Integer Glandular Trichome Extraction via Cold Water Jet and Sieving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting pure integer glandular trichomes from Cannabis plants, such as ice-water methods and deep freezing with dry ice, suffer from low yield and degradation of aromatic components due to water dissolution and sensitivity to environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method using a high-pressure cold water flow to extract integer glandular trichomes, followed by successive sieving steps to isolate them by size, with an apparatus comprising a spray-array and collection unit with calibrated nozzles and sieving screens to maintain purity and yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ice-water methods are used to extract resin, then separation is achieved, but aromatic components are lost by dissolution in water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter to sub-zero conditions and uses cold alcohol as the solvent instead of water. This parameter change allows extraction at temperatures where aromatic components remain stable while the solvent effectively dissolves resin components, resolving the contradiction between purity and aromatic component retention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses food-grade alcohol that can be easily evaporated, treating it as a temporary extraction medium that is discarded after use. This allows the use of an effective solvent without permanent contamination of the final product, maintaining both purity and aromatic integrity
2Manufacturing precision
If resin is saturated in water for extraction, then separation is achieved, but deterioration by fungal growth occurs under moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes two critical parameters: using alcohol instead of water as solvent, and maintaining sub-zero temperatures throughout extraction. These changes eliminate the moisture condition that enables fungal growth while preserving extraction effectiveness, thus resolving the contradiction between purity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert extraction environment by using cold alcohol and maintaining sub-zero temperatures, which prevents biological degradation. This inert environment protects the resin from fungal growth while allowing effective separation, resolving the contradiction between purity and stability
3Manufacturing precision
If deep frozen plant material is processed with dry ice, then trichomes are separated mechanically, but the process is extremely sensitive to environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cold alcohol as a multi-functional medium that simultaneously provides low-temperature extraction, acts as a solvent for resin components, and creates an inert environment preventing degradation. This universal solvent approach simplifies the process compared to dry ice mechanical separation, resolving the contradiction between purity and operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from mechanical separation using dry ice to chemical-solvent-based separation using cold alcohol. This parameter change from mechanical to chemical approach reduces sensitivity to environmental conditions while maintaining extraction purity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity
4Manufacturing precision
If short processing time is used in dry ice extraction, then resin purity is improved, but yield is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous extraction by using cold alcohol that can be circulated and maintained at optimal temperature throughout the process. The solvent continuously extracts resin components from plant material, allowing extended processing without degradation, thus resolving the contradiction between purity and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvent from dry ice (solid CO2) to cold alcohol (liquid), which allows for continuous extraction at controlled sub-zero temperatures. This parameter change enables longer processing times with maintained purity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and productivity
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 approach achieves high purity and yield of integer glandular trichomes while preserving aromatic components, reducing the risk of degradation and improving operational stability compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
Directing at least one cold pressurized water jet toward the resin rich plant material, so as to spray off and remove with water the integer resin glands from the material
Implementation Method 2
spray off and remove with water the integer resin glands from the material
Implementation Method 3
The water flow, comprising the resin glands, passes through a cascade of sieving screens, having progressively reduced pore size, under gravity
Implementation Method 4
The water flow, comprising the resin glands, passes through a cascade of sieving screens, having progressively reduced pore size
Implementation Method 5
a) Placing the resin rich plant material to be worked on... b) Directing at least one cold pressurized water jet... The complete process may be carried out at sub-zero temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Process to produce integer glandular trichomes from resin rich plants, comprising the steps of dislodging the integer glandular trichomes from the plants by the means of a pressurized cold water jet, and sieving the resulting water flow across a series of sieving screens being in a progressively decreasing hole size order.