Patent Publication Number: US-2019176052-A1

Title: Extraction method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/634,933 filed Jun. 27, 2017, entitled EXTRACTION METHOD. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to extraction of substances from botanical specimens, and more particularly to high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) extractions from cannabis. 
     In the cannabis industry, extracts of cannabis plants are desirable to allow uses other than direct use of the plant material. A commonly used method of extraction is hydrocarbon extraction, using propane or butane (or possibly pentane or hexane) to remove cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material. This method of extraction can be cheaper to operate than other methods, but the process must be done in a carefully prepared environment to avoid explosion and injury. 
     Other extractors use supercritical CO 2  methods, which avoid the danger of explosion, but have much higher equipment costs. 
     Both hydrocarbon and supercritical and subcritical CO 2  extraction result in an output material that can include both desired and undesired compounds from the cannabis (such as residual hydrocarbon, wax, etc.), requiring post processing, to remove the hydrocarbons or to remove wax and other components that remain. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the disclosure, a subcritical CO 2  process is employed to obtain high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) extractions from cannabis. 
     The subject matter of the present technology is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and embodiments thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The FIGURE is a block diagram of the extraction system in accordance with the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The method according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure comprises processing an amount of dried cannabis in an extraction device using a subcritical CO 2  process at pressure and temperature values to extract high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components. 
     The preferred manner of performing the process, involves, with reference to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of the extraction device employed, using an extraction device  10  that comprises an extraction vessel  12 . The extraction vessel is jacketed so that the temperature thereof can be controlled and maintained at a desired level. The extraction vessel is connected by pipe  16  to a collection vessel  18 . The collection vessel may have a collection valve  20 . Vessel  18  is connected by pipe  22  to an optional overflow vessel  24 , which may have a collection valve  26 . Vessel  24  connects via pipe  28  to gas/liquid phase change jacketed vessel  30 , which is connected to extraction vessel  12  via pipe  32 , through pump  34 . Vessel  30  can receive CO 2  from a CO 2  supply  14  as desired, which can also supply vessel  12  with CO 2 . The device thereby provides a looped extraction system. 
     In use, the specimen which is to have high-cannabinoid full spectrum material extracted therefrom is loaded into extraction vessel  12 , the vessel is sealed and the pressure in the vessel is raised to between 500 to 5000 psi by the introduction of fresh CO 2  at a temperature of between −60 to +80 degrees F. In a particular example, the specimen will be a quantity of dried or wet (not dried) cannabis such that desirable high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components can be extracted therefrom. 
     The CO 2 , which will suitably be in a liquid state in vessel  12  will cause the high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components and other compounds to be extracted from the cannabis, and operation of pump  34  will move the HCFSE containing CO 2  from vessel  12  into vessel  18 . Vessel  18  is suitably maintained at 500 psi at a temperature of 130 degrees F. in a particular embodiment. Other embodiments can vary the temperature between 60 to 600 degrees F. Vessel  24  is maintained at 120 to 130 degrees F. and 500 psi, and the high temperature of vessel  18  (and vessel  24 ) relative to the extraction vessel will cause the CO 2  to become a gas, allowing the extracted high-cannabinoid full spectrum components to drop out of the CO 2 , this dropping out occurring mainly in the extraction vessel  18 . The gaseous CO 2  with most of the high-cannabinoid full spectrum components removed is then pumped from vessel  18  to vessel  24 , vessel  24  operating as an overflow to allow removal of any residual high-cannabinoid full spectrum components remaining with the CO 2  gas, to minimize gumming up the rest of the device. Operation of pump  34  then moves the gaseous CO 2  from vessel  24  into phase change jacketed vessel  30 , which is suitably maintained to 1000 psi (although the pressure can be fluctuated between 300 to 5000 psi) at 40 degrees F. This temperature and pressure returns the CO 2  to a liquid state, and the now liquid CO 2  is pumped (via operation of pump  34 ) back into the extraction vessel  12 , completing the extraction loop. Each cycle during of operation of the pump moves the CO 2  and extracts through the system. 
     The device is operated for a period of time, such as 2 to 3 hours or as much as 24 hours or more, to allow extraction of a sufficient amount of the desired high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components. 
     Valve  20  may be opened a slight amount during operation of the device so that the extracted high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components may be continuously collected outside of the device, or may be occasionally opened to allow a quantity of extracted high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components built up in vessel  18  to be removed. Any overflow collected in vessel  24  may be removed via valve  26 . 
     Operation of the device for 2 to 3 hours results in output that is substantially higher in terpenes. Operation for 24 hours results in higher cannabinoid content in the output. 
     The operational parameters of the device (temperatures and pressures of the various vessels) can be adjusted such that the viscosity of the extracted high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components is at a desired level. For example, if the high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) components are to be used as liquid for filling e-cigarette cartridges, a certain consistency range may be desirable. Setting operation of the device to produce the desired consistency can thereby remove the need for post processing to dilute or thicken so that the end product flows as desired. 
     Use of the system and process, thus provides a high-cannabinoid full spectrum (HCFSE) extraction that is ready to use and that does not require post processing. It is noted that lower pressure and colder temperatures results in higher terpene values in the output. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Table 1 provides examples of results from various pressure levels in the different vessels of the device, illustrating variation of the resulting extractions. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Consistency 
               
