Microwave Vacuum Pasteurization of Cannabis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing marijuana for human use involve separate facilities for drying and pasteurization, using ionizing radiation, which is costly, controversial, and increases production costs due to security measures, while also being inefficient in retaining terpenes and psychoactive compounds.
Innovation Solution
A method using microwave radiation at reduced pressure in a vacuum chamber for simultaneous pasteurization and dehydration of marijuana plant material, effectively reducing microorganisms and preserving terpenes and psychoactive compounds, without the need for ionizing radiation, allowing for a single facility operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ionizing radiation is used for pasteurization in a separate facility, then microorganisms are destroyed, but production cost increases and security measures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pasteurization and dehydration operations into a single microwave vacuum system, eliminating the need for separate ionizing radiation facilities. The microwave system performs both thermal pasteurization and moisture removal in one integrated apparatus, reducing facility complexity and security requirements while maintaining microbial decontamination effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces ionizing radiation (nuclear physics-based system) with microwave radiation (electromagnetic system) for pasteurization. This substitution eliminates the need for specialized radiation facilities and security measures while achieving the same microbial destruction goal through thermal heating effects.
2Quantity of substance
If air drying at room temperature is used for dehydration, then moisture is removed, but the process takes five to six days
Solution Approach 1:
The microwave vacuum system provides continuous heating and moisture removal throughout the dehydration process, unlike passive air drying. The microwaves continuously energize water molecules to evaporate moisture, dramatically reducing drying time from days to hours while controlling final moisture content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to vapor under vacuum conditions. By reducing pressure in the vacuum chamber, water evaporates at lower temperatures, and microwave energy accelerates this phase transition, enabling rapid dehydration without thermal degradation of terpenes and cannabinoids.
3Reliability
If high temperature is used for pasteurization, then microorganisms are destroyed, but terpenes and psychoactive compounds are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum environment enables water to evaporate at lower temperatures, and the microwave system maintains controlled heating that achieves pasteurization without excessive thermal exposure. This controlled phase transition approach destroys microorganisms while preserving heat-sensitive terpenes and cannabinoids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by conducting pasteurization in a vacuum environment with controlled microwave heating. This combination allows achieving microbial destruction at lower temperatures and shorter times compared to conventional atmospheric pasteurization, thereby preserving volatile terpenes and psychoactive compounds.
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 effective pasteurization and dehydration in a single facility, retaining high levels of terpenes and psychoactive compounds, reducing microbial loads, and lowering production costs by eliminating the need for separate facilities and ionizing radiation.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the marijuana plant material with microwave radiation
Implementation Method 2
maintaining the marijuana plant material in the vacuum chamber at the first pressure for a first time period at a pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the marijuana plant material with microwave radiation
Implementation Method 3
reducing pressure inside the vacuum chamber to a first pressure less than atmospheric
Implementation Method 4
maintaining the marijuana plant material in the vacuum chamber at the second pressure for a second time period at a dehydrating temperature lower than the pasteurizing temperature
Implementation Method 5
irradiating it with microwave radiation to dehydrate it
Implementation Method 6
maintaining the marijuana plant material in the vacuum chamber at the second pressure for a second time period at a dehydrating temperature lower than the pasteurizing temperature while irradiating it with microwave radiation to dehydrate it
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method and apparatus for pasteurizing and drying marijuana plant materials using a microwave-vacuum chamber. The pasteurizing and drying are carried out with no use of ionizing radiation and with rapid drying. Pasteurization is done at a temperature and for a time period that are sufficient to reduce microorganisms to an acceptably low level, while not significantly reducing the psychoactive compounds in the material. In the process, the pressure inside a vacuum chamber is reduced to a first pressure less than atmospheric. The material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the first pressure at a pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pressure is then reduced to a second pressure lower than the first pressure and the material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the second pressure for a time period at a dehydrating temperature lower than the pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pasteurizing and dehydrating steps can be done in the reverse order.