Cannabidiol or CBD for short is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant. It has recently become famous for its health benefit potentials. In stark contrast to the far more notorious THC compound in the same plant, CBD is non-psychoactive. Hence, you cannot get “high” from it.
CBD ethanol extraction is one of the several steps implicated in the processing of CBD into the final product. After harvesting the mature plant, it is then taken for extraction. Different companies have released their own preferred methods of CBD extraction. However, the general methods include the use of CBD ethanol extraction, butane, propane, and carbon dioxide. Of all these methods, CBD ethanol extraction has proven to be a choice because of several reasons.
CBD Ethanol Extraction: How It Works?
CBD ethanol extraction is a solvent-based method of extracting CBD. Ethanol is passed over the hemp. This dissolves its active compounds, cannabinoids and terpenes. As a polar solvent, ethanol binds to the water-soluble constituents of the plant. This is particularly useful in full-spectrum CBD hemp because the healthy parts of the plant are all water-soluble.
Instruments needed for CBD ethanol extraction include vacuum pumps, glassware, heating elements, and chillers. The low-power operation has the capacity of producing up to about 99% pure CBD oil.
Safety is an area of concern when it comes to CBD extraction. This healthy method of extraction has proven to be safe. At the end of the extraction process, there is no alcohol left in the product. However, it needs further steps before it is ready for consumption.
Post Extraction Steps
There are additional steps taken to ensure that CBD is safe for human use after CBD ethanol extraction.
- Decarboxylation: This process activates the CBD oil. It converts the inactive phytocannabinoids CBDA and THCA to their active forms.
- Winterization: This step removes unwanted fatty acids, terpenoids, chlorophyll, etc. that are remaining in the extract. As the name implies, it takes place at temperatures below zero.
- Filtration: This final process removes the compounds extracted through the winterization process.
Benefits of CBD Ethanol Extraction
CBD ethanol extraction confers a long list of benefits and advantages. The following are the reasons why CBD ethanol extraction is preferred:
- A large volume of CBD can be extracted all at once
- It eliminates the need for any form of dewaxing
- Perfect for full-spectrum CBD tinctures and extracts
- A higher product quality.
- More affordable compared to the cost of intensive carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon extraction methods
- Great for distillate products as its extraction rate is super-fast
- Easily scalable
- More lenient storage limits.
A few cons of ethanol extraction may include more challenging post-processing and extraction of more chlorophyll. Also, since ethanol has a higher boiling point than propane or butane, it takes more time to extract the CBD.
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