Processing hemp to cbd oil
Processing hemp to produce CBD for medical use is a multi-stage process that should be performed under food safety or pharmaceutical quality standards such as GMP Good Manufacturing Practice. While CBD can be extracted from most cultivars of industrial hemp, the best quality extracts and medicines come from specially selected, bred and cultivated high CBD hemp plants. These plants have also been selected for their terpene profile and bouquet, meaning they produce smokeable quality flower with appearance and flavor comparable to medical marijuana, but with negligable THC. By working with high CBD medical hemp rather than industrial hemp, you can extract much more resin and the quality is substantially higher and more suitable for use with minimal processing.
Pulling the Cork Out of the Processing Bottleneck Slowing the Hemp/CBD Boom
Cannabidiol CBD is one of many naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Marijuana often contains high amounts of THC, the high inducing compound in cannabis. Hemp, on the other hand, can only contain a trace amount. While there is a growing market for smoked hemp flower, the most common way to consume the beneficial phytocompounds is via tinctures or capsules. In order to be consumed in this manner, the naturally occurring compounds in the plant must be extracted into an oil.
This oil is then used as the primary ingredient in these and many more consumable and topical products. The method of extraction and processing of a hemp extract can have a big impact on the contents, quality, and purity of a given product.
In this article, we cover the various methods of extraction used to create CBD oil from hemp. Keep reading to discover what goes into the creation of a CBD product and what types of extraction and processing are preferred.
Thanks to the Farm Bill , hemp has finally been given a definition separate from marijuana. This definition lifts hemp out of the controlled substances act, making the plant and its extracts legal. The definition of hemp is cannabis containing 0. This legal status and the high-CBD content of many strains have led to hemp being the primary source of CBD oil extraction for products sold to the public.
It is possible to find high-CBD products extracted from marijuana, but they are also often high in THC and thus today must be sold as a marijuana product through appropriate channels. These products are outside the scope of this article, and any CBD product you find freely available for sale online and in retail stores will be hemp-derived.
This legal approval has spawned an increasingly large number of growers and extractors who seek to produce the highest quality hemp possible. Today you'll find a wealth of clean, quality products sourced from organically grown, non-GMO, domestic hemp plants. As we discussed in the intro, the hemp plant first needs to undergo an extraction process to create a crude extract.
This is the first step in transforming these valuable plant compounds into one of the many CBD products available on the market today.
The general idea of hemp extraction is that a solvent is passed through plant material in order to separate out the active compounds in the bulk plant materials. The resulting cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds like chlorophyll are then collected as oil and further processed before making their way into an end product.
Each method carries limitations and benefits which we cover below:. CO 2 extraction is widely considered to be a fantastic method used to create CBD-rich extracts.
This extraction method puts carbon dioxide under high pressure while maintaining a low temperature. The resulting extract a highly concentrated, totally pure oil extract. This process requires expensive equipment and experienced operators. Because of this, the resulting oil is often higher priced for the end consumer but enables the highest quality products to be produced.
When compared to CO 2 extraction, ethanol extraction is a lower-cost method, but still used by many companies on the market today. Despite the lower cost, this extraction method can still be used to create high-quality extracts though it may require more expertise and post-extraction processing.
This extraction method utilizes an alcohol solvent - most commonly ethanol. It is commonly used as a food preservative and additive found in many products at the grocery store. Ethanol is a polar solvent which means it will mix with water and dissolve water-soluble molecules in addition to the desired cannabis compounds.
Chlorophyll is one of the compounds that ethanol will co-extract along with the cannabinoid filled oil. The result is a dark-colored oil with a bitter and grassy flavor.
The chlorophyll can be removed from the oil using post-extraction filtering methods, but the process can also remove some of the cannabinoids resulting in a lower quality CBD oil product. Some ethanol extractors cite that the water-soluble component extraction can be mitigated by using cold extraction temperatures.
Assuming an experienced operator, the result of this extraction method can be very favorable, even comparable to CO 2 extraction in quality. That being said, with a less experienced extractor, there is more room for error and possibility for solvent contamination or lower quality end product.
This early extraction method was created using a light hydrocarbon solvent like to extract cannabis oil. These hydrocarbons have a low boiling point and can be easily used to extract CBD oil. This cheap and easy method of extraction comes with a variety of issues that make it non-ideal. The resulting oil usually contains a lower concentration of terpenes and cannabinoids like CBD and a higher concentration of THC.
