Subcritical CO2 extraction produces a substance with a consistency more like molasses. The filtered ethanol mixture is then evaporated (reclaiming the ethanol in the process), leaving pure and cannabidiol-rich cannabis oil. The deeply chilled liquid is then run through a filter, leaving the fats and waxes behind on the filter paper. Winterization involves mixing the substance with ethanol (alcohol), then placing it in a freezer for around 24 hours which crystallizes the fats and waxes. A process called winterization may then be used to remove the fats and waxes, leaving just the CBD oil. This substance made up of fats, oils and waxes. Supercritical systems, when used without fractionation built into the process, produce a substance with the consistency of peanut butter. The difference in temperature and pressure results in a very different cannabis product. In subcritical, the carbon dioxide remains in a liquid state. Subcritical CO2 extraction is the same sort of process, but supercritical occurs at higher temperatures and pressures. Supercritical/subcritical – What’s the difference? The quality of supercritical CO2 equipment is definitely not something worth cutting corners on. ScCO2 extraction may be safer, but given the pressures involved and the need for accuracy it’s not the sort of equipment you’d want to purchase off an online bazaar or use without a significant amount of training. While pricey, supercritical extractors compare well to the cost of other solvent based approaches when taking into account the safety equipment and special facilities legally required in some countries for working with flammable solvents. Top-end equipment can also separate individual desired compounds as the extraction process is occurring (fractionation). It all seems quite simple, but the equipment involved is very expensive costing from tens of thousands of dollars for small units and running into hundreds of thousands of dollars for a cutting-edge setup with a 60 litre extractor capacity. Supercritical CO2 Extraction Equipment Costs The resulting substance is processed further into various products, such as CBD-rich “cannabis oil”, free of any solvents.The cannabis oil, waxes and resins descends in the separator where they are captured by a collection vessel.The carbon dioxide rises and is routed back to the CO2 tank for reuse in the case of a closed loop system.In the separator, the pressure is lower and the carbon dioxide and cannabis oil separates.The supercritical CO2 carries the cannabis oil particles past a pressure release valve to a cyclonic separator.The supercritical carbon dioxide interacts with the cannabis, dissolving the cannabinoid compounds it contains.A pump forces pressurised carbon dioxide gas at the optimum temperature (ScCO2) into the extractor chamber.An extractor chamber is filled with ground cannabis/hemp material (called trim). The following is a very basic outline of how the ScCO2 process works: Supercritical CO2 Cannabis Oil Extraction Process The “tunability” of supercritical CO2 extraction enables targeting maximum outputs of cannabidiol depending on the type and quality of cannabis material being used while keeping undesirable compounds such as chlorophyll out of the product. Supercritical liquids can pass through porous solids and also dissolve materials, making them ideal as a solvent. It becomes what’s known as a supercritical liquid. When heated to above 31.10C (critical temperature) and at 1,071 psi (critical pressure) or higher, it has the properties of both a gas and liquid. At 60.4 psi it’s a liquid and at -78C at standard pressure, it’s a solid (dry ice). What Is Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (ScCO2)?Īt standard temperatures and pressure, carbon dioxide is a gas. CO2 – A Safer, Cheaper, Greener SolventĪs we mentioned in our guide to cannabidiol (CBD), cannabis oil is usually extracted on a commercial scale either through the use of solvents such as hexane or butane, or through more modern supercritical/subcritical CO2 (carbon dioxide) processes.Ĭarbon dioxide based extraction is considered to be more environmentally friendly, considerably safer, cleaner, cheaper and less toxic than using fossil fuel based extraction – and results in a consistent product that is more palatable. In fact, subcritical and supercritical CO2 extraction is rapidly becoming the preferred method of extraction in the medical cannabis and therapeutic hemp industries particularly with larger commercial operations. Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction is commonly used to make various food and other products – and it’s becoming increasingly popular for extracting top quality cannabis oil high in cannabidiol (CBD).
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