Cannabis Product Volatile Extraction and Hydrocarbon Modification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for purifying and modifying cannabis products are inefficient and cost-ineffective, as they fail to selectively extract volatile organic compounds like terpenes while retaining the desired cannabinoid content, leading to reduced efficacy and undesirable odor and flavor.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the selective extraction of volatile organic compounds from cannabis raw plant material to produce a purified product, which can be further modified by adding volatile unsaturated hydrocarbons to enhance user experience, while retaining a significant amount of naturally occurring cannabinoids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If conventional purification methods are used to remove volatile organic compounds, then the odor and flavor are reduced, but the cannabinoid content is also lost and plant structure is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor and flavorVSAvoidcannabinoid content
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies selective extraction to remove only volatile organic compounds (such as terpenes responsible for odor and flavor) from cannabis plant material while leaving cannabinoids intact. This is achieved through controlled extraction processes that target specific volatile compounds without affecting the non-volatile cannabinoid content, thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing harmful odor factors and preserving beneficial cannabinoid substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies specific local properties of the cannabis plant material by selectively altering the volatile organic compound content while maintaining the integrity of cannabinoids and plant structure. This localized modification approach allows odor and flavor reduction in specific chemical components without affecting the overall cannabinoid content or plant structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If conventional purification methods are used, then volatile organic compounds are removed, but the plant structure is damaged and efficacy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolatile organic compoundsVSAvoidefficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs selective extraction methodology to remove harmful volatile organic compounds while preserving the plant structure and cannabinoid integrity. The extraction process is designed to selectively target volatile compounds for removal while leaving the plant matrix and cannabinoid structures intact, thereby maintaining efficacy without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes controlled parameter changes in the extraction process (such as temperature, pressure, and solvent selection) to selectively remove volatile organic compounds while maintaining conditions that preserve cannabinoid stability and plant structure. By carefully controlling extraction parameters, the process achieves volatile compound removal without damaging the functional components responsible for efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If selective extraction is performed to retain cannabinoids, then the process becomes more complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecannabinoid retentionVSAvoidextraction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies selective extraction using naturally occurring or food-grade solvents that inherently provide selectivity for volatile organic compounds versus cannabinoids. This approach simplifies the process by leveraging the natural properties of the solvents and plant materials rather than requiring complex multi-step purification systems, thereby achieving cannabinoid retention with moderate process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the natural volatility differences between volatile organic compounds and cannabinoids to achieve selective separation. The process leverages the inherent physical properties of the plant components, allowing the volatile compounds to be removed through controlled extraction while cannabinoids remain behind, reducing the need for complex external intervention or sophisticated equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 effectively reduces the strong odor and flavor associated with cannabis, preserving the cannabinoid content and allowing for a more desirable user experience without damaging the plant structure, and enables the creation of novel odors and flavors by adding unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Implementation Method 1

selective extraction of volatile organic compounds from a Cannabis raw plant material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

combusted and inhaled in a manner similar to a naturally occurring Cannabis product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3743055B1Cannabis products modified by removing volatile organic compounds
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 HIGH SIERRA TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP3743055B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3743055B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3743055B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Purified and modified Cannabis products and methods for producing the same. The purified Cannabis product comprises substantially no volatile organic compounds while retaining Total Potential cannabinoid content. The modified Cannabis product comprises a purified Cannabis product modified by at least one added volatile unsaturated hydrocarbon. The modified Cannabis product is formed by extracting a volatile organic compound from a Cannabis raw material to form a purified Cannabis product, and then adding the at least one volatile unsaturated hydrocarbon to the purified Cannabis product to form the modified Cannabis product and cause an enhanced user experience during combustion and inhalation of the modified Cannabis product