Recirculating High Pressure Lipid Extractor for Solvent-Free Cannabis Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solvent-based systems for lipid extraction and bonding of cannabis and botanical extracts result in unnatural products due to the presence of solvents and are inefficient, necessitating a faster and more efficient method without solvents or chemicals.
Innovation Solution
A recirculating high pressure lipid extractor, infuser, and bonder system that uses a pressurized and heated fluid mixture to extract, infuse, and bond lipids from fat-soluble plant matter without solvents, featuring a kettle with a recirculation system, steam jacket, and cooling coils, capable of operating at specific temperature and pressure ranges to preserve terpenes and cannabinoids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If solvent-based systems are used for lipid extraction and bonding, then extraction efficiency is improved, but the product quality deteriorates due to the presence of solvents and chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful solvent component from the extraction system entirely, replacing it with a solvent-free high pressure lipid extraction method using supercritical carbon dioxide. This extracts the harmful solvent from the process while maintaining extraction efficiency through the use of CO2 in its supercritical state, which naturally dissolves lipids without leaving toxic residues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the extraction medium by using carbon dioxide in its supercritical state (high pressure and temperature conditions). This parameter change allows CO2 to exhibit solvent-like properties for lipid extraction while being completely safe and leaving no harmful residues, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and product quality.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional solvent-based extraction methods are used, then extraction capability is improved, but processing time increases due to inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical solvent-based extraction system with a high pressure supercritical fluid system. This substitution enables faster mass transfer and extraction kinetics, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining or improving lipid extraction capability through the unique solvation properties of supercritical CO2.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of carbon dioxide, transitioning it to a supercritical state for extraction, then allowing it to return to gaseous state for easy separation. This phase transition mechanism enables rapid extraction and quick product recovery, reducing overall processing time while maximizing lipid extraction efficiency.
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
Enables natural extraction and bonding of lipids with no solvents, improving efficiency and product quality by maintaining the integrity of terpenes and cannabinoids, and allowing for scalable operation from 1 gallon to 5000 gallons.
Implementation Method 1
a steam jacket configured for heating the fluid mixture in the kettle
Implementation Method 2
a recirculation pump configured for increasing pressure and recirculation of the heated fluid mixture
Implementation Method 3
cooling coils configured for cooling the pressurized, heated fluid mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A recirculating high pressure lipid extractor includes a kettle with a sealed interior configured for pressurizing and heating a fluid mixture. A flow funnel is positioned in a lower portion. A removable material basket is positioned on top of the flow funnel in an upper section. The removable material basket is configured to hold a material inside the removable material basket. A drain and inlet port is at a bottom of the kettle in communication with the sealed interior of the kettle. A recirculation port is approximate a top of the kettle in communication with the sealed interior of the kettle. Wherein, when the fluid mixture is inserted into the kettle, the recirculating high pressure lipid extractor is configured to pressurize and heat the fluid mixture and recirculate the pressurized and heated fluid mixture from the recirculation port into the drain and inlet port.