Cannabinoid Separation via Water-Ethanol Phase Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating cannabidiol from tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabinoid products require hydrocarbon solvents, making them expensive and limiting organic certification, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a decarboxylated cannabinoid extract combined with a solubility-regulating composition, primarily water, to create a heterogeneous composition that separates into an aqueous and lipid phase, allowing for the effective separation of cannabidiol from tetrahydrocannabinol using centrifugation or filtration, reducing the need for hydrocarbon solvents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If flash chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, centrifugal partition chromatography, or crystallization methods are used to separate cannabidiol from tetrahydrocannabinol, then separation effectiveness is improved, but the requirement for hydrocarbon solvents increases, leading to higher costs and inability to obtain organic certification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent system from traditional hydrocarbon solvents to a water-ethanol heterogeneous system. This parameter change allows the separation process to achieve effective cannabidiol-tetrahydrocannabinol separation while using environmentally friendly, organic-certifiable solvents, thereby resolving the contradiction between separation effectiveness and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water-ethanol heterogeneous system as an intermediary medium for separation. This intermediary system enables effective separation of cannabinoids without requiring harmful hydrocarbon solvents, thus maintaining separation effectiveness while improving ease of manufacture through organic certification eligibility
2Reliability
If conventional separation methods using hydrocarbon solvents are employed, then separation capability is maintained, but environmental harm and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a water-ethanol heterogeneous system that is environmentally benign and can be easily disposed of or recycled. This replaces persistent, harmful hydrocarbon solvents with a sustainable system that maintains separation capability while eliminating environmental harm and reducing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the traditionally harmful role of solvents in cannabinoid separation into a beneficial process by using water-ethanol mixtures. These solvents, which are safe and organic-certifiable, achieve the same separation capability while eliminating the harmful environmental effects associated with hydrocarbon solvents
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 separates cannabidiol from tetrahydrocannabinol, producing a product with minimal tetrahydrocannabinol concentration, suitable for organic certification, and can result in cannabinoid glasses, crystals, or oils with high cannabidiol content.
Implementation Method 1
A method involving a decarboxylated cannabinoid extract combined with a solubility-regulating composition, primarily water, to create a heterogeneous composition that separates into an aqueous and lipid phase
Implementation Method 2
allowing for the effective separation of cannabidiol from tetrahydrocannabinol using centrifugation or filtration
Implementation Method 3
allowing for the effective separation of cannabidiol from tetrahydrocannabinol using centrifugation or filtration
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of this patent application relate to methods to separate a cannabinoid molecule from other molecules of a decarboxylated cannabinoid extract.