The CBD market grew by 700% in 2019, and growth is projected to remain steady. Once hemp is grown, transforming those flowers into market-ready products requires that hemp plants go through one of several extraction methods.
Are you interested in farming hemp? Or are you simply are curious about the best method for CBD extraction? We’ll explore the top three methods that are commonly used to extract this important cannabinoid.
Carbon Dioxide Extraction
Carbon dioxide extraction uses pressurized carbon dioxide to pull CBD from the plant. At certain temperatures, CO2 acts as a solvent.
The method is safe, but it requires specialized equipment to keep the CO2 frozen and compress it into a supercritical liquid state.
Most people are familiar with CO2 as a gas. The solid version is dry ice. CO2 can become a liquid at -69 degrees when the pressures are adequate (75 psi).
A CBD extractor passes the supercritical solution of CO2 through the cannabis plant. Then, the carbon dioxide pulls trichomes and oils out of the plant. A separator pulls the CBD, which a technician collects in a container.
Steam Distillation
Steam distillation has been around for centuries. The process has historically been used to distill alcohol. More recently, the extraction technique has become popular for removing CBD.
The process is fairly simple. Steam removes volatile compounds from the plant material. The vapor contains CBD.
The vapor is then cooled, which condenses the vapor. The final stage requires removing unwanted water and oils.
Solvent Extraction
Solvent extraction uses ethanol or butane to extract CBD. Other solvents can be used as well.
Extraction using ethanol also pulls out chlorophyll, which someone needs to filter out. Butane is a stronger extract, but remnants of butane can irritate the lungs of CBD users.
Using a solvent of choice, add the liquid to the plant material. The liquid will strip away cannabinoids. Once someone has extracted enough CBD, the liquid is evaporated to leave only the CBD base oil.
When the process is performed well, a certificate of analysis (CBD COA) will show that the chemical analysis of the extracted CBD is potent.
What’s the Best Method?
When searching for the best method for extracting CBD, you have to weigh the pros and cons of each method. Using butane, for example, can possibly leave toxic residues.
Using steam is safe and non-toxic. It is not the most efficient method, though. Using CO2 to remove CBD is effective, but you’ll have to invest in some serious equipment before you can begin.
If you still aren’t sure, continue your online research, and don’t be afraid to call local hemp businesses to see what they recommend.
Learn More About CBD Extraction Methods
Any of the extraction methods listed in this article can deliver high-quality CBD. Each method requires a different level of investment and technical expertise, so take your time when researching the route that you want to go.
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