Pulsed Electric Fields for Rapid Plant Dehydration and Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current extraction methods for oil-rich plants like hemp and cannabis, such as supercritical fluid extraction and ethanol extraction, face limitations in throughput and equipment costs, and can result in the loss of volatile terpenes due to thermal drying processes, while also extracting unwanted compounds like chlorophyll and wax.
Innovation Solution
The application of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) to accelerate dehydration and extraction by creating nano-pores in plant cell membranes, combined with pressing and subsequent solvent extraction, allows for rapid and selective removal of target organic compounds, reducing diffusion kinetics and preserving thermally liable headspace compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermal drying methods are used to accelerate drying, then drying speed is improved, but volatile terpene compounds are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal drying mechanisms with pulsed electric field treatment. The PEF system applies electrical pulses to create nano-pores in cell membranes, enabling rapid water removal through electroporation without significant heating. This substitution of thermal energy with electrical energy allows fast drying while preserving thermally sensitive volatile terpenes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of water from intracellular to extracellular phase through PEF-induced electroporation. The electrical pulses create transient pores that allow water to escape rapidly, achieving phase separation and drying without requiring thermal energy that would cause terpene evaporation.
2Manufacturing precision
If supercritical fluid extraction is used to extract non-polar oleoresin compounds, then selectivity is improved, but equipment cost and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pulsed electric field treatment as a preliminary action before extraction. By creating nano-pores in cell membranes through PEF, the plant material is pre-treated to enhance subsequent solvent penetration and compound extraction. This preliminary modification of cell structure simplifies the extraction process and reduces equipment requirements while maintaining selectivity.
3Productivity
If ethanol extraction is used to quickly extract target compounds, then extraction speed is improved, but unwanted compounds are also extracted requiring additional post-processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies PEF treatment locally to create nano-pores in cell membranes, which selectively facilitates the extraction of target compounds while leaving unwanted compounds behind. The localized modification of cell structure through PEF enables selective extraction, reducing the need for extensive post-processing to remove unwanted substances.
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 significantly increases production throughput, reduces equipment capital investment, and effectively captures and preserves terpenes and cannabinoids, achieving faster drying and extraction while minimizing the loss of volatile compounds.
Implementation Method 1
The application of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) to accelerate dehydration and extraction by creating nano-pores in plant cell membranes
Implementation Method 2
creating nano-pores in plant cell membranes
Implementation Method 3
Super critical fluid extraction (SFE) is a popular technique of extracting non-polar oleoresin based extracts. The carbon dioxide acts as a non-polar solvent and is attracted to non-polar organic molecules such as THC, CBD, fats and lipids.
Implementation Method 4
The carbon dioxide acts as a non-polar solvent and is attracted to non-polar organic molecules
Implementation Method 5
A popular method of extraction of the active compounds CBD, THC and terpenes is the use of (ETOH) Ethyl Alcohol. This solvent is a readily available polar solvent that can quickly extract target compounds.
Data Source
AI summary
The present method applies Pulsed electric fields adding additional control variables for the extraction of target organic compounds from plant material. A current method of extraction of target Cannabaceae plants during processing provides methods to accelerate drying and extraction of these oil rich plants where the pre-removal of water is beneficial aiding in decreased process times. The methods include applying electric fields to the plant material to accelerate the dehydration, and the extraction of target organic compounds.