Fatty Acid Ester Extractant for Cannabinoid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting cannabinoids from plant materials, such as hemp, are energy-intensive and produce unwanted byproducts, limiting their efficiency and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The use of fatty acid ethyl ester and fatty acid methyl ester as extractants allows for efficient extraction of cannabinoids and other plant compounds across a wide temperature range, particularly effective for hemp and other plant materials, enabling high extraction yields and reducing byproduct formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ethanol or supercritical CO2 is used as extractant, then extraction of cannabinoids from plant material can be achieved, but the process becomes energy-intensive and produces unwanted byproducts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extractant by using fatty acid ethyl esters and/or methyl esters instead of conventional ethanol or supercritical CO2. This parameter change allows extraction to proceed at lower temperatures and pressures, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective cannabinoid extraction from plant material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, easily degradable extractant system based on fatty acid esters that can be readily removed from the final product through evaporation or filtration, eliminating the need for complex energy-intensive purification processes and reducing overall energy requirements while avoiding persistent unwanted byproducts
2Reliability
If ethanol or supercritical CO2 is used as extractant, then cannabinoids can be extracted from plant material, but unwanted byproducts are found in the enriched products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selectively extracts only the desired cannabinoid components from plant material using fatty acid ethyl esters and/or methyl esters as the extractant. The specific chemical properties of these esters enable selective solubility for cannabinoids while leaving behind unwanted plant materials and potential harmful byproducts, achieving purification during the extraction process itself
Solution Approach 2:
The fatty acid ethyl esters and/or methyl esters serve as an intermediary substance that facilitates selective interaction between the plant material and the extraction target. This intermediary extractant binds preferentially to cannabinoids, enabling their separation from other plant constituents that could form unwanted byproducts in conventional extraction methods
3Reliability
If conventional extraction methods are used, then cannabinoids can be obtained, but extraction yield is limited and process efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes extraction parameters by using fatty acid esters with specific solubility characteristics that enhance cannabinoid dissolution. The extractant system allows extraction to proceed more completely and rapidly, increasing the concentration of cannabinoids in the enriched product and improving overall extraction yield without compromising effectiveness
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 a high extraction yield of cannabinoids and other compounds with reduced byproducts, making it suitable for both food and medical applications, and allows for the direct production of enriched fatty acid esters with health-promoting effects, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which can be used in combination with cannabinoids for pain therapy.
Implementation Method 1
an extractant is used to dissolve at least one extraction material out of a substance, in particular a plant material
Data Source
AI summary
A method for extraction, in which an extraction agent is used for dissolving at least one extraction material out of a substance. The extraction agent includes fatty acid ethyl ester and/or fatty acid methyl ester. In one embodiment the extraction agent is an omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid, preferably EPA, DHA, DPA, ETA, 21:5n3 and/or SDA. In one embodiment the extraction agent includes at least 500 mg/g, preferably at least 700 mg/g of the fatty acid ethyl ester and/or of the fatty acid methyl ester. Expediently, the mixture of substances is a plant material, preferably hemp, and the extraction material is a cannabinoid, preferably CBD and/or THC.