Homepage
Contact us

A simple extraction process that preserves quality

Freshly cut, young Alfalfa, naturally rich in proteins and grown in Northeastern France, is supplied to our extraction plants. The process involves a series of exclusively physical steps that most favourably preserve the intrinsic qualities of the plant. Result: a healthy and natural product that corresponds to the quality requirements of public health.

Throughout the process, the product is never exposed to synthetic solvents to facilitate extraction or to increase the pigment concentration.

 

 

1. Cold pressing

The alfalfa is gathered in several successive harvests from May to October. It is immediately shipped to the factory where the plant matter is fragmented to release its components. It is then pressed to furnish a green juice, rich in proteins and pigments.

2. Heating

The juice is heated to coagulate proteins. A preheating followed by the injection of steam flocculates the majority of proteins, that forms a coagulum. The product is stabilized by chilling at emergence from the dryer.

3. Centrifugation

The product from the above step is centrifuged to separate the coagulum from the liquid part. Pigments (lipophilic) present in the juice are carried with the paste from the protein coagulum.

4. Drying and granulation

The paste is dried on a fluidized air bed and granulated at sufficiently low temperatures to preserve the composition of the CAE.

The average extraction yield is about 7 %. It is improved by:

  • an elevated field protein level, obtained by successive harvests at short intervals (generally 5 harvest per year instead of 4 for classical dehydration),
  • a very short interval between harvest in the field and processing in the factory, which limits the degradation of proteins and pigments.

 

 
 Administrative & and Financial department
BP 124 - 51007 Châlons-en-Champagne - France
Tél. : + 33 (0)3 26 68 05 55 - Fax : + 33 (0)3 26 68 65 10
Headquarter and Sales department
27/29 rue Chateaubriand - 75383 Paris cedex 08 - France
Tél. : + 33 (0)1 42 99 01 01 - Fax : +33 (0)1 42 99 00 07