Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
EXTRACTION METHOD
Background
This disclosure relates to extraction of
substances from botanical specimens, and more
particularly to high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE)
extractions from cannabis.
In the cannabis industry, extracts of cannabis
plants are desirable to allow uses other than direct
use of the plant material. A commonly used method of
extraction is hydrocarbon extraction, using propane or
butane (or possibly pentane or hexane) to remove
cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material.
This method of extraction can be cheaper to operate
than other methods, but the process must be done in a
carefully prepared environment to avoid explosion and
injury.
Other extractors use supercritical CO2 methods,
which avoid the danger of explosion, but have much
higher equipment costs.
Both hydrocarbon and supercritical and
subcritical CO2 extraction result in an output material
that can include both desired and undesired compounds
from the cannabis (such as residual hydrocarbon, wax,
etc.), requiring post processing, to remove the
hydrocarbons or to remove wax and other components
that remain.
Summary
In accordance with the disclosure, a subcritical
CO2 process is employed to obtain high-cannabinoid full
spectrum (HCFSE) extractions from cannabis.
The subject matter of the present technology is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the
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concluding portion of this specification. However,
both the organization and method of operation,
together with further advantages and embodiments
thereof, may best be understood by reference to the
following description taken in connection with
accompanying drawings wherein like reference
characters refer to like elements.
Brief Description of the Drawing
The figure is a block diagram of the extraction
system in accordance with the disclosure.
Detailed Description
The method according to a preferred embodiment of
the present disclosure comprises processing an amount
of dried cannabis in an extraction device using a
subcritical CO2 process at pressure and temperature
values to extract high-cannabinoid full spectrum
(HCFSE) components.
The preferred manner of performing the process,
involves, with reference to FIG. 1, a block diagram of
the extraction device employed, using an extraction
device 10 that comprises an extraction vessel 12. The
extraction vessel is jacketed so that the temperature
thereof can be controlled and maintained at a desired
level. The extraction vessel is connected by pipe 16
to a collection vessel 18. The collection vessel may
have a collection valve 20. Vessel 18 is connected by
pipe 22 to an optional overflow vessel 24, which may
have a collection valve 26. Vessel 24 connects via
pipe 28 to gas/liquid phase change jacketed vessel 30,
which is connected to extraction vessel 12 via pipe
32, through pump 34. Vessel 30 can receive CO2 from a
CO2 supply 14 as desired, which can also supply vessel
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12 with CO2. The device thereby provides a looped
extraction system.
In use, the specimen which is to have high-
cannabinoid full spectrum material extracted therefrom
is loaded into extraction vessel 12, the vessel is
sealed and the pressure in the vessel is raised to
between 500 to 5000 psi by the introduction of fresh
CO2 at a temperature of between -60 to +80 degrees F.
In a particular example, the specimen will be a
quantity of dried or wet (not dried) cannabis such
that desirable high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE)
components can be extracted therefrom.
The 002, which will suitably be in a liquid state
in vessel 12 will cause the high-cannabinoid full
spectrum (HCFSE) components and other compounds to be
extracted from the cannabis, and operation of pump 34
will move the HCFSE containing CO2 from vessel 12 into
vessel 18. Vessel 18 is suitably maintained at 500 psi
at a temperature of 130 degrees F in a particular
embodiment. Other embodiments can vary the temperature
between 60 to 600 degrees F. Vessel 24 is maintained
at 120 to 130 degrees F and 500 psi, and the high
temperature of vessel 18 (and vessel 24) relative to
the extraction vessel will cause the 002 to become a
gas, allowing the extracted high-cannabinoid full
spectrum components to drop out of the 002, this
dropping out occurring mainly in the extraction vessel
18. The gaseous 002 with most of the high-cannabinoid
full spectrum components removed is then pumped from
vessel 18 to vessel 24, vessel 24 operating as an
overflow to allow removal of any residual high-
cannabinoid full spectrum components remaining with
the CO2 gas, to minimize gumming up the rest of the
device. Operation of pump 34 then moves the gaseous
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CO2 from vessel 24 into phase change jacketed vessel
30, which is suitably maintained to 1000 psi (although
the pressure can be fluctuated between 300 to 5000
psi) at 40 degrees F. This temperature and pressure
returns the CO2 to a liquid state, and the now liquid
CO2 is pumped (via operation of pump 34) back into the
extraction vessel 12, completing the extraction loop.