There is also unsafe residue that can remain that may interfere with immune function. This extraction method proved to be both dangerous and inefficient and is thus rarely used by commercial CBD companies today. One of the lesser-used extraction methods is called lipid extraction. Often organic coconut oil is used in this extraction process. Lipid extraction does not require the use of any harsh solvents or CO2.
It is not a popular method of extraction, though you may find some boutique companies using it. After a crude CBD extract is created, there are some additional, optional steps that are performed to get the product ready for consumption.
An optional process called winterization which works to further purify the extract and remove the unwanted components. This process is essential for almost all crude extracts unless the extract was created using low-temp ethanol extraction. The process of winterizing consists of completely mixing the CBD extract in proof alcohol and freezing it overnight.
In the morning the cloudy mixture is ready for filtration. This process is done by running it through a paper filter into an extraction jar. The alcohol is removed from the filtered end product through warming until it evaporates. This is made possible because the alcohol has a lower boiling point than the oil.
The naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant come in an acid form including:. These 'raw' cannabinoids must be activated in order to produce the desired molecules. When a low-temperature method like supercritical CO2 extraction is used, the original acid forms of the cannabinoids may be produced. In order to activate these cannabinoids and removed the acid molecule, the CBD extract undergoes a process called decarboxylation.
Though it sounds fancy, decarboxylation is simply the heating of an extract. Through this heating process, the acid molecule is removed and the active compound is produced. This process can be performed either before or after extraction. Learn more about decarboxylation in our article on the subject. Despite being less popular, the 'raw' molecules are showing promise as they interact with the body differently than the 'activated' or non-acid forms of these same substances.
Limited research and anecdotal user experiences point to these raw cannabinoid forms providing some unique therapeutic benefits. This is driving some companies to include the acid forms of these cannabinoids in addition to the activated non-acid forms.
With that being said, unless specifically outlined as a 'raw' product, all CBD products on the market have been decarboxylated to activate the compounds. The crude extraction and processing up to this point will create a usable extract containing a full profile of terpenes and cannabinoids. This extract is ready to be used in the creation of end products for consumers, but often there are additional processing steps performed. Using processes like distillation and chromatography , individual or groups of compounds are either isolated or removed from the extract.
Examples include CBD isolation via distillation which we cover below or THC removal via liquid chromatography to create a broad-spectrum extract. Today you'll commonly find single-molecule CBD isolates. All other cannabinoids, terpenes, plant materials, oil, and chlorophyll is removed in the creation of this powder. All that is left is naturally sourced CBD crystals that carry no odor or flavor. Chemists use short path distillation or chromatography isolate the individual compounds in the material - in this case, cannabidiol.
You should understand that while isolate is versatile, products based on this type of extract are not as effective as an oil containing a full or broad-spectrum cannabinoid profile. The single-cannabinoid profile is less effective due to the lack of cannabinoid and terpene synergies known as the entourage effect. Here at Big Sky Botanicals, we produce a broad-spectrum product line that contains a full-spectrum profile of cannabinoids and terpenes with only the THC removed.
We outline in detail how our products are made showing the extraction and processing methods we use to craft the high-quality extracts used in our products. Unlock an increasing lifetime discount with the Charter Buyer Club. Learn More.
After making a CBD extraction using the female plant, is there further extraction one can do to isolate other compounds such as THC or would the remainder of the material just get tossed out? Further processing is common. After CBD oil is extracted from the Hemp plant, is the remaining hemp plant still viable for any other uses? Can the fiber still be separated from the stalk or would this process need to be performed prior to extraction? Thank you. Hemp grown for CBD extraction will be different from hemp grown for it's fiber.
Hemp grown for extraction will be bred to contain cannabinoid and terpene-rich flowering tops of the plants. This is the portion of the plant used in extraction for CBD oil, not the stalks. The stalks are not good sources of these compounds which means that ideally a minimal amount of fibrous stalk material should be present at extraction.
With that said, removing the stalks prior to extraction would create a higher quality extract. Do you know if it is possible to find an isolated CBD coming out just from hemp seeds and not from flowers? Sincerely: Prof. Cannabidiol is primarily found in the flowering tops of the hemp plant. The seeds are not a source of the compound. Extraction from the seeds would result in hemp oil, not CBD-rich hemp extract.
