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Insights on low-pressure botanical extraction

Sage

[comerg_sage]

COMERG • Sage extraction

Garden Sage

Salvia officinalis L.

Turn sage leaf into a fresh, herbaceous extract with COMERG equipment. Our cold, room-temperature, low-pressure process captures the crisp, camphoraceous, slightly piney character of sage, the 1,8-cineole and the thujone-camphor notes that define it, with no heat to dull the top.

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25% 1,8-cineole

The herb

A clean, herbaceous classic

Sage, Salvia officinalis, is one of the oldest medicinal and culinary herbs of the Mediterranean. Its fresh, warm, camphoraceous scent comes from 1,8-cineole together with the thujones and camphor, a crisp, slightly piney profile that perfumers use as a herbaceous note and a natural fixative.

The leaf is processed cold, so the finished extract keeps the lively, true-to-leaf character rather than a flat, cooked note. Nothing is added, and the natural balance of the herb is carried straight into the extract.

Raw material

Botanical nameSalvia officinalis L.
FamilyLamiaceae
Plant partLeaves
ConditionFresh or dried
OriginBulgaria
HarvestJuly

The extract

What the process delivers

Run on COMERG equipment, sage leaf yields a standardised, high-strength extract, batch after batch. Because the extraction is cold and solvent-light, with no high heat, the fresh herbaceous character carries straight through to the finished oil. The figures below are typical of a standardised BSag-20.1 grade.

25%1,8-Cineole
≥70%Volatile oil v/w
97%Compound recovery
<25 °CExtraction temp
~150 kgLeaves per kg extract
<0.1 g/kgSolvent residue

The method

Cold extraction, in three steps

No heat, no leftover solvent. This is what happens inside a COMERG aerosol system, and why the extract keeps the fresh character of sage leaf.

1

Pressurised R134a flooding

Non-toxic liquefied R134a gas is introduced to the sage leaf at controlled, low pressure. There is no heat, the cycle begins and stays at room temperature.

2

Selective aromatic dissolution

The liquid gas gently dissolves the 1,8-cineole, the thujones, camphor and the herbaceous compounds, while the fresh, volatile top notes stay structurally intact.

3

Recovery and pure extract

The R134a is fully recovered and recycled in a closed loop. What is left is a concentrated sage extract, at least 70% volatile oil, with under 0.1 g/kg residue.

Aromatic profile

The compound fingerprint

Principal constituents identified by GC-MS, each above 1%. 1,8-Cineole leads this chemotype, with caryophyllene, the thujones and camphor giving sage its crisp, warm, herbaceous character.

1,8-Cineole
25.2%
beta-Caryophyllene
7.5%
cis-Thujone
6.7%
a-Humulene
6.1%
trans-Thujone
5.4%
beta-Pinene
5.4%
Camphor
4.8%
0%10%18%25%+

Sage chemotypes vary; the thujones and camphor are characteristic of the herb. Other extractables present. Per-batch GC-MS report available on request.

Specification

BSag-20.1 at a glance

Identity & origin

Botanical nameSalvia officinalis L.
Plant partLeaves
OriginBulgaria
Product codeBSag-20.1
CAS No.84082-79-1
EINECS No.282-025-9

Production

MethodLiquefied-gas extraction
TemperatureBelow 25 °C
SolventFood-grade (Dir. 97/60/EC)
Solvent residue< 0.1 g/kg
StandardisationDeclared volatile oil
Concentration1 kg ≈ 100-200 kg leaves

Physical

AppearanceYellow oily liquid
Volatile oil≥ 70% v/w (ASTA)
INCI nameSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
DensityOn request
Refractive indexOn request
Flash point> 199 °C

Solubility & handling

In oilsFully soluble
In 40% alcoholPartial
In waterInsoluble
UseFragrance, cosmetic, flavour
ContainerLined aluminium bottle
Shelf life2 years

Why sage, why cold

A fresh herb, captured whole

A concentrated leaf

Salvia officinalis, Bulgaria

Plant partLeaves
Leaves per kg extract~100-200 kg
Volatile oil≥ 70% v/w
HarvestJuly

Captured cold

Versus heat-based methods

1,8-Cineole25% kept
Thujone-camphorProfile preserved
Process temperature< 25 °C
Fresh top notesPreserved

Applications

What you can make

Fougère & chypre accords Herbaceous fixative Toning cosmetics Soaps & home scent Flavour & supplements

Sage extract naturally contains thujone, which is restricted in food and regulated for safety. Use it diluted and within the applicable thujone limits for your product type, not undiluted on skin, and approach sensitive skin with care. Like all our extracts it is a raw material for formulation. Keep away from children.

Why the COMERG line

Built for fresh herbs like sage

The crisp, lively character above is what the right equipment makes repeatable. Our line is engineered around the things that matter when you process an aromatic, top-note herb.

Room temperatureR134a aerosol extraction works cold and at low pressure, so the fresh, volatile top notes are never cooked off.
Keeps it freshThe 1,8-cineole and herbaceous terpenes that carry sage's crisp scent come through cleanly, not flattened by heat.
Fully automatedClosed-loop systems run the cycle for you, so results stay consistent and one operator can handle the line.
Fast cycles, high yieldLow-pressure extraction is quick and recovers up to 97% of the leaf's compounds, more than older high-pressure CO2 lines.
Scales with youFrom a 10 l pilot unit to 2000 l production, the same method grows from R&D batches to full output.
Clean and economicalIt uses around 85% less energy than solvent methods and needs no special hazardous-location facility.

