Cannabinoid Acid Preservation via Vacuum Distillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting and concentrating cannabinoids are inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful, often leading to decarboxylation of acidic forms like THCA and CBDA, and require the use of organic solvents, which pose health and environmental risks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving vacuum distillation of a lipid extract at temperatures between 120° C and 260° C and pressures below 0.04 mbar to preserve cannabinoid acids, using liquid paraffin for selective extraction of acidic forms, which avoids significant decarboxylation and reduces solvent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 is used to extract cannabinoids, then extraction efficiency is improved, but decarboxylation of acidic forms occurs and organic solvent removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction parameters by using ethanol at sub-zero temperatures instead of supercritical CO2, which prevents decarboxylation while maintaining extraction efficiency for acidic cannabinoid forms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of ethanol at low temperatures to extract cannabinoids without causing thermal decarboxylation, and then uses evaporation to remove the solvent after extraction
2Manufacturing precision
If winterization step is used to remove chlorophyll and waxes, then purity is improved, but high energy consumption and use of harmful solvents occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the desired cannabinoid components using selective solvent extraction at low temperatures, leaving behind chlorophyll and waxes in the biomass, thereby eliminating the need for a separate winterization step to remove these impurities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses food-grade ethanol, a safe and inexpensive solvent that can be easily evaporated, replacing the need for expensive and energy-intensive winterization processes with harmful solvents
3Productivity
If organic solvents are used for extraction and winterization, then extraction efficiency is improved, but health and environmental risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of solvent use into a benefit by selecting ethanol, a food-grade solvent that is safe for human consumption, thereby eliminating health and environmental risks while maintaining extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a safe extraction environment by using ethanol, which does not pose the same health and environmental risks as traditional organic solvents like butane or hexane, while still achieving effective extraction of cannabinoids
4Quantity of substance
If heat is applied to dry biomass and remove solvents, then solvent removal is improved, but decarboxylation of heat-sensitive acidic forms occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs extraction at sub-zero temperatures before any heating occurs, ensuring that acidic cannabinoid forms are preserved throughout the extraction process, and only applies heat in the final evaporation step when solvents are already removed
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 achieves a high concentration of cannabinoid acids in the final product, reducing environmental impact and operational costs while maintaining the therapeutic potential of acidic cannabinoids, with high recovery and purity of cannabinoid concentrates and isolates.
Implementation Method 1
liquid paraffin for selective extraction of acidic forms
Implementation Method 2
subjecting said lipid extract to a vacuum distillation, wherein said vacuum distillation is carried out at a temperature in the range from 120° C. to 260° C. and at a pressure below 0.04 mbar
Implementation Method 3
subjecting said lipid extract to a vacuum distillation
Implementation Method 4
allows preserving cannabinoid acids such as THCA and CBDA, thus without incurring into a significant decarboxylation of the same
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cannabinoid concentrate and isolate with a high content of the acidic forms of the cannabinoids, method of obtaining the same and use thereof comprising providing a lipid extract using i.a. paraffin and subjecting it to specific vacuum distillation.