Cannabinoid Extraction Process Using Ethanol Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cannabis extraction methods result in undesirable scents and flavors due to excess lipids, plant matter, and impurities in extracts, which affect the quality and consumer preference for infused products.
Innovation Solution
A process involving dissolving cannabinoids in ethanol under pressure, followed by filtration, evaporation, decarboxylation, and distillation, using charcoal, clay, and silica filtration to remove impurities and achieve high-purity cannabinoid extracts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional extraction methods are used to obtain cannabis extracts, then extraction efficiency is improved, but the scent and flavors become undesirable due to excess lipids, plant matter and impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential stages: initial extraction, filtration through multiple media (charcoal, clay, silica), evaporation, decarboxylation, and distillation. Each stage targets specific impurities, progressively refining the extract to eliminate undesirable scents and flavors while maintaining extraction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically removes harmful components (lipids, plant matter, impurities) from the cannabis extract through multiple separation techniques including filtration through specialized media and distillation, thereby eliminating the source of undesirable scent and flavor while preserving the desired cannabinoids.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple filtration and distillation steps are added to remove impurities, then purity of cannabinoid extract is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filtration functions are combined into a single integrated filtration system using a sequence of different filtration media (charcoal, clay, silica) that work together to remove various types of impurities. The evaporation, decarboxylation, and distillation steps are also integrated into a unified process flow, reducing overall system complexity while achieving high purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs controlled changes in physical parameters (temperature, pressure, vacuum levels) during evaporation, decarboxylation, and distillation to optimize purity at each stage. By carefully controlling these parameters, the process achieves high manufacturing precision without requiring excessively complex equipment.
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 removes impurities and achieves a tasteless, odorless oil with up to 99% pure cannabinoids, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of cannabis extracts.
Implementation Method 1
adding ethanol to the ground raw plant material to form a mixture; pressurizing the mixture to a pressure of 70-280kPa
Implementation Method 2
filtering the crude oil and ethanol mixture to remove unwanted components
Implementation Method 3
evaporating ethanol from the filtered crude oil and ethanol mixture to leave crude oil
Implementation Method 4
after evaporating the ethanol, decarboxylating the crude oil to leave a first residue
Implementation Method 5
subjecting the first residue to a first film wipe distillation to remove volatile terpenes and leave a second residue; subjecting the second residue to a second film wipe distillation to remove non-volatile terpenes and leave a third residue; and subjecting the third residue to a third film wipe distillation to obtain essential elements
Data Source
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AI summary
Raw plant material (e.g. cannabis) is mixed with ethanol under pressure to extract essential elements. The resulting crude oil and ethanol with the dissolved essential elements is separated from the raw plant material and filtered to remove particulates, waxes, lipids, fats and dissolved impurities. The ethanol is then evaporated from the resulting mixture of crude oil and ethanol, and the remaining crude oil then undergoes decarboxylation and distillation to obtain the essential elements (e.g. cannabinoids). The ethanol may be chilled before adding it to the raw plant material.