Cannabis Drying and Sterilization Moisture Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for drying and sterilizing cannabis plant material require complex logistics due to the need for two separate sites, leading to loss of active components and potential fungal re-growth, as they typically dry the material to a final moisture content of about 10% before sterilization, which results in inefficient processing and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving partial drying of cannabis plant material to a water content between 12% and 40% before sterilization, allowing for subsequent adjustment to a desired final moisture level, and using a system with distinct primary and secondary drying chambers to optimize drying and sterilization conditions, enabling both processes to be conducted at a single site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cannabis plant material is fully dried to about 10% moisture content before sterilization, then the material is ready for storage and sale, but loss of active components occurs and fungal re-growth risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting sterilization before complete drying. The material is sterilized at a higher moisture content (around 12-15%) rather than after full drying to 10%, which prevents the loss of active components that occurs when fully dried material is subjected to sterilization heating. This reverses the conventional sequence of operations to eliminate the harmful effect.
2Reliability
If cannabis plant material is transported to a second site for sterilization, then sterilization can be performed, but complex logistics and transportation requirements arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drying and sterilization operations into a single integrated process at one facility. By combining these previously separate operations, the patent eliminates the need for transportation to a second site and the associated complex logistics, while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through the modified process sequence.
3Ease of operation
If cannabis plant material is packaged in smaller 10g packages for sterilization, then the final product is ready for sale, but the packaging process adds complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs packaging as a preliminary action before sterilization rather than after. By packaging the material in larger containers before the sterilization process, the patent eliminates the need for repackaging into smaller 10g packages after sterilization, thereby reducing processing time and operational complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
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 approach reduces the need for complex logistics, minimizes loss of active components, decreases quarantine time by 80%, and prevents fungal re-growth by allowing for precise control of moisture content during drying and sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
partially drying said feed cannabis plant material to form a partially dried cannabis plant material having a water content of M1
Implementation Method 2
The condenser is configured to condense water from the air stream
Implementation Method 3
sterilizing said partially dried cannabis plant material to form sterilized partially dried cannabis plant material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods for drying and sterilizing cannabis plant material comprising providing feed cannabis plant material having a water content of M0, wherein M0 is greater than 45%; partially drying the feed cannabis plant material to form a partially dried cannabis plant material having a water content of M1, wherein M1 is in the range of between 12% wt and 40% wt; sterilizing the partially dried cannabis plant material to form sterilized partially dried cannabis plant material having a water content of M3; and when said M3 is less than 8% wt or greater than 16% wt, adjusting said M3 to provide a water content of M2, wherein said M2 is between 8% wt and 16% wt. Further provided are methods and systems for drying of cannabis plant material.