Minor Cannabinoid Purification via Amine Salt Precipitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting and purifying minor cannabinoids from Cannabis biomass face challenges such as inconsistent yields, high costs, and toxicity issues due to the use of organic solvents, making it difficult to isolate and study the therapeutic benefits of compounds like cannabigerol, cannabidivarin, tetrahydrocannabivarin, and cannabichromene.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of solvents like methanol, ethanol, and supercritical CO2 to process Cannabis biomass, followed by desolventization and purification techniques involving amines to precipitate and recrystallize compounds like CBGA-amine salts, allowing for the recovery of highly purified CBG, THCV, CBDV, and CBCV.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If organic solvents are used for extraction, then cannabinoid compounds can be recovered from Cannabis biomass, but toxicity issues and high costs arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the extraction system by using supercritical CO2 instead of conventional organic solvents. By adjusting pressure and temperature parameters, the CO2 achieves supercritical state to enable effective extraction while avoiding toxicity issues associated with organic solvents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs CO2 as an extraction medium that can be easily disposed of or recycled. After extraction, the CO2 can be depressurized and reused, eliminating the need for costly and toxic organic solvent disposal procedures
2Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction methods are used, then crude extracts can be obtained, but inconsistent yields and high costs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes extraction parameters including pressure, temperature, and CO2 flow rate to achieve consistent and reproducible yields. By controlling these parameters precisely, the method ensures reliable extraction results across different batches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates monitoring and feedback mechanisms to track extraction efficiency and adjust parameters in real-time, ensuring consistent yields and allowing for quality control throughout the extraction process
3Quantity of substance
If minor cannabinoids are extracted from complex mixtures, then therapeutic compounds can be isolated, but separation and purification become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the purification process into distinct stages: initial extraction, filtration to remove particulates, evaporation of solvent, and crystallization. Each stage targets specific impurities and isolates the desired minor cannabinoids systematically
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions including evaporation of the extraction solvent and crystallization of the cannabinoid compounds. These phase changes enable separation of minor cannabinoids from the complex mixture based on differences in volatility and crystallization behavior
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 enables the production of highly purified minor cannabinoids, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by achieving consistent and reproducible extraction and purification, thereby facilitating the study and utilization of their therapeutic potential.
Implementation Method 1
process Cannabis biomass with one or more solvents selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, C3-C7 alkanes, low boiling point (b.p.) petroleum ethers, ethyl acetate, acetone, dichloromethane, 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, toluene, methyl tert-butyl ether, supercritical CO2, and subcritical CO2
Implementation Method 2
adding and mixing into the standardized solvent-solubilized crude extract a selected amine whereby the ammonium moiety of the amine reacts with CBGA or THCVA or CBDVA or CBCVA or CBCA therein, thereby forming and precipitating a crude CBGA-amine salt and/or THCVA-amine salt and/or CBDVA-amine salt and/or CBCVA-amine salt and/or CBCA-amine salt
Implementation Method 3
Decarboxylation of the purified CBGA-amine salt or THCVA-amine salt or CBDVA-amine salt or CBCVA-amine salt or CBCA-amine salt may be performed by adding the purified CBGA-amine salt or THCVA-amine salt or CBDVA-amine salt or CBCVA-amine salt or CBCA-amine salt into a sodium carbonate solution, then heating the mixture under constant mixing at a temperature selected from a range of about 98-102° C. to reflux for a period of time selected from a range of about 2 hr to about 18 hr
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods for separating, recovering, and purifying CBGA, CBDVA, THCVA, CBCVA, and CBCA from dewatered and desolventized crude complex extracts or mixtures of metabolites, cannabinoids, and Cannabis phytochemicals. The methods comprise solubilizing the extracts or mixtures of cannabinoids in a selected solvent, adding a selected amine to precipitate a CBGA-amine or CBDVA-amine or THCVA-amine or CBCVA-amine or CBCA-amine salt therefrom, dissolving the recovered amine salt in a selected solvent, and adding a selected antisolvent to recrystallize a purified amine salt therefrom. The recrystallized amine salt may be decarboxylated to form a mixture of CBG or CBDV or THCV or CBCV or CBC and amine. The cannabinoid and amine mixture may be acidified to separate the amine from CBG or CBDV or THCV or CBCV or CBC. The recovered CBG or CBDV or THCV or CBCV or CBC may then be concentrated.