Ultra-Cold Ethanol Extraction to Reduce Chlorophyll Co-Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extraction methods for cannabinoids and terpenes from plant substrates, such as hydrocarbon and lipid-based extractions, face safety hazards, high costs, and inefficiencies, particularly in DIY settings, and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction is costly and requires complex post-processing.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an ultra-cold temperature environment with ethanol solvent, vacuum, and controlled fluid lines to selectively extract cannabinoids and terpenes, minimizing undesired constituents like chlorophyll, with batchwise or continuous methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional steam distillation is used to extract essential oils, then extraction efficiency is improved, but chlorophyll co-extraction increases causing product discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the extraction system by introducing supercritical carbon dioxide as the extraction medium. By adjusting pressure (to supercritical conditions) and temperature parameters, the extraction selectivity is improved to extract essential oils while leaving chlorophyll behind in the plant material, thus preventing product discoloration while maintaining high extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses supercritical carbon dioxide as an intermediary substance between the plant material and the final essential oil product. This intermediary medium provides selective solubility that allows extraction of aromatic compounds while excluding chlorophyll, solving the discoloration problem that occurs with traditional direct steam distillation methods
2Device complexity
If traditional extraction methods are used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but product quality deteriorates due to discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high product quality by changing the operational parameters to supercritical conditions for carbon dioxide extraction. This parameter change enables selective extraction that prevents chlorophyll contamination and discoloration, producing high-quality essential oils and aromatic isolates while using equipment that, although more advanced than simple distillation apparatus, operates through well-established supercritical fluid technology
3Manufacturing precision
If selective extraction is implemented to avoid chlorophyll, then product purity is improved, but extraction selectivity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high extraction selectivity by changing to supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, where the solubility parameters can be precisely controlled through pressure and temperature adjustments. This allows the extraction system to selectively dissolve essential oil components while leaving chlorophyll and other unwanted substances behind, achieving high product purity through controllable parameter optimization rather than complex separation measurements
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 system achieves safe, efficient, and high-purity extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes while reducing hazards and costs, producing a high-quality extract with minimal residual solvents.
Implementation Method 1
extracting the essential oil components from the plant material with a supercritical fluid, such as carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
The extracted material is then depressurized and the essential oil components collected
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, machine, and methods for selectively extracting chemicals from plant material without co-extracting chlorophyll, lipids and other undesirable constituents from plants, is described here. Extraction uses super-cooled solvents, such as 100% ethanol. The system and method provides plant extracts that are enriched in active compounds, and depleted in chlorophyll.