Extracting CBD oil from Hemp

What is CBD extraction? What are the two main methods of CBD extraction? What is the comparison between the two extraction methods? You will find out about the extraction methods of CBD oils.

Introducing CBD oils and their products into the cosmetic industry has led to an increase in the growth of the hemp plant and the manufacturing of CBD products. These events have led to the development of methods to deliver the products into CBD oils for use. Cannabidiol is a hemp derivative and contains no traces of the THC compound; it will not give an intoxicating high effect to a person when used. Extraction of hemp requires accuracy when extracting. Methods like carbon dioxide extraction are used to extract hemp since it gives better results; CBD oil will be pure and clean. A designated machine is used during the extraction of CBD oil from hemp. Other methods include; ethanol extraction, hydrocarbon extraction, and vegetable oils.

Methods of CBD Extraction

Carbon Dioxide Extraction[CO2]

Carbon dioxide extraction of CBD oils from the hemp plant gives good results because the oil will be clean and pure. All compounds in the extracted CBD oils will be consistent in concentration throughout.

However, after the CBD oil has been extracted, it is collected into several chambers where all the compounds extracted are collected separately. Carbon dioxide collected is transferred to another chamber where it is purified, undergoes the process of condensation, and stored for future use.

Equipment Used in Carbon Dioxide Extraction

The machines found in a carbon dioxide extraction plant for CBD oil consist of multi-chamber machines requiring a special compression force to pump the CO2 into extraction chambers. Once this carbon dioxide has been pumped, it reacts with the hemp plant and breaks it down into small insoluble components collected into other chambers. The equipment is costly, making the CBD oil extracted using this method also expensive.

Ethanol Extraction

Ethanol extraction is one of the least expensive methods used in CBD extraction. The method is safe to use, but it also requires a lot of precision from the manufacturer, especially during the last stage of extraction, to minimize the cases of accidental explosions.

According to Lewis-Bakker et al.(2019), the ethanol extraction method involves soaking the hemp plant in ethanol and letting it sit for a while. The ethanol runs through the hemp plant and removes all the cannabinoid components from the hemp plant. After the ethanol solvent has gathered enough of the components, it is then subjected to heat in another chamber where it undergoes the process of evaporation, and the extract is obtained. The obtained extract will then be infused with other essential carrier oils to make it complete for use by the public. This method is hazardous and should not be used at home.

Equipment for Ethanol Extraction

Teräsvalli (2020) stated that Ethanol extraction is a small-scale process practiced by small commercial manufacturers of CBD oils. It does not require expensive equipment for the process to take place. It only needs a large decarboxylation, heating machines, and large storage tanks to store the extracted compounds and soak the hemp in ethanol.

Comparison Between Ethanol and Carbon Dioxider extraction  Methods

Folayana et al. (2019) stated that ethanol extraction involves using alcohol as the solvent. This solvent, being water-based, will not effectively remove the chlorophyll from the hemp plant, thus rendering the final product impure. It makes the purification process after extraction longer because it has to be pure before being infused with the carrier oils. The ethanol process is also advocated for in the sense of using cold temperatures during the extraction process. It makes the process more time-consuming and will not yield a potent and pure result product. A person finds the carbon dioxide extraction process remains the best because it gives potent and a pure form of CBD oil.

CBD oils can also be extracted using other methods. They include;

Dry-Ice Extraction Method

The dry ice extraction method is used at home since it is not complicated and requires expensive equipment. The process takes more time than the two main extraction methods. Russo et al. (2021) stated that the dry ice extraction method removes all the hemp plant's CBD compounds and other nutrients. Raber et al.(2015) noted that the dry ice extraction method also gives high-quality CBD oil products in small

scale and also less expensive.

Extraction Using Hydrocarbon

Examples of hydrocarbons include hexane, butane, and propane. These substances are inexpensive, but they are hard to remove from the end product, thus will cause the product to be impure because the residue that remains has toxic substances. This type of extraction also requires soaking the hemp plant in the solvent and allowing for stripping of the compounds to take place. The solvent obtained is also heated to evaporation.

Using Vegetable Oils

This extraction method is suitable for homemade CBD edibles. The vegetable oils act as a solvent for the edibles, and the extraction process is similar to the other extraction methods. A person should pick oils with high saturated fats concentration to increase the bioavailability of the cannabinoids if they want to go with this method.

Vegetable oils mostly used include butter, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, argan oil, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, and sweet almond oil. A person can use oils such as sunflower for cooking, olive for skin care and cooking and salmond oil for salads.

Conclusion

The vegetable extraction method is baking the CBD product in the oven to decarboxylate it. Add CBD oil of preference to a pan and heat at low temperatures for about two hours. Get this mixture and store it in the fridge. Decarboxylation is necessary for CBD products because it allows for the removal of the extra carbon group. This removal of the carbon group will allow for interaction of the CBD product with the endocannabinoid system in the body. Knowing how to extract the CBD properly allows a person to choose a convenient method for extraction while also maintaining the purity of the extract. A person can use CBD oil for extraction at home for cooking, and for skin care. Consider methods like carn dioxide, ethanol,dry-ice, hydrocarbon, and vegetable oils when extracting CBD oil from hemp.

References

Lewis-Bakker, M. M., Yang, Y., Vyawahare, R., & Kotra, L. P. (2019). Extractions Of Medical Cannabis Cultivars And The Role Of Decarboxylation In Optimal Receptor Responses. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, 4(3), 183-194.

Folayan, A. J., Anawe, P. A. L., & Ayeni, A. O. (2019). Synthesis And Characterization Of Salicornia Bigelovii And Salicornia Brachiata Halophytic Plants Oil Extracted By Supercritical Co2 Modified With Methanol For Biodiesel Production Via Enzymatic Transesterification Reaction Using Immobilized Candida Antarctica Lipase Catalyst In Tert-Butyl Alcohol (Tba) Solvent. Cogent Engineering, 6(1), 1625847.

Raber, J. C., Elzinga, S., & Kaplan, C. (2015). Understanding Dabs: Contamination Concerns Of Cannabis Concentrates And Cannabinoid Transfer During The Act Of Dabbing. The Journal Of Toxicological Sciences, 40(6), 797-803.

Russo, E. B., Plumb, J., & Whiteley, V. L. (2021). Novel Solventless Extraction Technique To Preserve Cannabinoid And Terpenoid Profiles Of Fresh Cannabis Inflorescence. Molecules, 26(18), 5496.

Teräsvalli, H. (2020). Extraction And Purification Of Cannabidiol.