Caffeine Manufacturing

LCI Corporation provides process technology that handles the most difficult stages of caffeine production, from highly viscous solvent recovery to advanced pharmaceutical pelleting.

When it comes to manufacturing high-purity caffeine, like instant beverages, dietary supplements, or sustained-release pharmaceuticals, meeting efficiency, yield, and precision needs are very important.

Solvent Recovery: LCI Thin Film Evaporators

The Challenge: During the extraction phase, crude caffeine extract becomes incredibly viscous and sticky as solvents are removed. This thick sludge frequently fouls traditional evaporators and degrades under prolonged heat exposure.
The LCI Advantage: LCI’s Thin Film Evaporators (TFEs) utilize a specialized rotor design that creates high turbulence, mechanically wiping the thick caffeine sludge down the heated walls.

Extremely Short Residence Time: Heat transfers instantly, and the material passes through the unit in seconds, effectively eliminating thermal degradation and preserving the quality of the extract.
High Viscosity Handling: Capable of continuously processing crude extracts up to 10,000,000 cP, ensuring maximum solvent recovery without stalling or fouling the thermal wall.
Rapid Surface Renewal: Continuous agitation by the rotor blades minimizes scaling, allowing for continuous, reliable operation and fewer maintenance shutdowns.

LCI equipment handles the most
difficult viscous materials

Validate Your Process with LCI

From the initial evaporation of raw extract to the final sustained-release pellet, LCI Corporation offers comprehensive engineering support. Our dedicated Test Center in Charlotte, NC, allows manufacturers to validate their specific caffeine formulations using our laboratory and pilot-scale equipment before committing to full-scale production.