-friendly interface for easier
communication with the operator. Inside the machine, there are different sensors that show the
temperature and the border between the water phase and the oil, a cooler that does not use water, a
heater, stainless steel tanks, and a motherboard.

The machines that already exist on the market for home use for extraction of oils are mainly based
on the compression of the oils from the plants, for example, we have the olive (Olea europaea L. fam.
Oleaceae) with which the individuals get virgin olive oil. But when it comes to essential oils the
people who decide to extract them at home make a small laboratory in their home based on the
Clevendger apparatus, so mainly they use glass. Others, that want to make aromatic water boil
the fresh flowers and leaves from different plants in the water, for example, Jasmine (Jasminum
officinale L.) and Rose (Rosa. L), and then they leave the solution to cool. We replace all the methods
that include all that glass apparatus and the complex home (vintage) recipes with a modernized self-controlling machine.
When people use the traditional way (glass apparatus) they have to view the whole process and manually separate the oil and water. For that reason, we implemented a sensor
that detects the border between the water and the essential oil and automatically separates the oil
from the water. In some way, we have a product that is very similar to a coffee machine and has
complete automatic control. The products that will be the result of the process are essential oils
and aromatic water.

Also, the great thing about this machine is that the size can be modified for home use and for an
industrial use.

The machine can be used in the Pharmaceutical industry because essential oils are used in the manufacture of
medical drugs, but they are also widely used in the Cosmetics industry for the preparation of creams,
body lotions, make-up, in the manufacture of perfumes, and in the field of aromatic therapy.
Including home care, food and beverages, aromatherapy among others, has prompted the
essential oils to demand.“This is because these essential oils are used as key ingredients in fragrances and flavors,” a report notes. We can sell the whole machine for home or industrial use, or we can sell essential oils and aromatic water separately. The global essential oils market demand was estimated at
247.08 kilotons in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%
from 2020 to 2027. Spa and relaxation held the largest volume share of more than 39.0% in 2019
and is projected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. The growth of this segment
has been primarily attributed to the changing lifestyle of consumers around the world. A busy and
hectic lifestyle has created a significant requirement for stress-relieving therapies, which is driving
the demand for aromatherapy. A study shows that the global essential oil market size is estimated to
reach $13.94 billion (Shs50.4 trillion) by the year 2024.
Also, our machine is potentially aimed at the niche market. Additionally, the value of our machine is
in the fast, simple, and inexpensive process of creating essential oils compared to the industrial
extractors. Besides that, we will make contact with local factories that could make our machine
faster and cheaper, in bigger quantity and lower the price on the outcome market. Although, we will
make a company that will include a number of extra engineers like pharmacists, technologists,
programmers, and chemists, so we will also contribute towards the development of the innovation
ecosystem which directly affects the economy.