Continuous extraction of natural products from plants apparatus and methods

Abstract

A reaction assembly separating plant material from water includes a first annular filter element defining an axis. The first annular filter element is defined by an outer annular coil of flat wire and an optional second filter element is defined by an inner annular coil of flat wire, being generally helical in the axial direction. A cylindrically or frustoconical filter membrane is concentrically disposed between the first and second annular filter element. The filter membrane is porous having aperture size of less than a nano-particulate size of the plant material, but greater than a nano-particulate size of the water molecule. The second annular filter includes adjustable porosity for selectively preventing particles from reaching the filter membrane and selectively cleaning the membrane by reversed flow of water through the membrane. The assembly generates radial and distal flows and differential pressure forces, for use in high throughput industrial, agricultural and municipal facilities.