Cannabinoid Crystallization in Water-Miscible Solvents for THC Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for isolating cannabidiol and other cannabinoids from impurities, such as tetrahydrocannabinol, often use hydrocarbon solvents like pentane, which pose safety risks and are not compatible with USDA organic certification, necessitating safer and more compatible solvent alternatives.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing water-miscible liquids for crystallization to purify cannabinoids, involving heating precursor compositions to decarboxylate precursors, combining with ethanol for dewaxing, cooling to separate phases, and crystallizing cannabinoids to achieve high purity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If hydrocarbon solvents like pentane are used for crystallization to isolate cannabinoids, then impurities such as tetrahydrocannabinol can be dissolved and removed, but safety risks arise because pentane/air mixtures can detonate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of cannabinoid productVSAvoidsafety risks from detonation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the solvent from hydrocarbon (pentane) to water-miscible liquid (ethanol, isopropanol, or water), fundamentally altering the safety profile while maintaining crystallization effectiveness for cannabinoid purification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful hydrocarbon solvent into a beneficial water-miscible liquid that not only eliminates safety risks but also enables USDA organic certification, turning a harmful factor into a beneficial one

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Manufacturing precision

If hydrocarbon solvents like pentane are used for crystallization, then effective separation of cannabinoids from impurities is achieved, but compatibility with USDA organic certification is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of cannabinoid productVSAvoidcompatibility with organic certification

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solvent type parameter from synthetic hydrocarbon to water-miscible liquid, which is acceptable under USDA organic certification guidelines while maintaining effective cannabinoid purification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the solvent choice from a certification-disqualifying hydrocarbon to a certification-compatible water-miscible liquid, converting what was previously a disqualifying factor into a beneficial attribute for organic certification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If water-miscible liquids are used for crystallization, then safety risks and organic certification compatibility are improved, but the ability to dissolve certain impurities may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety risksVSAvoidpurity of cannabinoid product

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the crystallization parameters including temperature control and solvent ratio to optimize the balance between safety and purification effectiveness when using water-miscible liquids

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary decarboxylation and filtration steps before crystallization to remove certain impurities, compensating for the reduced dissolving capability of water-miscible liquids and ensuring high final product purity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Achieves high-purity cannabinoid products with minimal contaminants, avoiding safety hazards and meeting organic certification standards.

Implementation Method 1

compositions and methods to purify cannabinoids by crystallization in a water-miscible liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 2

pentane can dissolve impurities such as the psychoactive drug tetrahydrocannabinol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDifferential solubility: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

heating precursor compositions to decarboxylate precursors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecarboxylation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 4

cooling to separate phases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase separation: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS20250368594A1Compositions and methods to separate cannabinoids from impurities by crystallization

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 NATURAL EXTRACTION SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

Various aspects of this patent document relate to compositions and methods to purify cannabinoids by crystallization in a water-miscible liquid. The compositions and methods may be used, for example, to remove tetrahydrocannabinol from cannabidiol by crystallizing the cannabidiol to thereby manufacture cannabidiol products that lack tetrahydrocannabinol. Various compositions and methods according to this disclosure can be used to manufacture USDA organic cannabidiol products.