Performance evaluation of roller type aloe vera gel extraction machine

Abstract

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a perennial, drought-resisting, succulent plant. Aloe vera gel is the colourless mucilaginous gel obtained from the parenchymatous cells in the fresh leaves of Aloe vera (Liliaceae). Aloe vera gel is extracted from Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) leaves using Aloe vera gel extraction machine. The gel extraction machine consisted of two stainless steel rollers arranged in horizontal plane. The front roller had more clearance than the crushing roller. The front roller compressed the leaf while crushing roller helped in extraction of gel. Effect of roller speeds (0.093, 0.123 and 0.153 m/s) and roller clearances (4, 5 and 6 mm) were considered for the extraction process. Maximum gel extraction efficiency of 98.06%, minimum gel extraction loss of 1.58%, maximum gel recovery of 43.57% and extraction capacity of 158.06 kg.h-1 were obtained at roller speed of 0.153 m/s with 5 mm of roller clearance. The manual extraction cost of Aloe vera gel was estimated as Rs. 20.67/- per kg with benefit cost ratio of 2.42:1. The extraction cost of Aloe vera gel from Aloe vera gel extraction machine was estimated as Rs.13.36/- per kg with benefit cost ratio of 3.74:1.