Imprinted Polymer for Cannabinoid Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing enriched cannabinoid extracts from crude Cannabis extracts are inefficient, requiring multiple complex and costly steps that often result in reduced yields, altered cannabinoid profiles, and the introduction or concentration of heavy metals and pesticides, making it difficult to produce high-quality, full-spectrum products.
Innovation Solution
The use of imprinted polymers, specifically those imprinted with a template organic molecule of 150-450 g/mol with a hydroxyphenyl group, to selectively bind and elute cannabinoids from crude Cannabis extracts, reducing heavy metal and pesticide content while minimizing lipid extraction steps and maintaining terpene profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If distillation is used to purify crude Cannabis extract, then cannabinoid concentration is improved, but heavy metal and pesticide residues are concentrated and terpene loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses winterization to extract and remove lipid impurities (waxes, fats, fatty acids) from the crude extract before distillation. This preliminary extraction step separates the harmful lipid components from the cannabinoid-containing solution, allowing subsequent distillation to concentrate cannabinoids without co-concentrating the removed lipid impurities.
Solution Approach 2:
The purification process is segmented into distinct stages: (1) winterization to remove lipids, (2) distillation to concentrate cannabinoids, and (3) chromatography for final purification. This segmentation allows each step to target specific impurities or objectives, preventing the concentration of heavy metals and pesticides while maintaining terpene profiles.
2Manufacturing precision
If winterization is performed to remove fat and wax impurities, then extract quality is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies winterization parameters by conducting the process at lower temperatures (specifically -20°C to -40°C) and for shorter durations (2-24 hours) compared to conventional methods. These parameter changes maintain effective lipid removal while significantly reducing processing time and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The winterization process uses periodic agitation and temperature cycling to enhance lipid separation efficiency. By applying intermittent mechanical agitation and temperature fluctuations, the process achieves thorough impurity removal in shorter timeframes without excessive energy input.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple purification steps are used to increase cannabinoid purity, then product quality is improved, but cannabinoid yield is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces winterization as an intermediary step between extraction and distillation/chromatography. This intermediate purification removes lipid impurities that would otherwise interfere with subsequent purification steps, allowing them to operate more efficiently and recover more cannabinoids. The winterization step acts as a mediator that protects the cannabinoid yield in later stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces some mechanical purification steps with chemical and physical processes. Instead of relying solely on mechanical filtration and repeated distillation, the invention uses winterization (temperature-controlled crystallization) and selective solvent extraction to remove impurities, thereby reducing mechanical processing and associated cannabinoid losses.
4Manufacturing precision
If distillation is used to concentrate cannabinoids, then purity is improved, but terpene profile is altered and recombination is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs winterization as a preliminary action before distillation to remove lipid impurities that cause bitter taste and interfere with terpene retention. By removing these interfering substances first, the subsequent distillation and chromatography steps can preserve the natural terpene profile without requiring recombination, as the terpenes remain intact throughout the purified process.
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 approach significantly increases the proportion of cannabinoids, reduces heavy metal and pesticide residues by up to 98%, and minimizes lipid content, producing high-purity, full-spectrum extracts with enhanced terpene retention, thus overcoming the inefficiencies and quality issues of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an imprinted polymer for producing an enriched cannabinoid extract from a crude Cannabis extract, wherein the polymer is imprinted with a template organic molecule
Implementation Method 2
the polymer has been prepared from one or more polymerizable monomers... to selectively bind and elute cannabinoids from crude Cannabis extracts
Implementation Method 3
eluting the cannabinoids from the imprinted polymer with an elution solvent to produce the enriched cannabinoid extract
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to an imprinted polymer and/or an imprinted polymer bead for producing an enriched cannabinoid extract from a crude Cannabis extract. This disclosure further or alternatively relates to a method of making an imprinted polymer for producing an enriched cannabinoid extract from a crude Cannabis extract and/or a method of producing an enriched cannabinoid extract from a crude Cannabis extract and/or a method of reducing heavy metal content in an enriched cannabinoid extract when compared to a crude Cannabis extract and/or a method of reducing at least one pesticide residue in an enriched cannabinoid extract when compared to a crude Cannabis extract and/or a method of reducing lipid extraction steps when producing an enriched cannabinoid extract from a crude Cannabis extract and/or method of producing an enriched cannabinoid extract from a crude non-winterized Cannabis extract. This disclosure further relates to an enriched cannabinoid extract. More particularly, this disclosure relates to use of molecularly imprinted polymers to produce enriched cannabinoid extracts from crude Cannabis extract.