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Large Scale Organic Hemp Processing

Large Scale Organic Hemp Processing

No Comments CO2 Extraction

High Purity Extractions offers tremendous processing ability to hemp growers, farmers, and processors, all conducted in our GMP grade facility.

ORGANIC HEMP EXTRACTION AND DISTILLATION

How much hemp can High Purity handle? Read on and find out.

High Purity Extractions offers tremendous processing ability to hemp growers, farmers, and processors, all conducted in our GMP grade facility.

The hemp industry is going to experience tremendous growth over the next decade-plus. There is an enormous volume of information and opportunity to help people make a great decision about getting into the hemp business as either a side job, or professionally.

If you are thinking about getting into the hemp growing space, or are already, here are some fun numbers.

First, an established farmer can produce between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds of hemp flower per acre, explicitly grown for CBD or CBG.   (Note, this must be below .03 psychoactive THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) level to remain clear of regulatory violations).

Second, it takes about 40 pounds of hemp flowers to produce a kilo of CBD oil. High Purity can handle this process from the start, to the finish of your determination, whether it’s crude, distillate, isolate, or something more advanced. 

Optimize your crop yield with High Purity Extractions.

High Purity Extractions can process large volumes to suit any farmers or growers needs. Our current production ability allows us to process up to 60,000 pounds of biomass a month. That’s 30-40 acres worth of plants, produced to a beautiful finished isolate product that will demand a high market price. 

Our craft supercritical CO2 extraction process yields the highest quality oils that will demand high prices. Let’s say an experienced farmer can harvest 2,000 lbs of flower per acre. That 2,000 lb harvest would optimally yield 50 kilos of crude CBD oil.   We do NOT use any solvents at all, there is no ethanol in the process.   So if you have organic certified hemp or crude extract, this process will provide organic CBD distillate in either full spectrum or broad spectrum T free options.

Crude CBD oil, extracted by our supercritical CO2 process will yield a significantly higher price than oils produced by ethanol extraction. Recent market trends show that supercritical processed oil sells on average of 25-50% higher rate. When we are looking at tens of thousands of pounds of extraction, and hundreds of kilos of oil, that is a huge difference!

High Purity Extractions offers many additional processing services, that will yield your crude CBD into an even more valuable product. All of our extraction and processing is completed in our GMP grade facility. 

Our supercritical CO2 process can yield various products such as crude extract, distillates of full or broad-spectrum, isolates, and non-detectable-THC CBD oil, all of which can add significant increased value to your crop.

There are a lot of things to consider after harvest. The more refined products will yield the highest profit margins for your crop, but they will also cost more. We can help you find a significant profit on return by advising what products are in demand, and what services we can offer at the best cost, based on your volume.

We are here to help! 

Please contact us today to discuss your processing needs and how we may help!

Extraction: 3 Advantages of Supercritical CO2

Extraction: 3 Advantages of Supercritical CO2

No Comments CO2 Extraction

Substance Extraction: 3 Advantages of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

At least as far back as ancient China, people have been interested in the bioactive ingredients in plants and how best to extract them to reap their benefits. While scientific research has led to the development of several isolation and extraction techniques, most of the traditional methods suffer from weaknesses that limit the amount of pure substance that can be obtained from the plant. An emerging technique, which employs what is referred to as supercritical carbon dioxide, is gaining traction in several industries, as it is proving favorable in a number of ways in its ability to isolate vitamins as well as other substances thought to provide medicinal benefits that may be used in the development of neutraceuticals and other products. 

What is supercritical carbon dioxide? 

Super critical carbon dioxide extraction is a technique to separate substances from within a plant. This approach combines other techniques to simplify and optimize the process of extraction. The data on its effectiveness and safety over other extraction methods are leading to its use in extracting a wide range of molecules from plants. Extracting substances from cannabis plants and hemp seed, for instance, has become more popular as the markets for the relevant ingredients have grown with recent regulatory changes. However, a major challenge in meeting this new demand is accessing safe and reliable extraction techniques. 

How does supercritical carbon dioxide work? 

This method involves placing plant material into an extraction vessel and pumping in carbon dioxide that has been exposed to high temperatures and pressures. The carbon dioxide then acts to dissolve portions of the plant. When the pressure is subsequently released by the opening of a valve, this dissolved material flows into another vessel, where heat and pressure are further modified to enhance the bonding of the material to the carbon dioxide. This bonding facilitates the separation of key ingredients from the plant. The extracted material is then collected in a separate collection vessel. 

What makes supercritical carbon dioxide processing superior to other extraction methods? 

  1. It produces pure products. Supercritical carbon dioxide processing is known for producing pure, high quality products. While other extraction methods cannot always separate the compound of interest from organic solvents, with supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, no residual solvent is left on the product. 