               
                 Extraction 
                 Separator 
                 Separator 
                 Vessel 
                 of output 
               
               
                 Vessel 12 
                 18 
                 24 
                 30 
                 from vessels 
               
               
                 (psi) 
                 (psi) 
                 (psi) 
                 (psi) 
                 18 or 24 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 400 
                 Thin oil 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTLC 
               
               
                 700 
                 500 
                 500 
                 600 
                 Thin oil 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTLC 
               
               
                 900 
                 600 
                 600 
                 700 
                 Thin oil 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                 1050 
                 600 
                 600 
                 800 
                 Thin oil 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                 1400 
                 650 
                 650 
                 900 
                 Little thicker 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                 1700 
                 700 
                 700 
                 1000 
                 Little thicker 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Little wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                 2000 
                 900 
                 900 
                 1200 
                 Little thicker 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Little wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 What if scenario continue  pattern 
                 
                   
                     
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 2500 
                 1200 
                 1200 
                 1400 
                 Thicker 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 More wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                 3000 
                 1500 
                 1500 
                 2000 
                 Thicker 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 More wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                 4000 
                 2000 
                 2000 
                 3000 
                 Very thick 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Heavy wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                 5000 
                 2000 
                 2000 
                 4000 
                 Very thick 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Heavy wax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 HTHC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 HTLC = High Terpene Low Cannabinoid 
               
               
                 HTHC = High Terpene High Cannabinoid 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     From the table it can be seen that operation in the lower ranges of pressures results in an output oil that is thinner, with high terpene content and low cannabinoid content with no wax present. Somewhat higher pressures increase the cannabinoid extraction so that both high terpene and cannabinoid levels are present. As the pressures increase, the resulting output is somewhat thicker, but still without wax. Further pressure increases start to increase the amount of wax present, and still higher pressures result in a thicker output. Extractions have been run with extraction vessel  12  up to 2000 psi, but the results can be predicted that as the pressures are increased, as illustrated in the lower portions of the table, the thickness of the output will increase and the amount of wax extracted will increase. 
     Variations on the temperatures and pressures (as noted above in table 1) can be made. For example, vessel  12  is typically held to between −60 to +80 degrees F. Vessels  18  and  24  can be operated at between 84 to 200 degrees F. 
     Typical operational ranges that have been employed are: 
     Vessel  12 : −60 to 80 degrees F., 500 to 2000 psi. Keeping this vessel cold allows extraction to occur without requiring the post processing of the prior art. −10 to −60 is the range most often used. 
     Vessel  18 —130 degrees F., 500 psi. The warmer temperature of this vessel causes the CO 2  to return to a gas state, dropping out the extracted terpenes, cannabinoids and THC 
     Vessel  24 —120-130 degrees F., 500 psi. The bulk of the extraction takes place in vessel  18 , this vessel acts as ‘overflow’ to extract most of the remaining elements not gathered in vessel  18   
     Vessel  30 —40 degrees F., ˜1000 psi 
     Vessels  18  and  24  will typically have the same parameters. 
     Thus the device can be operated to provide a high terpene output with low cannabinoid, or a high terpene high cannabinoid output, as desired, with no or little wax content. High terpene can mean between 5 to 100% terpene content in the output, with the terpene content varying on a single extraction run depending on the time, temperature and pressure values employed. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the technology has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the technology.