Water Based Extraction of Cannabis

Water Based Extraction of Cannabis Professor DeBacco Two Main Water Based Extraction Methods Both use a solvent-free concentrate which customers are often looking for. Cold Water Hot Water Cold Water Extraction 1. Water extraction utilizes a solvent-less method of extraction that submerges finely chopped cannabis plant material in freezing water. 2. The plant is stirred in the cold water causing the trichomes to separate from the plant. 3. Once the trichomes fall off of the plant, it will pass through a series of screens. The end result is a product that has 50% to 70% THC levels. Hot Water Extraction Pressurized hot water offers the advantage of being a safer alternative to other extraction methods. Protocols developed to select against THC. The optimal conditions to extract more CBD, CBC, and CBG than THC and CBN were set at 150 °C, 160 °C, and 45 minutes as extraction temperature, the temperature at collector vessel, and the extraction time, respectively. Description of Pressurized Hot Water Method The desired sample is placed in the cell for extraction The cell is then heated to a predetermined temperature The system is then filled with water and pressurized The sample is then kept at these exact conditions until sufficient breakdown of solutes is achieved The used solvent is then let out of the cell, and an extraction solvent is forced through the system for a predetermined time known as dynamic extraction time. The resulting sample is then rapidly cooled in ice water using glass flasks to prevent degradation of the extract. Resulting End Product Trichomes are what is removed. This closed loop system will produce a thick goopy substance ranging from yellow to brown. Different temperatures and pressures will result with different end product consistencies. THC levels range from 70-90% Advantages of Water Based Extraction Elimination of additional sample clean up Reduction in organic solvent consumption High Selectivity Extraction efficiency Ease of automation Cheap solvent (water) Disadvantages of Water Based Extraction Relatively expensive start-up cost Long residence time of extracts has an increased risk of phytochemical degradation. Link to Lecture Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fap_... *Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Water Based Extraction of Cannabis" can be viewed at... https://drive.google.com/file/d/15ptq...