Each cycle during of operation of the pump moves the
CO2 and extracts through the system.
The device is operated for a period of time, such
as 2 to 3 hours or as much as 24 hours or more, to
allow extraction of a sufficient amount of the desired
high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components.
Valve 20 may be opened a slight amount during
operation of the device so that the extracted high-
cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components may be
continuously collected outside of the device, or may
be occasionally opened to allow a quantity of
extracted high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE)
components built up in vessel 18 to be removed. Any
overflow collected in vessel 24 may be removed via
valve 26.
Operation of the device for 2 to 3 hours results
in output that is substantially higher in terpenes.
Operation for 24 hours results in higher cannabinoid
content in the output.
The operational parameters of the device
(temperatures and pressures of the various vessels)
can be adjusted such that the viscosity of the
extracted high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE)
components is at a desired level. For example, if the
high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components are
to be used as liquid for filling e-cigarette
cartridges, a certain consistency range may be
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desirable. Setting operation of the device to produce
the desired consistency can thereby remove the need
for post processing to dilute or thicken so that the
end product flows as desired.
Use of the system and process, thus provides a
high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) extraction that
is ready to use and that does not require post
processing. It is noted that lower pressure and colder
temperatures results in higher terpene values in the
output.
Examples
Table 1 provides examples of results from various
pressure levels in the different vessels of the
device, illustrating variation of the resulting
extractions.
Extraction Separator 18 Separator 24 Vessel 30 Consistency
Vessel 12 (psi) (psi) (psi) of output
(psi) from vessels
18 or 24
500 500 500 400 Thin oil
No wax
HTLC
700 500 500 600 Thin oil
No wax
HTLC
900 600 600 700 Thin oil
No wax
HTHC
1050 600 600 800 Thin oil
No wax
HTHC
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1400 650 650 900 Little thicker
No wax
HTHC
1700 700 700 1000 Little thicker
Little wax
HTHC
2000 900 900 1200 Little thicker
Little wax
HTHC
What if
scenario
continue >
pattern
2500 1200 1200 1400 Thicker
More wax
HTHC
3000 1500 1500 2000 Thicker
More wax
HTHC
4000 2000 2000 3000 Very thick
Heavy wax
HTHC
5000 2000 2000 4000 Very thick
Heavy wax
HTHC
HTLC = High Terpene Low Cannabinoid
HTHC = High Terpene High Cannabinoid
From the table it can be seen that operation in
the lower ranges of pressures results in an output oil
that is thinner, with high terpene content and low
cannabinoid content with no wax present. Somewhat
higher pressures increase the cannabinoid extraction
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so that both high terpene and cannabinoid levels are
present. As the pressures increase, the resulting
output is somewhat thicker, but still without wax.
Further pressure increases start to increase the
amount of wax present, and still higher pressures
result in a thicker output. Extractions have been run
with extraction vessel 12 up to 2000 psi, but the
results can be predicted that as the pressures are
increased, as illustrated in the lower portions of the
table, the thickness of the output will increase and
the amount of wax extracted will increase.
Variations on the temperatures and pressures (as
noted above in table 1) can be made. For example,
vessel 12 is typically held to between -60 to +80
degrees F. Vessels 18 and 24 can be operated at
between 84 to 200 degrees F.
Typical operational ranges that have been
employed are:
Vessel 12: -60 to 80 degrees F, 500 to 2000 psi.
Keeping this vessel cold allows extraction to occur
without requiring the post processing of the prior
art. -10 to -60 is the range most often used.
Vessel 18 - 130 degrees F, 500 psi. The warmer
temperature of this vessel causes the CO2 to return to
a gas state, dropping out the extracted terpenes,
cannabinoids and THC
Vessel 24 - 120-130 degrees F, 500 psi. The bulk
of the extraction takes place in vessel 18, this
vessel acts as 'overflow' to extract most of the
remaining elements not gathered in vessel 18
Vessel 30 - 40 degrees F, - 1000 psi
Vessels 18 and 24 will typically have the same
parameters.
Thus the device can be operated to provide a high
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terpene output with low cannabinoid, or a high terpene
high cannabinoid output, as desired, with no or little
wax content. High terpene can mean between 5 to 100%
terpene content in the output, with the terpene
content varying on a single extraction run depending
on the time, temperature and pressure values employed.
While a preferred embodiment of the technology
has been shown and described, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that many changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the
broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore
intended to cover all such changes and modifications
as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
technology.
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