Cannabis Plant Extract Production Without Winterization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing Cannabis plant extracts require a winterization step to remove waxes, which increases solvent and energy use, and there is a need for a process that maintains the relative concentrations of pharmaceutically active substances like cannabinoids and terpenes without this step.
Innovation Solution
A method involving trimming and drying Cannabis flower material, followed by treatment with a solvent to separate THC without a winterization step, using ethanol as the solvent and a process that includes maceration and percolation to produce a Cannabis plant extract with high THC content and minimal waxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a winterization step is used to remove waxes, then the purity of the extract is improved, but the solvent consumption and energy use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary components (cannabinoids and terpenes) through selective solvent treatment, skipping the winterization step that removes waxes. This selective extraction approach maintains the active substances while avoiding unnecessary solvent consumption and energy expenditure associated with wax removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the extraction parameters by omitting the winterization step entirely, using direct solvent extraction to achieve the desired extract. This parameter change eliminates the trade-off between purity and solvent consumption, as the extract achieves sufficient purity for pharmaceutical use without the additional purification step that would consume more resources.
2Manufacturing precision
If a winterization step is used to remove waxes, then the purity of the extract is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary components (cannabinoids and terpenes) through selective solvent treatment, skipping the winterization step that removes waxes. This selective extraction approach maintains the active substances while avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure associated with wax removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the extraction parameters by omitting the winterization step entirely, using direct solvent extraction to achieve the desired extract. This parameter change eliminates the trade-off between purity and energy consumption, as the extract achieves sufficient purity for pharmaceutical use without the additional purification step that would consume more energy.
3Quantity of substance
If flower material is trimmed and dried before extraction, then the concentration of active substances is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary actions (trimming and drying) to the flower material before extraction to concentrate the active substances. By performing these preparatory steps in advance, the subsequent extraction process becomes more efficient, achieving higher concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes while the overall process remains time-effective for pharmaceutical production.
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
The method produces a Cannabis plant extract with excellent concentrations of THC and other active substances, reducing solvent and energy use, and maintaining desired substance ratios, suitable for pharmaceutical use without a winterization step.
Implementation Method 1
treating the flower material of step (b) with a solvent and separating the Cannabis plant extract comprising delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the flower material
Implementation Method 2
drying the flower material separated from the remaining plant material
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to methods for producing (a) plant extract(s), preferably a Cannabis plant extract. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for producing a Cannabis plant extract comprising delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from a Cannabis plant comprising the following steps: (a) providing a Cannabis plant which comprises delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a sufficient amount: (b) trimming and drying the flower material separated from the remaining plant material; and (c) treating the flower material of step (b) with a solvent and separating the Cannabis plant extract comprising delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the flower material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a Cannabis plant extract comprising delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as produced by/obtainable by the methods described herein. Furthermore, the invention relates to the Cannabis plant extract as produced by/obtainable by the herein described methods for use in medicine. Moreover, the present invention relates to the Cannabis plant extract as produced by/obtainable by the herein described methods for use in the treatment and/or prevention of chronic cancer pain, somatic pain, visceral pain, central neuropathic pain, peripheral neuropathic pain and complex pain syndromes.