Closed Loop Solvent Extraction for Cannabis Oil Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting oils from plant materials, such as solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction, face challenges including high costs, safety concerns, and inefficiencies in equipment complexity and solvent selectivity, often resulting in the extraction of undesirable compounds like waxes.
Innovation Solution
A closed loop extraction system that utilizes a solvent vessel, extraction vessel, and collection vessel, where the solvent flows through the system by differential pressure, allowing for the efficient extraction and purification of oils from plant materials, with the option of using inert gases to facilitate solvent flow and a dewaxing process to remove waxes, thereby increasing the purity and quality of the extracted oils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If supercritical fluid extraction is used to extract oils from plant materials, then extraction efficiency is improved, but equipment cost and safety risks increase due to high pressure and temperature requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters from supercritical conditions (high pressure and temperature) to near-ambient conditions. The system uses a solvent reservoir at atmospheric pressure connected to an extraction chamber, eliminating the need for high-pressure pumps and temperature control systems while maintaining effective extraction through solvent selection and flow rate control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive components such as gravity-fed solvent delivery, basic filtration systems, and ambient temperature operation. The system replaces expensive, complex supercritical equipment with affordable, easily maintainable components that can be disposed of or replaced without significant cost.
2Device complexity
If traditional solvent extraction is used to extract oils from plant materials, then equipment cost is reduced, but solvent selectivity decreases resulting in co-extraction of unwanted compounds like waxes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary filtration system between the extraction chamber and collection vessel. This includes filters that selectively retain unwanted compounds such as waxes while allowing the desired oil extract to pass through. The filtration step acts as a mediator that separates desired from undesired components without requiring complex selective extraction equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes unwanted compounds (waxes, impurities) from the solvent extract through filtration and separation steps. By taking out the harmful or undesirable components after extraction, the system achieves high selectivity in the final product while using simple extraction equipment.
3Device complexity
If open solvent extraction systems are used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but solvent loss and safety risks increase due to exposure to toxic and explosive solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a closed-loop system where the solvent circulates through sealed connections between the reservoir, extraction chamber, and collection vessel. This closed environment prevents solvent exposure to the external atmosphere, eliminating fire hazards and toxic exposure risks while maintaining equipment simplicity. The system may also use inert gas flushing to further protect against solvent vapor accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a continuous closed-loop solvent circulation system where solvent is continuously pumped from the reservoir through the extraction chamber and back to the reservoir. This continuous circulation prevents solvent accumulation in any single location, reducing exposure risks while maintaining extraction efficiency. The system operates as a continuous process rather than batch processing with open transfers.
4Ease of operation
If current solvent extraction methods are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but purification efficiency decreases resulting in lower quality oil products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary purification components including filters and separation chambers that automatically remove impurities from the extract. These intermediaries perform the purification function without requiring complex manual intervention, maintaining operational simplicity while achieving high oil purity through automated filtration and separation steps.
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 system reduces solvent loss and safety risks, enhances oil purity by effectively removing impurities like waxes, and improves the potency and quality of extracted compounds, such as THC and fragrance or flavor components.
Implementation Method 1
the solvent flows through the system by differential pressure
Implementation Method 2
cooling the collection vessel to a temperature lower than a temperature of the solvent vessel, thereby flowing the solvent and oils into the collection vessel
Implementation Method 3
heating the collection vessel to evaporate the solvent thereby returning at least a portion of the solvent to the solvent vessel
Implementation Method 4
with the option of using inert gases to facilitate solvent flow
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are systems and methods for the facile extraction and purification of oils from plant material, including cannabis and hemp. The systems and methods herein are versatile, and may utilize a wide range of solvents to extract oils from a variety of plant-based material. Further, the provided systems and methods are closed loop, reducing the loss solvent and decreasing the risk of safety concerns such as human exposure to solvent chemicals or explosion of volatiles. In some embodiments, the systems and methods remove impurities from the extracted oils, for example waxes or other precipitates, and provide a higher purity and higher quality extract.