Advantages of CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction in Cannabis Concentrates

Discussion in 'Marijuana Business and Industry' started by AlpineVapor, Jan 8, 2015.

  1. #1 AlpineVapor, Jan 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 8, 2015
    Hey guys:: 
     
    Recently there has been a lot of talk of supercritical CO[SUB]2[/SUB] extraction and "solvent-free" concentrates.  The terminology here can be a little tricky, so we decided to write a blog post elucidating the process and benefits of supercritical CO[SUB]2[/SUB] extraction in cannabis concentrates. 
     
     
    Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions!
     
     
     
     
    <div><div>Advantages of CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction in Cannabis Concentrates
     
    In recent years, Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) technologies have seen increasing applications in many fields. CO[SUB]2[/SUB] SFE is a gentle, clean and precise method of extraction well suited for pharmaceutical and food applications where purity is a priority. For Example, in antioxidant extraction, CO[SUB]2[/SUB] SFE is used because it can create odorless, flavorless extracts while leaving antioxidants intact. CO[SUB]2[/SUB] SFE is advantageous because it allows precise control of the solvent strength, provides increased yields, is less time-consuming, and does not require the use of toxic solvents, allowing for the production of maximum purity, solvent-free concentrates.
     
    Supercritical Fluid Extraction works by raising the temperature and pressure of a fluid until it becomes supercritical, when it begins to exhibit behaviors of both gasses and a liquids. Under these conditions, the density of a supercritical fluid can be modulated by changing the temperature/pressure of the system. Since density is directly related to solubility, manipulating the temperature of the system allows for exacting control of the point of solubility. By controlling the temperature/density of a fluid, we can tune its solvent strength, allowing the CO[SUB]2[/SUB] to mimic the solubility of other (more toxic) solvents, such as butane, hexane, or isopropyl alcohol.
     
    Supercritical Fluid Extraction is a relatively new technology that is superior to traditional extraction methods, which can be time consuming, laborious, inefficient, and dangerous; because the solubility of supercritical co2 is controllable, it is possible to achieve “higher selectivies [and] shorter extraction times, without the use of dangerous solvents” (King 2000). Additionally, since Co2 is a gas at room temperature, “once the extraction is completed, and the system is decompressed, a complete elimination of CO[SUB]2[/SUB] is achieved without residues and the extract remains free of solvent” (Herrero,Cifuentes,Ibañez 2006)
     
     
    Citations
    1 M. Herrero, A. Cifuentes, E. Ibañez (2006) SUB- AND SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION OF FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS FROM DIFFERENT NATURAL SOURCES: PLANTS, FOOD-BY-PRODUCTS, ALGAE AND MICROALGAE, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Vol 98, 1, 136-148
    2 King, J.W. (2000). Advances in critical fluid technology for food processing, Food Science & Technology Today. 14, 186-191.


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  2. Have you been coming out with a clearer product or does it come out pretty dark?


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  3. #3 josephjt93, Jan 26, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 26, 2015
    My god. I know the secret now. Been wondering how they done it in vape cartridges.


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  4. Yes!  Finally!  A comprehensive discussion on Supercritical Fluid Extraction!
     
    I will be right up front on this one!
     
    BTW-First Sub!!
     
     
    Plaid
     
  5. I design Supercrtical CO2 extractors, and I can say CO2 is all around a much better way to go. Better for the environment and your health.
     
  6. still iam the one pass by
     
  7. What company do you work for? I am in the market for a roof and am having a bit of trouble finding good reliable companies and am up to recommendations.
    Thank you
     
  8. Check out Isolate Extraction Systems in Denver, CO - their machines have gone to full automation and have essentially done away with Winterization through selective processing.
     
  9. Hello,
    I'm interested in SFE. I'm trying to get my yields dialed in. Would you be willing to suggest and/or help me understand the benefits and uses for different pressures and temps?
    Thanks for your time
    Sportsternerd
     

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