This feature of supercritical carbon dioxide processing is advantageous because it enables the isolation of a pure product. Given that organic solvents are often toxic., ensuring that the final product is free of organic solvents is particularly important in industries where the isolated product is one that will be ingested. 

  1. It recovers product efficiently. Some substances cannot be adequately recovered using conventional methods of extraction. Because super critical carbon dioxide extraction can be achieved without the use of extreme temperatures, little degradation occurs compared to what is seen with other methods of extraction. 

In addition to minimizing degradation, supercritical carbon dioxide enables higher product yields by simply capturing more of the product. By working in a super critical state, however, this approach leverages thee technical benefits of both gases and liquids. Specifically, the supercritical carbon dioxide can travel into small spaces that only gases can travel while also dissolving and behaving like a solvent in a way that only liquids normally do. No degradation. 

  1. It can be customized to the target ingredient. Strategies to manipulate the physical properties of supercritical carbon dioxide enables scientists to encourage binding between carbon dioxide and the specific molecule of interest. Research into how to optimize extraction of specific compounds is also boosting scientists’ understanding of how best to obtain pure, uncontaminated substances in favorable volumes. 

Takeaway: There are a variety of substances within plants that have the potential to improve our lives and our health. As research into these substances has grown, so too has our understanding of which substances are most beneficial and what their specific benefits are. 

This critical information has increased our desire to isolate and extract specific molecules from others that are co-mingled within individual plants. As such, developing more sophisticated methods for extraction has been a major goal of plant-based industries. The use of supercritical carbon dioxide is growing due to promising data on its ability to more effectively, efficiently, and safely isolate these sought-after substances. 

Supercritical CO2 processing is especially useful for THC remediation from hemp or cannabis. High Purity Extractions currently offers numerous supercritical CO2 extraction services, including; 

  • CO2 THC remediation – We can separate THC from CBD in a complete solventless system. We can accept any input material and bring it to 85-95% CBD that is below .1% THC concentration.
  • CO2 CBN remediation – Similar to our CO2 THC remediation technology, we can remove CBN from any CBD matrix.
  • CO2 THC+CBN remediation – We also can remove both THC and CBN in the same process
  • CO2 Pesticide Remediation – We can remove pesticides from any botanical extract, including non-hemp!
  • CO2 THC to CBN Conversion – We can convert any cannabinoid matrix that contains THC into CBN. In a CO2 system without any co-solvents.
  • CO2 CBDA Isolation – We can also separate CBDA from any incoming Hemp biomass! This could be a great addition to your vape cartridge formula to limit crystallization.
  • CO2 Tolling – We can toll a variety of compounds in CO2 to create various extracts.

Please contact us if you want to know more about the supercritical CO2 services that High Purity offers, or to get in our cue.

What is Supercritical CO2 Processing?

What is Supercritical CO2 Processing?

No Comments CO2 Extraction

Supercritical CO2 is perfect for hemp extraction and THC remediation.

CO2 or carbon dioxide is a gas at standard condition. Carbon dioxide reaches the supercritical state at 1071 psi and 31.1°C. When a CO2n molecule is in a supercritical state, it has properties of both liquid and gas. Supercritical CO2 is advantageous for extraction purposes because it can reach into incredibly small spaces like gas but can also dissolve and mimic a liquid solvent. It is the best of both worlds. The physical properties of supercritical CO2 can be easily manipulated during the process, which allows it to bond to any molecule the producer chooses.

Supercritical CO2 uses.

The most common use of supercritical carbon dioxide is extraction. The process has many organic applications, especially in the hemp industry, where it is most often used to extract THC. Similarly, the removal of specific components like CBN or pesticides is also possible. Supercritical CO2 is also commonly used for caffeine extraction from coffee beans, dry cleaning, and semiconductor wafer cleaning. 

How does the supercritical CO2 process work?

Supercritical CO2 is perfect for hemp extraction and THC remediation. It also has significant benefits for a wide range of uses, functional foods, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, removal of harmful substances, cleaning, and more. 

Large scale supercritical CO2 processing.

The extraction process begins by placing the ground plant material (biomass) into an extraction vessel. Next, CO2 gas undergoes high temperature and pressure until it reaches a supercritical state. A pump then forces the supercritical CO2 into the extraction vessel, where it breaks the trichomes, allowing it to dissolve part of the plant material. A pressure release valve then allows the material to flow into a separate vessel, where an internal compressor and heater are used to adjust pressure and temperature. By changing the temperature and pressure as well as flow rate, specific molecules will bond to CO2, separating them from the plant – biomass material. Many systems recycle the CO2 by rerouting it back into the tank to be used during the next extraction. Finally, the extract is collected in a glass vessel, such as a beaker. 

