Cannabis Extraction Process Preserving Entourage Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cannabis extraction processes often discard desirable waxes and lipids, which are crucial for the 'entourage effect,' and face challenges in controlling decarboxylation, leading to loss of volatile compounds and instability in formulations.
Innovation Solution
A process involving cryogenic grinding, alcohol extraction, and controlled decarboxylation stages to produce cannabis extracts while preserving the remainder fraction and optimizing the conversion of THCA, THCVA, and other cannabinoids, using low-temperature and precise refluxing techniques to maintain the therapeutic value and stability of the extracts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction processes are used to obtain purified cannabinoid extracts, then high concentrations of cannabinoids are achieved, but waxes and lipids are discarded which contain therapeutic value and contribute to the entourage effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by initially separating waxes and lipids from the extract through winterization, then subsequently recovering and reintegrating them into the formulation. The process discards the ballast fraction during purification, then recovers it later to restore the entourage effect and therapeutic value, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving high cannabinoid purity and preserving therapeutic compounds.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional decarboxylation methods are used to convert THCA to THC, then psychoactive compounds are formed, but volatile compounds are lost and formulation stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the decarboxylation conditions - using controlled temperature ranges and specific time parameters to achieve THCA conversion while minimizing volatile compound loss. The process optimizes thermal parameters to balance decarboxylation efficiency with preservation of volatile therapeutic compounds, thereby resolving the contradiction between forming psychoactive compounds and retaining volatile substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing decarboxylation at controlled stages during the extraction and purification process, rather than as a final step. This allows volatile compounds to be preserved through subsequent low-temperature concentration and formulation steps, while still achieving the necessary THCA conversion to THC.
3Stability of the object's composition
If winterization is performed to remove waxes and lipids from extracts, then extract stability is improved, but the entourage effect is reduced due to removal of desirable compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing winterization as an intermediate step rather than a final purification step. The waxes and lipids are removed temporarily to stabilize the extract during processing, then deliberately reintroduced in controlled amounts before final formulation, thereby achieving both stability and preservation of the entourage effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by temporarily separating waxes and lipids through winterization to improve stability, then recovering and reintegrating them in the final formulation to restore the entourage effect. This two-stage approach resolves the contradiction between achieving stability and maintaining therapeutic reliability.
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 captures the therapeutic synergy of cannabis compounds, enhancing the stability and efficacy of cannabis extracts by preserving the 'entourage effect' and minimizing the loss of volatile compounds, resulting in a more stable and potent final product.
Implementation Method 1
exposing THCA and THCVA to elevated temperatures, such as those produced when cannabis burns during smoking, causes these compounds to undergo a decarboxylation reactions to form psychoactive or other physiologically active compounds
Implementation Method 2
controlled decarboxylation stages to produce cannabis extracts while preserving the remainder fraction and optimizing the conversion of THCA, THCVA, and other cannabinoids, using low-temperature and precise refluxing techniques
Implementation Method 3
A process involving cryogenic grinding, alcohol extraction, and controlled decarboxylation stages to produce cannabis extracts while preserving the remainder fraction
Data Source
AI summary
An improved process for producing various types of cannabis extract from harvested cannabis wherein a quantity of harvested cannabis, which typically includes the inflorescence, floral leaves, and small stems of a flowering cannabis plants, is frozen and subjected to cryogenic grinding to produce pulverized cannabis. The pulverized cannabis is then subjected to alcohol extraction to produce an initial cannabis extract which is filtered to yield a remainder fraction and a filtrate. The remainder fraction potentiates the activity of cannabis formulations while the filtrate can be subjected to one of several forms of further processing according to the desired chemical profile of the final product.