Why it wins

Compared to the alternatives

Against steam distillation, solvent and CO2, cold R134a extraction keeps more of the sage, with a fresh, true-to-leaf result.

FeatureCOMERG R134aSteam distillationSolventCO₂ supercritical
Process temperature< 25 °C (room temp)100-150 °C40-70 °C31-80 °C
Aromatic preservation95%+65-80%~85%~85%
Fresh top notesPreservedPartly lostMostly keptMostly kept
Compound recoveryup to 97%70-85%80-90%85-92%
Solvent residue< 0.1 g/kgNoneNeeds post-purgeNone
Energy use85% less vs solventHighMedium-highVery high
Special facilityNot requiredNot requiredRequiredHigh-pressure safety

From leaf to extract

The machines for sage

A complete COMERG line takes sage from fresh leaf to a finished extract. These are the core stages, each available as standalone equipment.

View all equipment
Product specificationFull composition, properties, packaging and handling for sage extract BSag-20.1.
Download PDF

Questions

Sage extraction, explained

A 100% natural sage leaf extract from Salvia officinalis, product code BSag-20.1. It reaches at least 70% volatile oil, led by around 25% 1,8-cineole with the characteristic thujones and camphor, and no additives.

Liquefied food-grade gas extraction at room temperature, below 25 °C, and low pressure. Because there is no high heat, the delicate aromatic compounds are preserved and solvent residue stays below 0.1 g/kg.

Sage's freshness lives in light terpenes like 1,8-cineole that prolonged heat can flatten. Cold R134a extraction concentrates them cleanly, so the extract keeps its crisp, true-to-leaf herbaceous character.

Roughly 1 kg of extract represents around 100 to 200 kg of sage leaf.

Sage extract naturally contains thujone, which is restricted in food and regulated for safety. It can be used in flavour and supplement formulation within the applicable thujone limits, at low levels, and is not for direct or undiluted use.

Yes. The same cold process runs from a 10 l pilot unit to 2000 l production systems, so you can start small and grow without changing method.

Yes. A per-batch GC-MS analysis is available on request, and a Safety Data Sheet per 2006/1907/EC is supplied with the product.

Set up your sage line

Tell us your throughput and target product. We will recommend the right system, share a yield estimate for your sage, and reply with pricing and lead time, usually within 48 hours.

COMERG extracts are raw materials for product formulation. Sage extract contains naturally occurring thujone and must be used within applicable limits; it is not intended for direct consumption or for undiluted topical application in cosmetics, perfumery or aromatherapy. This information is provided to the best of our knowledge and is not a substitute for prior testing of suitability for the intended use. Keep away from children.

The sage line

Equipment for processing sage

The machines below make up the sage line, the equipment that takes the leaf through to a finished extract. Request a quote on any unit and we will reply with pricing and lead time.

  • 1000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    1000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    An industrial-scale aerosol extraction system for very high-volume, room-temperature, residue-free processing of any botanical.

  • 100L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    100L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A commercial-scale low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 10L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    10L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    An entry-level, fully automated low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from virtually any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 10T Conveyor Dryer System

    10T Conveyor Dryer System

    A continuous belt dryer that gently dries freshly harvested botanical biomass on a four-layer, 12 m mesh belt at an adjustable 0-90 °C, fed and discharged automatically.

  • 150L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    150L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    A production-scale system that refines large lots of botanical extract to a fixed specification at room temperature, with no thermal damage to the active profile.

  • 2000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    2000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    Our largest aerosol extraction platform, built for maximum-volume industrial production with the same gentle, residue-free low-pressure process.

  • 200L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    200L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A high-capacity commercial low-pressure aerosol system for room-temperature, residue-free extraction of essential oils and aromatics from any botanical.

  • 20L Aerosol Extraction System

    20L Aerosol Extraction System

    A compact production-scale low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 20L MAX HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    20L MAX HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A dual-vessel 20L MAX system that doubles throughput while keeping the same gentle, room-temperature, residue-free aerosol extraction for any botanical.

  • 25L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    25L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    A pilot-scale system that scales a validated remediation method to repeatable batches, stripping targeted impurities from extract while protecting the active profile.

  • 30L Ultrasonic Extraction System

    30L Ultrasonic Extraction System

    A 30L ultrasonic-assisted extraction system that uses 20 kHz cavitation to rupture plant cells and release oils into solvent quickly, at low temperature, with vacuum filtration.

  • 500L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    500L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A large-scale industrial aerosol system delivering high-volume, room-temperature, residue-free botanical extraction at low pressure.

  • 500L Vacuum Drying Oven with Drawer

    500L Vacuum Drying Oven with Drawer

    A production-scale 18 cu ft vacuum oven with a pull-out drawer and integrated pump that purges and dries large batches of botanical extract at low temperature.

  • 50L Crystallization Reactor

    50L Crystallization Reactor

    A 50L jacketed reactor that crystallises high-purity botanical isolates from a distilled feed under precise temperature and agitation control, with repeated recrystallisation for maximum purity.

  • 50L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    50L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A floor-standing production-scale low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 50L Vacuum Drying Oven

    50L Vacuum Drying Oven

    A compact 2 cu ft vacuum oven that purges residual solvent and gently dries botanical extracts at low temperature under vacuum, protecting colour, aroma and actives.