Tailored Chromatographic Media for High-Purity Cannabinoid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is an ongoing need for novel chromatographic matrices capable of effectively separating and purifying compounds, particularly for applications involving cannabis-derived cannabinoids.
Innovation Solution
The development of tailored chromatographic media (TCM) comprising porous resins or carbons with specific pore structures and surface areas, combined with anionic polysaccharides, to enhance separation efficiency and purity of cannabinoids, utilizing a bimodal distribution of macroporous pore sizes and functional moieties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional chromatographic media are used, then the separation process is simple, but the purity and efficiency of cannabinoid separation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous resins with specifically engineered pore structures including micropores, mesopores, and macropores. The porous structure provides high surface area for interaction with cannabinoid compounds while enabling size-based separation. The pore size distribution is optimized to allow penetration of target compounds while excluding impurities, achieving high purity separation through the inherent properties of porous materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The chromatographic media combines multiple materials with complementary properties: porous resins provide structural framework and surface area, anionic polysaccharides offer selective binding sites through negative charges, and functional moieties contribute specific interaction mechanisms. This composite approach integrates different separation mechanisms (size exclusion, charge-based, and specific affinity) into a single media system, achieving superior purification performance.
2Productivity
If chromatographic media with high surface area are used, then separation efficiency improves, but the complexity of media design and fabrication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates chromatographic media with non-uniform pore size distributions, featuring a hierarchical structure of micropores, mesopores, and macropores in different regions and proportions. This local variation in pore characteristics allows different zones of the media to perform different separation functions, optimizing overall efficiency while managing fabrication complexity through controlled heterogeneity rather than uniformity.
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
The TCM achieves high purity (>90%) separation and purification of cannabinoids, demonstrating improved chromatographic performance and efficiency in separating and purifying cannabis-derived compounds.
Implementation Method 1
The fundamentals of chromatography involve dissolution of a mixture for separation into a mobile phase which is contacted with a stationary phase. Separation is based on partitioning of the mixture between the mobile and stationary phase.
Implementation Method 2
wherein the tailored chromatographic media further comprises an anionic polysaccharide and a functional moiety
Data Source
AI summary
Tailored chromatographic media and methods for using the tailored chromatographic media to purify mixtures extracted from cannabis to obtain a cannabinoid having greater than about 90% purity. In an embodiment, the tailored chromatographic media may comprise a porous resin and/or porous carbon and have a surface area of greater than about 900 m2/g, wherein the tailored chromatographic media may further comprise micropores, mesopores, macropores, wherein the tailored chromatographic media may further comprise at least two distributions of macroporous pore sizes, wherein the at least two distributions of macroporous pore sizes may comprise a first population having a macroporous pore size denoted x and a second population having a macroporous pore size denoted y, wherein a ratio of x/y may be about 1:1, and wherein the tailored chromatographic media may further comprise an anionic polysaccharide and a functional moiety.