The most common cannabis extraction methods include Co2 extraction, ethanol extract, butane honey oil extraction, water extraction among others.
CO2 is considered one of the cheapest, non-toxic, and most effective extraction methods of separating cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. It is also a great method for making beer, fruit extracts, tea, coffee, and waxes.
The gas can also be condensed and liquefied to be reused in the future. This makes it an environmentally-friendly method. Let it be known that not all extraction methods are safe so be careful when purchasing a particular cannabis product. In this article, we will discuss the basics of the Co2 cannabis extraction method and its benefits.
How does it work?
Once the cannabis plant is harvested, it is decarboxylated and dried to prepare it for extraction. Typically, the plant material is heated using ovens until it dries up.
The dried-up plant material is then coffee-ground and after loaded to a machine where the extraction process begins.
The supercritical carbon dioxide process extracts everything from the plant including a large amount of wax, chlorophyll, unwanted lipids, and fats. The elements are later removed via a process known as winterization.
Key Advantages of CO2 Extraction?
Extraction processes require proper products and training. They also demand time, money, and dedication. Consumers need to first understand the various cannabis extraction processes available and their benefits. That said, here is a list of some of the benefits of the Co2 extraction method.
- Purity
Product purity is very important when choosing almost any item. Co2 extraction method generates CBD products and hemp extracts that are free of harmful solvents. The method also helps in minimizing unwanted compounds in the end products.
Consumers get to enjoy an additional level of safety. Since the body produces a certain level of carbon dioxide, any co2 extracted product will tend to dissolve faster into the bloodstream. After all, likes attract each other.
- Safer
Compared to other methods like propane or butane, the final products are usually cleaner and free of harsh solvents. The gas is also non-flammable so you don’t have to worry about accidental fires.CO2 is a naturally occurring gas that easily dissolves and bubbles out of the finished product, unlike butane. Likewise, it is excellent at extracting and preserving delicate plant terpenes. Read more here https://wayofleaf.com/cannabis/101/cbd-cannabis-extraction
- Co2 can be recycled
CO2 is considered one of the most environmentally friendly extraction methods. This is because the gas can be recovered, collected, and recycled for future use. The world is currently battling environmental degradation, and from an environmental standpoint, it can help support specific environmental conservation attributes linked to hemp products.
- Tunable solvent
Other hydrocarbon solvents like alcohol, pentane, propane, hexane, and butane may require extra purging or distillation processes to separate the solvent from the oil extract.
Carbon dioxide on the other hand works well at room temperature and may not require additional purging or distillation to separate the extracted oil.
Furthermore, you can easily adjust the gas’s pressure to achieve variable surface tension, viscosity, and density. This makes the production process more efficient and swifter.
- Cost-Efficient
Since carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas, it is generally readily available. It is also widely used by most manufacturing industries.
Carbon dioxide can also be recycled for future use, therefore making it relatively expensive. In fact, about 95% of the gas is subsequently recovered after each extraction. Operational costs are also relatively low when compared to other extraction technologies.
- Cold
CO2 doesn’t necessarily require high temperatures to separate the solvent from the extracted oil. It can be done at the plant’s natural temperatures. This prevents the plant materials and the extracted oil from degrading due to high temperatures.
- Eliminate some post-processing steps
The success of every brand is determined by the speed to shelf. The carbon dioxide-based method ensures faster and consistent production hence eliminating the need for some post-processing steps. The final products are well blended and of high value than those of other extraction methods. Plus, only minimal testing and analysis are required with this process.
- High-quality CBD extract
The best hemp growers invest a lot in high-quality agricultural practices to ensure the product is rich in high-quality CBD. To support their effort, Carbon dioxide processing captures all the essential plant compounds from top-quality hemp. A technique that optimizes their extraction can be a good option. Click here to learn more.
Conclusion
When shopping for any cannabis product, it’s more important to know the type of production process used to avoid purchasing potentially harmful products. Cannabidiol products should be pure and non-toxic. Although the CO2 extraction method is time-intensive, it’s a greater investment compared to any other extraction method. The goal here is to generate high-quality products to enhance the overall customers’ wellness. Through this process, the plant’s natural qualities are preserved including flavonoids, terpenes, and minor cannabinoids offering a rich final product.
