Cannabinoid Crystallization via Temperature Modulation and Vacuum Nucleation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting and purifying cannabinoids from cannabis often involve flammable solvents, resulting in chemical impurities and requiring expensive, hazardous equipment, and do not provide zero-waste processes.
Innovation Solution
A method of selectively crystallizing and purifying cannabinoids that uses temperature modulation and nucleation factors like vacuum exposure, mechanical agitation, and cold shock to produce pure cannabinoid crystals without traditional solvents, reducing waste and eliminating the need for expensive equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional solvent extraction methods are used, then cannabinoids can be extracted from cannabis, but flammable solvents create safety hazards and require expensive hazardous equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the extraction system by using supercritical carbon dioxide, which transitions between gas and supercritical phases under controlled pressure and temperature conditions. This phase change enables extraction without flammable solvents while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carbon dioxide as an inert supercritical fluid instead of flammable organic solvents. The inert nature of CO2 eliminates fire hazards while still allowing for effective cannabinoid extraction and easy separation through pressure reduction
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional solvent extraction methods are used, then cannabinoids can be extracted, but chemical impurities are introduced that affect product quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the desired cannabinoid components using supercritical CO2, leaving behind impurities and unwanted substances. The selective extraction capability of supercritical fluids allows for high-purity product isolation without introducing external chemical contaminants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carbon dioxide that can be easily evaporated and removed, leaving no residual impurities. The solvent is recovered and can be reused, ensuring no chemical contaminants remain in the final cannabinoid product
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional extraction methods with multiple processing steps are used, then cannabinoids can be purified, but the process generates waste and requires more resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous extraction process where supercritical CO2 flows through the cannabis material, extracts cannabinoids, and then the solvent is recovered and reused. This continuous system minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency compared to batch processing methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers and reuses the carbon dioxide solvent after extraction by reducing pressure to evaporate the CO2, condensing it back to liquid form, and repressurizing for reuse. This recovery process eliminates waste generation and reduces operational costs
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 high-purity cannabinoid crystals with reduced environmental impact and operational costs, utilizing zero-waste processes and avoiding hazardous solvents.
Implementation Method 1
decreasing the temperature of the solution to about -5° C. or lower to produce a cooled solution wherein the selected cannabinoid crystallizes out of solution
Implementation Method 2
increasing the temperature of the solution until the selected cannabinoid is substantially dissolved in the solution; and decreasing the temperature of the solution to about -5° C. or lower
Implementation Method 3
the cooled solution is exposed to a nucleation factor, wherein the nucleation factor is selected from the group consisting of introducing a crystal of the selected cannabinoid into the cooled solution, introducing the cooled solution to a vacuum or a vacuum oven
Implementation Method 4
mechanically agitating the cooled solution
Implementation Method 5
aerating the cooled solution
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods for selectively crystallizing cannabinoids from solutions containing a plurality of cannabinoids. The present disclosure further provides methods for separating a crystallized cannabinoid from a mixture of cannabinoids.