Extraction with no limits
Continuous direct extraction of antibiotics from fermentation broths

With the decanter for continuous direct extraction, Westfalia Separator has succeeded in combining two essential process steps in one unit. The installation of this system in different industries the world over speaks a very clear language. The successful realization of continuous direct extraction with decanters knows no limits in practice, e.g. the extraction of antibiotics from fermentation broths.
The term extraction is derived from the Latin term "extrahere": "ex" specifies the direction, i.e. out of something, and "trahere" specifies the action, namely pulling or drawing. Extraction has been historically defined as the process of removing one or more substances from another substance. The ancient Egyptians were the first people to take advantage of this principle. They recovered dyes and scents from natural substances by means of extraction. The process plays a futureoriented role in many technical applications, such as biotechnology, the pharmaceutical and food industries as well as environmental protection, all of which are key areas of life sciences.