Cannabinoid Acid Separation via Aqueous Basic Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing cannabis extracts with high concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) face challenges such as inefficient separation and dilution, particularly with solid-liquid chromatography, which is solvent-intensive and has low throughput, and using high-boiling point diluents that cannot be readily separated.
Innovation Solution
A method involving liquid-liquid extraction where cannabinoid acids are converted to carboxylate salts in an aqueous basic solution, then combined with an organic solvent, acidified, and separated to achieve a purified form of cannabinoids with enhanced concentration of THCA and CBDA without dilution, using a process that includes steps of providing a starting organic solvent solution, separating with an aqueous basic solution, combining with fresh organic solvent, acidifying, and evaporating to isolate the cannabinoid acids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If solid-liquid chromatography is used to remove THC and THCA from cannabinoid extracts, then separation of cannabinoids is achieved, but throughput is low and solvent consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical adsorption mechanism of solid-liquid chromatography with a chemical reaction mechanism. Cannabinoid acids react with a basic aqueous solution to form water-soluble carboxylate salts, enabling separation based on differential solubility rather than adsorption, thereby achieving higher throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation parameter from adsorption affinity (chromatography) to solubility differences (aqueous vs organic phase). By adjusting pH to convert cannabinoid acids into their ionized salt forms, the method exploits fundamental differences in solubility between the salt form (water-soluble) and neutral cannabinoid acids (organic-soluble), enabling more efficient separation
2Ease of manufacture
If high-boiling point diluents are used to dilute cannabis extracts, then extraction is enabled, but separation of diluent from cannabinoids is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aqueous basic solution as an intermediary medium that selectively interacts with cannabinoid acids. This intermediary facilitates separation by forming water-soluble salts with the acids, allowing clean division between the aqueous phase (containing removed impurities) and organic phase (containing desired cannabinoids), eliminating the need for difficult separation of high-boiling diluents
3Manufacturing precision
If aqueous basic solution is used to convert cannabinoid acids to carboxylate salts, then separation from organic solvent is achieved, but additional separation steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separation functions into a single liquid-liquid extraction process. The aqueous basic solution simultaneously performs: (1) conversion of cannabinoid acids to carboxylate salts, (2) selective solubilization of impurities, and (3) phase separation from organic solvent. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate chromatography columns or multiple extraction steps, reducing overall process complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively separates and purifies cannabinoids, achieving a higher concentration of THCA and CBDA without dilution, improving the efficiency and yield of cannabis extracts by utilizing a solvent-based process that enhances the separation and recovery of THCA and CBDA.
Implementation Method 1
converting the portion of the cannabinoid acids to cannabinoid carboxylate salts that solubilize in the aqueous basic solution
Implementation Method 2
separating the aqueous basic solution in step (ii) from the starting organic solvent
Implementation Method 3
evaporating the organic solvent of step (vi) to leave product cannabinoid acids
Data Source
AI summary
A method for chemical separation of cannabinoids includes: (i) providing a starting organic solvent solution that contains a mixture of cannabinoid acids, (ii) using an aqueous basic solution to remove a portion of the cannabinoid acids from the mixture of cannabinoid acids in the starting organic solvent solution by converting the portion of the cannabinoid acids to cannabinoid carboxylate salts that solubilize in the an aqueous basic solution, (iii) separating the aqueous basic solution in (ii) from the starting organic solvent, (iv) combining the aqueous solution from (iii) with new organic solvent to produce a combined solution, (v) acidifying the combined solution to extract the cannabinoid acids from the aqueous solution to the organic solvent, (vi) separating the organic solvent of (v) from the aqueous solution, and (vii) evaporating the organic solvent of (vi) to leave product cannabinoid acids.