High Purity Extractions offers numerous supercritical CO2 services including:

CO2 THC remediation – Our CO2 THC remediation technology can separate THC from CBD in a complete system, devoid of harsh solvents and media. We can accept any input material and bring it to 85-95% CBD that is below .1% THC concentration.

CO2 CBN remediation – Similar to our CO2 THC remediation technology, we also can remove CBN from any CBD matrix.

CO2 THC+CBN remediation – We also can remove both THC and CBN in the same process

CO2 Pesticide Remediation – We can remove pesticides from any botanical extract, including non-hemp!

CO2 THC to CBN Conversion – We can convert any cannabinoid matrix that contains THC into CBN. In a CO2 system without any co-solvents.

CO2 CBDA Isolation – We can also separate CBDA from any incoming Hemp biomass! CBDA isolate is an excellent addition to your vape cartridge formula to limit crystallization.

CO2 Tolling – We can toll a variety of compounds in CO2 to create various extracts.

If you would like to discuss your processing needs, please contact us via email, or give us a call today! 617.521.8532

Sources: 

coleparmer.com – https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-article/supercritical-co2-extraction-method

Cannabinoid Profiles: CBD, CBDv, and CBC

No Comments General

The cannabis plant is perhaps the most versatile member of the plant kingdom, with uses ranging from fiber and fuel, to food and medicine. There are 483 known compounds in the plant, and as cannabis science and research develop, even more may be discovered. 

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are an important class of compounds in cannabis, found most abundantly in the flowering buds of female plants. Cannabinoids are responsible for both the intoxicating and medicinal properties of cannabis. They work together in synergy with other minor compounds like terpenes and flavonoids to produce the Entourage Effect – they work better together in synergy than they do by themselves.

Cannabinoids produced by plants are called phytocannabinoids. They imitate endocannabinoids, which are naturally produced by the body. They both work on the receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce the broad array of therapeutic and recreational effects. They do act on other receptors in the body, but they have the most affinity and fit like a lock and key with the receptors of endocannabinoid system. The two most abundant phytocannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly known as THC for short), and cannabidiol (CBD). Minor cannabinoids, of which there are over 100 different types, are present in smaller amounts.

Cannabinoid Profiles

So, how do you know what’s in your cannabis or hemp product? The only way to know is through a laboratory testing report that shows the cannabinoid profile. The cannabinoid profile shows how much of each cannabinoid compound a substance contains, usually reported as a percentage of total weight. Below you can see an example of a cannabinoid profile lab report from a batch of CBD oil we currently have in stock. It shows mostly active, decarboxylated CBD, with a couple of other minor compounds:

CBD (cannabidiol)

CBD has a wide range of reported effects, but it won’t make you feel high. It can be neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressive, anxiolytic (reducing anxiety), analgesic (reducing pain), antispasmodic (reducing muscle spasms) and even antiepileptic (reducing seizure activity). CBD is a homeostatic agent, helping to balance out whatever is out of whack with many different body systems and processes. The cannabinoid profile of this batch shows that it contains 95.9% CBD. So, 1 gram of this oil would contain 959 mg of CBD.

CBDv (cannabidivarin)

Like its cousin CBD, CBDv is also non-intoxicating and will not make you feel high like THC will. CBDv has antiepileptic and anticonvulsive properties. It is currently being studied as a promising treatment for epilepsy and other seizure disorders. One study also demonstrates that CBDv may act as an appetite suppressant and could be useful in combating the munchies or treating obesity. This batch contains 0.3% CBDv, meaning 1 gram of this oil contains 3mg of CBDv.

CBC (cannabichromene)

Although it doesn’t garner as much attention as CBD and THC, CBC is considered one of the ‘major’ cannabinoids. While more research is needed, the medicinal effects of CBC are promising. When CBC binds to certain receptors in the body, it stimulates the release of the body’s natural endocannabinoids and inhibits their reuptake, allowing higher levels to remain in the bloodstream for longer. Studies also show anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, and researchers are looking at CBC as a potential agent in treating cancer, acne, depression, and more. At 0.2% CBC, this batch of oil contains 2mg per gram.

Who is Rick Simpson?

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For those immersed in the medical cannabis scene, “Rick Simpson” is a household name. But, who is Rick Simpson, and how did he become one of the most legendary cannabis activists in history?

Rick Simpson was born in Canada in 1949, and earned a Ph.D. in Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services from the University of Southern California in 1993. While working in a hospital in Canada in 1997, Rick suffered an accidental fall, resulting in a head injury and post-concussion syndrome. He suffered from dizzy spells, and intense ringing in his ears that plagued him even two years after his accident.

