CBD Extraction from Industrial Hemp via pH-Driven Crystallization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting cannabinoids, particularly (−)-cannabidiol (CBD), from industrial hemp are laborious and often fail to produce high-purity crystalline forms on an industrial scale.
Innovation Solution
A process involving solvent extraction, pH adjustment, decarboxylation, and silica gel chromatography using specific solvents like pentane, hexane, and ethanol to isolate CBD from biomass, allowing for the recovery of CBD and other neutral cannabinoids in high purity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional extraction methods are used, then CBD can be obtained from hemp biomass, but the process is laborious and cannot achieve high purity crystalline form on industrial scale
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into distinct sequential stages: initial solvent extraction to obtain crude extract, followed by selective crystallization to separate CBD from other cannabinoids and impurities. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, achieving both high purity in the final product and scalability for industrial production.
Solution Approach 2:
The process exploits changes in physical parameters, particularly temperature and solvent composition, to achieve selective crystallization of CBD. By controlling the saturation point and cooling rate, the method transforms the crude extract into high-purity crystalline CBD, resolving the contradiction between purity and scalability.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive purification steps are used to achieve high purity CBD, then manufacturing precision improves, but the process becomes more laborious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential purification step needed to achieve high purity CBD - the selective crystallization stage. By taking out and focusing on this single critical separation step rather than employing multiple complex purification techniques, the process achieves high manufacturing precision while minimizing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solvent system acts as an intermediary that facilitates selective crystallization of CBD from the crude extract. By carefully selecting and controlling the solvent composition and temperature, the process achieves high purity separation through a single well-designed intermediate step rather than multiple complex purification operations.
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 process effectively isolates CBD and other neutral cannabinoids in high purity, applicable to biomass with varying ratios of acidic and decarboxylated forms, suitable for pharmaceutical applications and scalable for industrial use.
Implementation Method 1
contacting biomass containing the CBD and/or CBDA with an extraction solvent to obtain an extraction solution
Implementation Method 2
contacting the extraction solution with a hydro-alcoholic solution and adjust the pH to 7.5-12.5 with a suitable alkaline solution, to obtain after phases separation
Implementation Method 3
contacting the first hydro-alcoholic phase with a second water-immiscible solvent and an acid solution suitable to bring the pH to 2.0-6.5
Implementation Method 4
subjecting the resulting oil to heating at a temperature between 65° C. and 180° C. for a time of at least 10 minutes to obtain the decarboxylation of the CBDA to CBD
Implementation Method 5
CBD crystallization from a third water-immiscible solvent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes a process for the production of (−)-cannabidiol (CBD) from industrial hemp by means of an extraction followed by two alternative working processes: a process A which provides extraction with solvents first to an alkaline pH and then to acidic pH to isolate the carboxyl form of the CBD which is then subjected to decarboxylation and a process B which provides the elimination of waxes and pitches and then purification by chromatography. At the end of both alternative working processes the CBD is crystallized obtained in high purity crystalline form.