MENTHOL CRYSTAL PLANT

[EIRI/EDPR/3743] J.C.: 1701INRXL, 1702US$XL

INTRODUCTION

The commercial cultivation of the plants known as peppermint and spearmint,

members of the genus mentha (Fam. labiatae), and the extraction processing and
shipment of their oils, including menthol crystals, constitute an industry enrolling
over $100 million in transactions each year. The mint plant are perennials
yielding aromatic oils which are of increasing importance and have indeed long
been a longest the world's most valuable flavouring materials. Mint is probably the
world's third most important flavour being exceeded in popularity only vanilla and
citrus flavours. The oils obtained by the relatively simple process of team
distillation belong to a chemical class of plant product variably returned to as
essential, volatile or ethereal oils, whose chemical composition consists almost
entirely of hydrocarbon and oxygenated compounds known as terpenoids. The
major terpene in peppermint oil is the alcohol menthol, accounting for the cooling
sensation and that in spearmint oil is the letre carnone.

Economic variable also influence production levels. Mint growers can move into
and out of mint production relatively easily since the land is suitable for several
alternative crops and the production of mint is therefore influenced by the
expected future price of the mint, usually based on past price levels, in
comparison with the current and expected prices of compacting crops.

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The quantity and quality of mint oil varies considerably from year to year. There
are several factors contributing to these supply fluctuations, the most obvious one
being the weather yields can also be influenced by husbandry practices, soils
fertilisers usage, disease and pests, availability of suitable not stocks and the age
of the mint plant. As regards the latter factor mentha species are perennials and
other thing being equal, new plantings have lower average yields than two to three
year old plants.

Menthol is crystalline substance with characteristics of pungent odour derived

from the oil of the pepper mint plant ‘Mentha Piperita’.

The plant belong to Labiatae family which is very large family having annual and
perennial herbs. Several species are shrubby or of climbing forms rarely small
trees also. Members of the family are found throughout the world but the main
area of plantation is Mediterranean region. The plants have square stems paired
opposite leaves and tubular flowers with two lips. The leaves sometimes grow in
wholes; the flowers may be white or shades of red, blue or purple. The family is
well known for the aromatic volatility having oils in the foliage, which are used in
perfumes, pharmaceutical products, confectionaries.

The true mints belong to the genus Mentha Piperita. The leaves and tops are
sometimes deried and utilized for flavouring but its oil extracted is the main
derivative having large commercial value.

The cultivation of Mentha Arvensis in India is a dramatic & very successful story.
Before, 1964, there was no production of Mentha Oil & Menthol in India. The
cultivation of Mentha Arvensis was started around 1870 in Japan so it is also
called Japani Mint than extant in Brazil, China and Formosa etc. Col. Mr. R.N.
Chopra & Dr. I.N. Chopra of Regional Research Laboratory Jammu Tawi first
brought Mentha Arvensis in 1964 and with the best efforts of Mr. S.C. Bante,
Managing Director, Hindustan Richardson Ltd (VICKs), the commercial cultivation
could be started in India.

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Menthol Producing Countries

Japan is supposed to be the pioneer in its commercial production before 1st World
War and the species grown was ’Mentha Arvensis’. After 2nd World War Japanese
shifted their commercial cultivativation and manufacturing to Brazil and South
America. In Brazil Mint was grown at a very large scale and repeated harvest of
the same crop was undertaken. This practice of repeated harvest of the crop gave
an opportunity to Brazil become one of the major source of Menthol in world
market. Simultaneously China also recognized the commercial significance of
Menthol market and started its production under the State’s controlled
arrangement’. Resultantly by the year 1960 China also became a new and major
source of menthol for the world.

In present scenario, India is the largest producer of Mentha oil followed by the
China. However China is No.1 in Menthol Crystal production followed by India.

Domestic Menthol Production

In India first distillation plant was installed at Bilaspur by a US based MNC in the
year of 1973. Thereafter various local distilleries also came up at Sambhal,
Chandausi and Moradabad. The survey conducted by Richardson Hindustan Ltd.
determined that Tarai Area of Uttar‐Pradesh would be a suitable place for the
cultivation of Mentha Arvensis. The crop of menthe was successfully grown and
when the mentha oil was extracted by Steam distillation, mentha crop became a
viable. Hindustan Richardson Ltd. established a distillation unit in BILASPUR of
district Nanital, so confidently the Farmer could grow Mentha Herb. They had
supplied the planting materials as well as given technical knowledge to grow the
Mentha herb. As the result the area of mentha crops substantially increased in
entire tarai and western districts of U. P. mainly Nanital, Rampur, Moradabad,
Badaun, Bareilly and recently extended to eastern districts viz. Barabanki,
Lucknow & sitapur districts.

India upto 1966 was the importer of menthol which continued up to 1986 but due
to Green Revolution, which started in the year 1965. Plantation of the wonder crop
was undertaken by the farmers of UP at Rampur which later on spread to various
areas like Rudrapur, Bilaspur, Bareilly, Barabanki etc. Some other areas like
Sitapur, Faizabad, Gonda and Baraich; these areas are counted within Barabanki.

