THC Beverage Emulsion Apparatus for Cross-State Legal Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
No system exists for preparing a stable beverage containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as THC tends to fall out of an aqueous solution, posing challenges in its legal transportation and distribution across state lines where its legality varies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for forming a stable beverage by receiving a food product from a first geographic zone where THC is illegal and legal in a second zone, forming a THC composition with a viscosity of less than 2,000 mPa sec, and injecting it into the food product to create an emulsion with a mean particle size of less than 1000 nm, using an emulsifier and water, thereby stabilizing THC in the beverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If THC is added to an aqueous beverage solution, then the beverage contains the desired psychoactive ingredient, but THC falls out of solution and becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a co-solvent system consisting of ethanol and water as an intermediary medium to dissolve THC. The ethanol component acts as a bridge between the hydrophobic THC and the hydrophilic aqueous beverage, allowing THC to remain in solution without precipitating. This mediator approach resolves the fundamental incompatibility between THC and water-based beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the beverage by adjusting the ethanol concentration and pH levels to optimize THC solubility and stability. By controlling these parameters within specific ranges, the system maintains THC in a dissolved state throughout the beverage shelf life, preventing precipitation while preserving beverage quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If THC is transported across state lines in its natural form, then it can be legally distributed in some states, but it is illegal in other states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the THC ingredient from the finished beverage product by providing a concentrated THC-infused syrup that can be legally transported and then diluted at the point of use. This segmentation allows the high-THC concentrate to be moved across state lines under controlled conditions while the final beverage strength is adjusted locally to comply with varying state regulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary THC infusion into a syrup base that can be stored and transported, rather than preparing the complete beverage at the origin. This preliminary action creates a stable, concentrated product that simplifies logistics and allows flexible final preparation at distribution points, adapting to different legal requirements without complex manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for amending a food product, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving into a second geographic zone the food product from a first geographic zone, where packaging greater than five milligrams per serving of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the food product is illegal in the first geographic zone and legal in the second geographic zone; (2) forming a composition of the tetrahydrocannabinol comprising a viscosity of less than 2,000 mPa sec; and (3) injecting the food product with the composition of the tetrahydrocannabinol to form an amended food product, where the composition preferably comprises an emulsion of tetrahydrocannabinol, an emulsifier, and water with a mean particle size of less than 1000 nm and a viscosity of less than 100 mPa sec.