In 1999, he happened to catch a documentary on TV about the medicinal benefits of cannabis, and decided to try smoking it for the first time. He experienced much more relief from smoking a joint than the pharmaceutical medications given by his doctors, who refused to give him a marijuana prescription. So, he figured it out on his own, and successfully treated his symptoms with his own homemade cannabis oil.

After being diagnosed with skin cancer in 2003, Rick read a study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which found that THC slowed the growth of cancer cells in mice. Since he already had experience in treating himself with cannabis, he decided to try it again. This time, he used his potent oil topically, and applied it directly to the malignant spots on his skin. After leaving them bandaged for four days, Rick removed the dressing to discover the cancer spots had completely disappeared.

His doctors, however, refused to acknowledge that cannabis was responsible for this incredible result. After government groups like the Canadian Cancer Society also ignored his discovery, Rick became inspired spread the knowledge of this medicine himself. He began giving away his oil for free, and treated over 5,000 patients before being arrested and persecuted by the Canadian government, forcing him to stop. However, he continued to share his knowledge, freely offering his exact methods of producing the oil to the public, through his website, his book, and the documentary Run from the Cure. 

Rick Simpson Oil has been used to treat a wide range of ailments, including cancer, diabetes, skin conditions, melanoma, leukemia, chronic pain, warts, viral and bacterial infections.

So, what is Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)? RSO is a potent, concentrated cannabis oil produced by stripping the resin from the plant material with a liquid solvent (ethanol, naphtha, isopropyl alcohol, etc.) and then evaporating away the solvent. The result is a thick, sticky, resinous oil that contains the therapeutic compounds produced by the plant. According to Rick, heavy indica strains are ideal to use for this application due to their high THC content.

Rick Simpson offers the exact instructions for his method of producing the oil for free on his website. First, the dried plant material is soaked in the solvent, and agitated to ‘wash’ the resin from the plant matter and dissolve it into the solvent. The solvent/resin mixture is filtered for particulates and then heated, in order to boil off as much of the solvent as possible and decarboxylate the oil, leaving only the activated, high-THC resin. The resulting oil can be drawn up into needle-less syringes while still warm, and is ready for consumption.

The ‘Rick Simpson Protocol’ calls for ingesting 60 grams of the oil within a 90 day period, starting with a small dose the size of a grain of rice and incrementally increasing the dosage until reaching 1 gram per day. This way, the body will have a chance to acclimate and build up a tolerance to avoid the patient becoming uncomfortably ‘high’. Typically, a patient will work up to a dose of 1 gram per day until completing the full 60 gram regimen. To treat skin cancer, Rick recommends applying the oil directly onto the skin.

Compared with the high cost and severe side effects of traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the Rick Simpson oil and protocol is a more natural, lower cost treatment with fewer side effects. But, that doesn’t mean that it’s safe (or even effective) for everyone. While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of its efficacy, including Rick Simpson’s own experience, there is a lack of actual evidence and clinical research that RSO is effective. It would be unwise and potentially dangerous for a patient to cease other treatments and medications without their doctor’s supervision, or to stop following their doctors’ advice.

Additionally, the process for making RSO does involve potentially dangerous, toxic, and flammable solvents. The risks include explosions or fires, inhalation of fumes, or even accidental ingestion of the toxic solvent (if it isn’t fully removed from the RSO). Also, the possession of cannabis plant material or RSO oil in the quantities required for the RSO Protocol is still illegal in many jurisdictions. While the risk of dying from cancer would outweigh the risk of arrest and persecution for many, it is worth noting the potential legal troubles that could come with making and using RSO.

In conclusion, much more research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of RSO (and medical cannabis in general). If you are interested in trying it, it’s best to be aware of the risks and consult your physician.

DISCLAIMER: Producing cannabis extracts such as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), is illegal or requires licensing in many jurisdictions. It also involves volatile, flammable solvents that can be dangerous to work with for inexperienced extractors and without proper equipment or facilities. Any action you take upon the information provided here is strictly at your own risk.

REFERENCES:

– http://phoenixtears.ca/faq-about-rso/

– https://weedmaps.com/learn/dictionary/rick-simpson-oil-rso/

– https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-is-rick-simpson-oil

– http://ricksimpsonofficial.com/

– https://herbaldispatch.com/phoenix-tears-the-cancer-cure-the-government-doesnt-want-you-to-know-about/

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDJX7GqsQoA – Run from the Cure

– https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1326727540796694 – process video

– https://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogen/rick-simpsons-cannabis-oil/

– https://www.rehabcenter.net/rick-simpson-oil-dangers

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