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 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
MENTHOL PRODUCING COUNTRIES
DOMESTIC MENTHOL PRODUCTION
IN INDIA THERE ARE FOUR KINDS OF MINT CROP
(I) MENTHA ARVENSIS
(II) MENTHA PIPERITA
(III) MENTHA SPEARMINT
(IV) CITRATA (BARGAMOT)
MENTHA & ITS LEAVES
SPECIES AND HYBRIDS OF MENTHA
THE MINT FAMILY HAS A LARGE GROUPING OF RECOGNIZED HYBRIDS
CROP COMBINATION FOR HIGHER PROFITABILITY
TIMING THE PLANTATION
DISTILLATION & PROCESSING
PROCESS OF DERIVING MENTHOL CRYSTALS
PEPPERMINT OIL (MENTHA PIPERITA)
PROPERTY AND STRUCTURE
I.P. SPECIFICATION
CHARACTERISTICS AND SPECIFICATION OF MENTHOL
GENERAL PROPERTIES
COMPOSITION OF MENTHOL OIL
QUALITY CONTROL
TESTING OF FINISHED PRODUCTS
ANALYSIS OF DEMENTHOLIZED OIL
THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES SHOULD BE DETERMINED AS
DETERMINATION OF MENTHOL IN DEMENTHOLIZED OIL
DETERMINATIONS OF THE CONGEALING POINT
APPARATUS
PROCEDURE
GAS LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY
B.I.S SPECIFICATION
MENTHOL - SPECIFICATION
1. SCOPE
2. REFERENCES
3. TERMINOLOGY
4. REQUIREMENTS
TABLE 1 REQUIREMENT FOR MENTHOL
5. PACKING AND MARKING
6. SAMPLING

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DETERMINATION OF NON-VOLATILE MATTER
A.1 APPARATUS
A.2 PROCEDURE
A-2.1 CALCULATION
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF MENTHOL
B-0 GENERAL
B-0.1 OUTLINE OF THE METHOD
B-1 APPARATUS
B-2 CALCULATION
B-2.1 AREA MEASUREMENT (SEE NOTE)
USES AND APPLICATIONS
MARKET SURVEY
SYNTHETIC MENTHOL MARKET
PRESENT MANUFACTURERS/EXPORTERS/SUPPLIERS
MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF MENTHOL CRYSTAL
SEPARATION OF MENTHOL CRYSTAL FROM DMO
DRYING OF MENTHOL CRYSTAL
PROCESSING DETAILS OF MENTHOL PRODUCTION
STEP I
STEP II
COMPOSITION OF DEMENTHOLISED OIL
DEMENTHOLISED OIL
PROCESS FLOW SHEET OF MENTHOL PRODUCTION
PROCESS TECHNOLOGY FOR MENTHOL & DEVELOPMENTS
HIGH YIELDING MENTHOL MINT
INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE(IARI), NEW DELHI
SOURCE OF TECHNOLOGY
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET OF MENTHOL
COMPOSITION AND INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
FIRST AID MEASURES
FIRE AND EXPLOSION DATA
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
HANDLING AND STORAGE
EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
STABILITY AND REACTIVITY DATA
TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
PHARMACENTIAL AND TECHNICAL QUALITIES OF MENTHOL CRYSTALS
PHARMACEUTICAL QUALITY
TECHNICAL QUALITY
BASIC PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY
OF ESSENTIAL OIL
TOTOAL MENTHOL CONTENT

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MENTHYL ACETATE
MENTHONE CONTENTS
PHYSICAL AND CHEMCIAL CONSTANTS OF ESSENTIAL OIL OBTAINED
FROM FLOWERS AND LEAVES
SUPPLIERS OF RAW MATERIALS
SUPPLIERS OF PLANT AND MACHINERY
SUPPLIERS OF STEAM DISTILLATION UNITS
SUPPLIERS OF VACUUM FILTERS
SUPPLIERS OF CRYSTALLIZER
SUPPLIERS OF AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION UNITS
SUPPLIERS OF CENTRIFUGE
SUPPLIERS OF TRAY DRIER
SUPPLIERS OF BOILERS
SUPPLIERS OF STORAGE VESSEL (STORAGE TANKS)
SUPPLIERS OF COOLING TOWER
SUPPLIERS OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENTS
SUPPLIERS OF INSTRUMENTATION & PROCESS CONTROL EQUIPMENTS
PLANT LAYOUT

APPENDIX – A:

01. PLANT ECONOMICS

02. LAND & BUILDING
03. PLANT AND MACHINERY
04. OTHER FIXED ASSESTS
05. FIXED CAPITAL
06. RAW MATERIAL
07. SALARY AND WAGES
08. UTILITIES AND OVERHEADS
09. TOTAL WORKING CAPITAL
10. TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT
11. COST OF PRODUCTION
12. TURN OVER/ANNUM
13. BREAK EVEN POINT
14. RESOURCES FOR FINANCE
15. INSTALMENT PAYABLE IN 5 YEARS
16. DEPRECIATION CHART FOR 5 YEARS
17. PROFIT ANALYSIS FOR 5 YEARS
18. PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET FOR (5 YEARS)

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 COST ESTIMATION

Plant Capacity 2000 Kg/Day

Land & Building (2000 sq.mt.) Rs. 1.73 Cr
Plant & Machinery Rs. 85 Lac
Working Capital for 1 Month Rs. 6.61 Cr
Total Capital Investment Rs. 9.33 Cr
Rate of Return 49%
Break Even Point 14%

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