Among today’s list of healthy foods, turmeric powder undoubtedly ranks as one of the top spices. Turmeric is a subtropical/tropical plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family (ginger family) and is native to southwestern India. Traditionally, turmeric has been used as a spice, medicine, and bright yellow dye. Ground turmeric root is an essential culinary spice, accounting for up to 25% of curry powder. For thousands of years, the root (rhizome) of the turmeric plant has been used in Chinese and Indian medicine. Grinding turmeric to 1500 mesh falls into the category of ultrafine grinding. This process requires equipment capable of high-precision classification, low-temperature grinding, and efficient dust removal. The following types of equipment are recommended:
How Does Mesh Size Affect Turmeric Powder?
Different mesh sizes lie in fineness, texture, solubility, absorption rate, and application. Simply put, the higher the mesh number, the finer the powder.
“Mesh” is a unit measuring particle size, referring to the number of openings per square inch in a sieve. Take 400 mesh and 1500 mesh tuemeric powder for example:
• 400 mesh: Indicates that the powder can pass through a sieve with 400 openings per square inch. The particles are relatively coarse.
• 1500 mesh: Indicates that the powder can pass through a sieve with 1500 openings per square inch. The particles are extremely fine.
Below is a detailed comparison:
| Property | 400 Mesh Turmeric Powder | 1500 Mesh Turmeric Powder |
| Particle Size | Relatively coarse, ~37 microns | Extremely fine, ~10 microns |
| Texture | Texture | Texture |
| Taste | Taste | Taste |
| Solubility & Suspension | Solubility & Suspension | Solubility & Suspension |
| Color & Luster | Color & Luster | Color & Luster |
| Absorption Rate | Absorption Rate | Absorption Rate |
| Applications | Cooking, stewing; flavor develops with heat | Beverages, health products, cosmetics |
Ultrafine Grinding Equipment for Turmeric Powder
Jet Mill (Suitable for High-Precision Requirements)
Technical Features
• Utilizes compressed air or inert gas to accelerate particles, causing them to collide and frictionally break down in high-speed airflow, achieving particle sizes down to the nanoscale.
• Equipped with a precision classifier wheel to continuously separate fine powder that meets specifications, ensuring uniform particle size distribution.
Applicability
• Ideal for grinding turmeric with strict particle size requirements, particularly suitable for heat-sensitive materials (avoiding loss of active compounds due to high temperatures).
• For example, in traditional Chinese medicine ultrafine grinding, jet mills can meet fineness requirements exceeding 500 mesh.
Vibration Mill (Suitable for High-Capacity Production)
Technical Features
- Employs an exciter to drive high-frequency vibrations of the grinding chamber, causing grinding media and materials to collide and grind efficiently.
Particle size can be controlled by adjusting vibration frequency and media composition, making it suitable for large-scale production.
- Applicability
If large-scale production of 1500 mesh turmeric powder is required, vibration mills can balance efficiency and fineness.
- Requires integration with a low-temperature cooling system to prevent material degradation due to frictional heat.
Mechanical Impact Ultrafine Grinder (General-Purpose Equipment)
Technical Features
• Uses high-speed rotating hammers or toothed discs to impact materials, combined with shear and friction forces for grinding.
• Equipped with a classification turbine or sieve, allowing flexible adjustment of output particle size.
Applicability
• Suitable for turmeric grinding with moderate fineness requirements (e.g., 80-400 mesh). For 1500 mesh fineness, a precision classification system must be integrated.
• Lower equipment cost and easy maintenance make it suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Cryogenic Grinding Mill (Suitable for Heat-Sensitive Materials)
Technical Features
• Cools materials below their glass transition temperature before grinding, making them brittle and reducing energy consumption.
• Prevents degradation of active compounds (e.g., curcumin) due to high temperatures and reduces the risk of dust explosions.
Applicability
• Particularly suitable for heat-sensitive materials like turmeric containing volatile oils, maximizing retention of medicinal properties.
• Requires supporting liquid nitrogen or cryogenic equipment, resulting in higher initial investment.
Key Parameters for Equipment Selection
1. Fineness: 1500 mesh (~10 microns) requires equipment capable of micron-level grinding and efficient classification.
2. Capacity Matching: Select equipment models based on production scale to ensure hourly throughput meets targets.
3. Energy Efficiency: Prioritize models with low energy consumption per unit and high grinding efficiency.
4. Environmental Compliance: Equip pulse dust collectors to ensure dust emissions meet standards and improve working conditions.
Epic Powder Machinery: Your Partner in Advanced Grinding Solutions
As a leading innovator in the field of ultrafine grinding technology, Epic Powder Machinery specializes in the design and manufacturing of high-performance equipment tailored to meet diverse industrial needs. Partner with Epic Powder Machinery to elevate your production capabilities and achieve unparalleled consistency in product quality.
