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CO 2 Extraction:
CO 2 Extraction:
The
Crown Jewel
of
Extracts
by Rich Hamilton
When it comes to cannabis extraction processes, CO 2 extracts are king.
For the cleanest products with the highest level of cannabinoids
and terpenes, CO 2 extraction is the way to go.
With the rapid growth of the cannabis extract market,
which includes tinctures and vape oils, people are more
and more cautious of quality and safety when it comes to
what they are buying, with one of the biggest considerations
being the form of extraction used to produce these products.
Up until now, regulations on cannabis products
have been less than stringent and some of the more
unscrupulous companies have been known to cut corners
by using chemical solvents such as lighter fluid (butane)
and hexane in their extraction processes. This chemical
solvent extraction not only results in the loss of valuable
terpenes and properties from the cannabis but also poses
a serious health risk, as the finished product can possibly
contain harmful residues.
This issue is exactly why CO 2 (carbon dioxide) extraction
is seen as the best way of extracting CBD and THC from the
cannabis plant. Carbon dioxide extraction guarantees you
a safe, quality product through a process that kills harmful
bacteria while ensuring the highest levels of terpenes and
cannabinoids remain present.
How CO 2 Extraction Works
Carbon dioxide extraction works by using pressurized CO 2
to collect and preserve as many cannabinoids, terpenes, and
essential waxes from the cannabis plant as possible.
The CO 2 acts as a solvent at a specific temperature and
within a specific pressure range but has the advantage of
having none of the dangers associated with more generic,
traditionally used solvents. Carbon dioxide extraction is so
efficient and “clean” that it holds the coveted status of being
a green solvent, meaning it is a recyclable and cost-effective
option whether it is being used for CBD or THC extraction.
Using CO 2 provides a cleaner and healthier product in a
more natural way as CO 2 is essentially a natural byproduct
that, for example, is produced by our bodies as part of the
breathing process, as well as through the transpiration
process in plants. You can’t get much more natural than
that, and this makes it a preferable option in comparison
to the use of solvents such as butane that contain harmful
chemical residues.
Understanding Supercritical CO 2
Supercritical CO 2 extraction is widely regarded as the
industry’s top standard extraction form and is the process of
using supercritical fluids to separate one component from
another. Carbon dioxide is the most commonly used fluid
in this process, although a co-solvent such as methanol or
ethanol is sometimes used. Carbon dioxide usually exists in
a gaseous format when it is under a standard pressure and
temperature. Supercritical CO 2, however, is the fluid state of
the gas, occurring when the CO 2 is exposed to pressure and
temperatures above its critical range.
In the process of supercritical CO 2 extraction, the extractor
takes CO 2 in its gaseous form and runs it through a
chamber where it is subjected to heightened pressure and a
temperature as low as -70°F. At this temperature the CO 2 gas
changes into a liquid (supercritical CO 2), which is when its
unique properties can be exploited.
A supercritical fluid benefits from the properties of both a
gas and a liquid maintaining the density of a liquid while
filling the space like a gas. This supercritical fluid is passed
through a chamber containing raw cannabis and dissolves the
trichomes’ membranes, collecting more of the plant’s active
compounds than any other extraction method can manage.
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