Cannabis Extraction via Controlled Decarboxylation and Pressurized Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from cannabis are often uncontrolled, using toxic solvents or relying on temperature without proper regulation, leading to incomplete decarboxylation and inefficient use of plant parts with lower THC content, resulting in uncontrolled dosage and waste of plant material with therapeutic potential.
Innovation Solution
A process involving shredding cannabis plant parts, heating them under supercritical temperatures to decarboxylate THCA-A into Δ9-THC, and then combining the decarboxylated material with a liquid in a sealed pressurized container at controlled pressure and temperature to chemically bond THC, maximizing extraction efficiency and yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If uncontrolled crude extraction processes are used, then the extraction process is simple and quick, but the dosage is uncontrolled and toxic materials may be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling temperature (225-245°F for decarboxylation, then increased for extraction) and pressure (10-15 PSI during extraction) to optimize THC extraction while ensuring dosage control. This transforms the uncontrolled crude process into a regulated process that maintains speed while improving reliability through defined parameter ranges.
2Speed
If high temperature is used for decarboxylation, then the decarboxylation process is fast, but decarboxylated substances are lost to evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing temperature parameters in stages: first maintaining a controlled temperature of 225-245°F during decarboxylation to prevent evaporation losses, then increasing temperature only after decarboxylation is complete to accelerate extraction. This staged parameter change achieves both fast processing and substance retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by completing the decarboxylation process at controlled temperature before initiating the high-temperature extraction phase. This ensures that THC is already decarboxylated and ready for extraction, preventing loss during the transition and maximizing yield while maintaining speed.
3Loss of substance
If low temperature is used for decarboxylation, then THC is preserved, but decarboxylation is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing a two-stage temperature parameter change: first maintaining 225-245°F during decarboxylation to preserve THC while ensuring completeness through sufficient time at this temperature, then increasing temperature only after decarboxylation is complete to accelerate extraction. This staged approach achieves both preservation and completeness.
4Quantity of substance
If only floral bracts and fruit stalks are used for extraction, then high cannabinoid concentration is achieved, but other plant parts are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a process that can effectively extract cannabinoids from all parts of the cannabis plant, including leaves, stalks, and roots that previously had low cannabinoid content. The controlled decarboxylation and pressurized extraction methodology makes the extraction process universally effective across different plant parts, eliminating waste while maintaining product quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes (controlled temperature and pressure) to enhance the extraction efficiency from low-cannabinoid plant parts. By optimizing these parameters, the process extracts sufficient cannabinoids from leaves, stalks, and roots that would otherwise be considered waste, thereby reducing plant material waste while maintaining acceptable cannabinoid concentration in the final product.
5Productivity
If toxic solvents like butane are used for extraction, then extraction efficiency is high, but the process becomes dangerous and requires additional safety controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of using solvents by replacing toxic solvents like butane with water or food-grade oils as extraction media. This substitution eliminates toxicity and safety risks while maintaining extraction efficiency through the use of pressurized extraction technology that enhances the solvent's ability to extract cannabinoids without requiring toxic chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves high extraction efficiency without toxic solvents by changing the physical parameters of the extraction process—specifically by applying pressure (10-15 PSI during extraction phase) and optimizing temperature. These parameter changes enable water or food-grade oils to achieve extraction efficiencies previously only attainable with toxic solvents, thereby eliminating safety risks while maintaining productivity.
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 achieves controlled decarboxylation and efficient extraction of Δ9-THC from plant parts with lower THC content, producing a food-grade intermediate with high potency and minimizing waste, while ensuring safe and regulated production of cannabis products.
Implementation Method 1
heating under a supercritical temperature the particulate matter at a temperature in a range of 225 to 245 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the particulate undergoes a decarboxylation process converting a quantity of the THCA-A within the particulate matter to a quantity of Δ9-THC
Implementation Method 2
combining the decarboxylated particulate matter with a quantity of a predetermined liquid within a sealed pressurized container, wherein the pressure ranges from 10 to 15 PSI for a predetermined time period, wherein the quantity of the Δ9-THC is extracted from the decarboxylated particulate matter and the quantity of Δ9-THC is chemically bonded with the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a process of extracting Δ9-THC from cannabis, the method comprising, gathering a quantity of plant parts, shredding the quantity of plant parts into a particulate matter, heating the particulate matter at a temperature, wherein the particulate undergoes a decarboxylation process converting a quantity of the THCA-A within the particulate matter to a quantity of Δ9-THC, combining the decarboxylated particulate matter with a quantity of a predetermined liquid within a sealed pressurized container, wherein the pressure ranges from 10 to 15 PSI for a predetermined time period, wherein the quantity of the Δ9-THC is extracted from the decarboxylated particulate matter and the quantity of Δ9-THC is chemically bonded with the liquid, and a Δ9-THC liquid is formed, sifting the particulate matter from the Δ9-THC liquid, and cooling the Δ9-THC.