Cannabis extraction is an essential part of the cannabis industry. With the right equipment and conditions, you can make sure your cannabis extraction process produces high-quality products.
In the cannabis industry, there are two main types of extraction: solvent-based and non-solvent based. Solvent-based extraction is the most common method and uses a solvent such as propane, butane, and ethanol (we use ethanol at Abundant Labs) to extract the cannabinoids from plant material. Non-solvent extraction commonly uses supercritical CO2.
There are many factors that affect the quality of your end product. The conditions under which you extract your materials will have a huge impact on how much THC and CBD you can recover from them—and how much of those valuable compounds you’ll lose as waste.
The right equipment will make all the difference.
Centrifuge Extraction
Our hemp is extracted in 3 industrial-sized centrifuges that allow for an extremely efficient process.
Abundant Labs makes use of a super-cryo ethanol extractor using LN2 in a specially made thermo-exchange unit to drive temperatures to the lowest point possible. Biological materials (such as hemp) are added to the large centrifuge with ethanol at low temperatures.
The hemp/ethanol mixture is spun and agitated to allow the ethanol to dissolve the desired cannabinoids from the hemp material.
The operation then purifies and isolates the desired products from the mixture and removes any impurities.
Reactors
The 100L reactor is a popular size for cannabis extraction due to it’s large capacity that allows the operator to run multiple batches at once. This makes it easy on both your equipment and your budget by allowing you to maximize efficiency through batch-processing (instead of having a bunch of smaller pieces). Additionally, because the size offers such an excellent balance between throughput and cost per unit produced/consumed during operation, there are fewer reasons not to be extremely satisfied with results obtained when using these reactors during extraction!
Evaporators
Evaporators are used to distill cannabis concentrates. There are many different types of evaporators, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. Evaporators can be made from different materials, including glass and stainless steel. They are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes, which may affect the cost or efficiency of the device.
At Abundant Labs, we use a falling film evaporator, which is a specific type of vertically-oriented shell and tube heat exchanger. It separates two or more substances with different boiling point temperatures by dividing the material into thin films. Heat is transferred rapidly and efficiently across a shell and tube heat exchanger between the media and biological matter/ethanol mixture.
Under pressure, the mixture is spread evenly in a thin film from top to bottom for even heat distribution.The thin layers can be heated to evaporate the ethanol from the mixture efficiently. When the ethanol evaporates into a vapor-liquid form, it is separated by entering a condenser to cool back to liquid form. The ethanol is then recycled back into storage for future use.
Wiped Film Distillation
If you’re looking for one of the most efficient ways to extract your cannabinoids and terpenes, wiped film distillation is a great option. This method uses a wiper to collect the distillate as it’s collected by the condenser.
Wiped film distillation has several advantages over other methods.
It’s one of the fastest and most effective ways to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from your plant material because it operates at low temperatures, which minimizes the risk of cracking or damaging your cannabinoids or terpenes that are being isolated. Cryogenic ethanol extraction is also very effective because it extracts all cannabinoids and terpenes with very little interference or plant matter (this includes non-polar compounds like waxes).
CBD Isolation Reactor
After the distillate has been cleaned, the oil is crystallized. This process cleans the oil. It is possible to isolate the desired component and purge it of any contaminants.
The distillate is mixed into a slurry to perform crystallization.
The liquid is substantially cooled once the CBD distillate dissolves. As the mixture cools, the CBD molecules rearrange into a crystalline structure and separate from the other ingredients.
Utilizing cutting-edge chemical equipment, the isolate is evaluated to establish its pure CBD composition and non-detectable levels of other cannabinoids, such as THC.
Vac-Ovens
Vacuum ovens are used for drying materials. Dried materials can be used to make cannabis concentrates, and the vacuum oven is often employed for this purpose. Vacuum ovens are also useful for drying substances that are sensitive to heat or water exposure because it won’t burn the biological materials.
Flash Chromatography
Analytical chemical separation methods like flash chromatography are used to clean up mixtures. Goods distilled using falling film and wiped film distillation can retain certain terpenes, cannabinoids, and solvents still present and need to be removed before sale.
By using a solvent to introduce a mixture into the apparatus, flash chromatography is carried out. Given the proper circumstances and methodology, compounds in the solution will separate from one another due to polarity differences.
The solvent is then pumped into the column once the mixture has been added to the top.
Every stage of the extraction procedure can benefit from the use of flash chromatography, which can also be used to check that products are extracted effectively and see whether any parameters need to be changed during the distillation stage.
The industry is growing and so is the need to ensure the products are safe for consumption. As a result, many extraction equipment manufacturers have started focusing on creating innovative ways to make cannabis oil extraction more efficient and effective while maintaining high-quality standards.
If you are looking for a company that can provide you with the highest quality of equipment and extraction standards, we, at Abundant Labs, are here to help. Our scientists have a unique combination of experience, skill, and enthusiasm for the projects we undertake. Abundant Labs has the highest quality of equipment and extraction standards available to ensure that you receive the best possible end product.
We believe quality is paramount in everything we do, so we use only the highest quality of equipment and extraction standards. If you would like to work with us, please contact us through our website.