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Comparing CBD Oil Extraction Methods. As we discussed in the intro, the hemp plant first needs to undergo an extraction process to create a. High CBD Hemp THC Testing. Due to the controlled nature of hemp and other Cannabis plants, hemp requires testing during cultivation to ensure.
CBD Cannabidiol is a compound that has shown promise in a variety of medical applications, like relief from pain and anxiety which are most common, along with many other ailments. Below you will find a step by step outline of how cbd oil is made. There are many ways to extract the oil from the plant and make cbd oil. Apeks CO 2 extraction systems use CO 2 as a solvent to extract the oil.
Copyright by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. Cannabidiol CBD , an extract that many use as an anti-anxiety or relaxation tool, comes from the Cannabis sativa plant and cannot be divorced from this original source.
Post Harvest processing is the immediate agricultural processing of wet and dried herbal material needed to prepare the hemp for industrial, food or medical use. Because the hemp industry is still young and growing, many new operators lack suitable equipment, infrastructure and systems to deliver a quality product.
Hemp Oil Extraction and Processing
Cannabidiol CBD is one of many naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Marijuana often contains high amounts of THC, the high inducing compound in cannabis. Hemp, on the other hand, can only contain a trace amount. While there is a growing market for smoked hemp flower, the most common way to consume the beneficial phytocompounds is via tinctures or capsules. In order to be consumed in this manner, the naturally occurring compounds in the plant must be extracted into an oil.
Industrial Hemp
Aliments Trigone Inc. Category: Processing. In the second half of the s, Aliments Trigone Inc. Our specialties are hemp, black and green buckwheat, amaranth, sorghum, chick peas and brown rice. Country: Canada. American Hemp Seed Genetics. We use only organic practices. Industrial hemp seed handler — processor, seed producer, grower, drying, and extraction.
To nurture the budding hemp industry in Utah by offering much-needed processing services to local cultivators and delivering hemp-derived products of exceptional quality to both businesses and consumers.
Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species Cannabis sativa L. The plant consists of an inner layer called the pith surrounded by woody core fiber, which is often referred as hurds.
How to extract CBD oil in your home kitchen
Community members are encouraged to reach out to Extension Agents for assistance via email and phone. There is a lot of interest in growing industrial hemp for CBD production, especially since hemp was legalized in the the Farm Bill. Take a look at some of my previous articles regarding the potential risks and rewards in the CBD market as well as agronomic considerations for successful industrial hemp production. Hemp Production — Market Opportunities and Risk. Hemp Production in Catawba County. Industrial Hemp Pest Management. Fresh cut hemp drying. Breaking off and hanging individual branches is recommended. Photo by George Place. Harvesting hemp is a critical stage for CBD production. The presence of molds and mildews will lower the value of hemp floral biomass so a timely harvest is essential. There are visual clues on the hemp bud that growers should monitor. When trichomes on the hemp bud shift from white to milky white it may be time to harvest. Weekly testing of CBD content can inform the grower of when harvest should be initiated. Growers need to test frequently to make the right decision regarding harvest timing.
How to extract CBD oil - The extraction process & how to make CBD oil
This story appears in the August issue of Green Entrepreneur. As little as a year ago, you could find the warehouse with your nose. The reek of newly legal hemp, which no human and probably no drug-sniffing dog could distinguish from its intoxicating sister plant containing THC, wafted from bins of the crop that seemed to be everywhere. For him, the odor emanating from the warehouse was the by-product of a haphazard supply chain -- one that was being improvised to turn ever-increasing amounts of harvested hemp into enough CBD to meet a seemingly insatiable demand. Mile High Labs produces CBD distillates and isolates derived from hemp, which it sells to manufacturers of health and wellness products. The demand for CBD is huge, and there is a lot of hemp available. The problem is, Mile High and similar labs have no use for heaps of dusty crops. What they need is the crude oil squeezed from the plants in the initial stage of processing. Mueller simply could not move raw hemp through his warehouse and get it through that first extraction step as fast as his lab could perform the process it specializes in -- refining and isolating the crude oil into a marketable product. He saw a frustrating inefficiency that was costing him money.
