Patent Publication Number: US-2021170347-A1

Title: Terpene solution composition and method of manufacture

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This disclosure generally relates to terpenes. More particularly, the disclosure relates to terpene compositions adapted for olfactory use and/or gustatory use. 
     2. General Background 
     Terpenes are hydrocarbon compounds found in a variety of plants, some of which are cannabis and some of which are not. In particular, terpenes are recognized for their ability to emit a strong aroma of varying scents, depending upon the particular terpene strain. With respect to cannabis, terpenes emit such scents to deter would-be attackers, such as herbivores, from eating the plant, or attract those who are more interested in eating the attackers, such as carnivores. 
     Furthermore, many cannabis plant growers tend to grow cannabis in a way that strengthens the potency of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), which typically has the psychoactive effect of producing a sense or euphoria in a human being, the result of THC binding with cannabinoid 1 (“CB1”) receptors in the brain. Cannabis plants with a higher potency of THC than others also tend to have the terpenes that emit a smell typically considered to be a desirable aroma to many users of cannabis. 
     While being grown, cannabis may lose some, if not all, of the aroma associated with its terpenes. The aroma may be lost, or diminished, based on a variety of factors (e.g., seed selection, sub-optimal growing environment, etc.). 
     As a result, current apparatuses and processes do not adequately maintain the natural aroma from cannabis after being grown. 
     SUMMARY 
     A terpene composition, adapted for olfactory and/or gustatory use, has one or more terpene materials. Furthermore, the terpene composition has one or more emulsifiers. The terpene composition also has a humectant. Finally, the terpene composition has a solvent. The one or more terpene materials are in a range of five to fifty percent of the terpene composition. 
     Alternatively, a process for manufacture of a terpene composition, adapted for olfactory and/or gustatory use, determines an amount of one or more terpene materials that meets a predetermined weight threshold of the terpene composition. Additionally, the process adds one or more emulsifiers to the one or more terpene materials. The process also mixes the one or more terpene materials in the one or more emulsifiers, until the one more terpene materials are dissolved, to form an emulsified solution. Furthermore, the process adds a humectant to the emulsified solution. Also, the process mixes the humectant with the emulsified solution, according to a predetermined time threshold based on batch size, to form a viscous solution. In addition, the process adds a solvent to the viscous solution. Finally, the process mixes the solvent with the viscous solution to form the terpene composition. The one or more terpene materials are in a range of five to fifty percent of the terpene composition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a front perspective view of the physical environment. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a rear perspective view of the physical environment. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates the user adding one or more emulsifiers, via the one or more emulsifier flasks, to the terpene blend that was added to the beaker, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates the user mixing the terpene blend with the one or more emulsifiers until the one or more emulsifiers are dissolved in the terpene blend to produce an emulsified solution. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates the user adding a humectant, via the glycerine flask, to the emulsified solution of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the user mixing the humectant with the emulsified solution according to a predetermined time threshold, based on batch size, to form a viscous solution. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates the user adding the solvent to the viscous solution illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates the user mixing the solvent with the viscous solution to form the terpene composition. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a process that may be utilized to form the terpene composition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A terpene composition is adapted for olfactory and/or gustatory use. In particular, the terpene composition may be used to infuse an aroma into a storage container that stores one or more cannabis materials (e.g., cannabis flowers, leaves, etc.), either during transportation for sale, storage prior to sale, or storage by an end-user. As a result, cannabis aroma emission is not only restored, but can also be modified into a particular aroma enhancement that is desirable to users during use, without compromising on the potency of THC. 
     In particular, the terpene composition may include a variety of ingredients that help ensure the foregoing aroma infusion effect. An example of the formula for the terpene composition is provided in the following table (expressed in weight percentage): 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 Wt % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Terpene Blend 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Polysorbate 20 
                 2.5 
               
               
                   
                 Polysorbate 80 
                 2.5 
               
               
                   
                 Glycerine 
                 55 
               
               
                   
                 Deionized Water 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As an example, the terpene blend may have a weight percentage of ten percent of the entire composition. The terpene blend may include one or more terpene materials. As an example, the terpene materials may include one or more naturally derived non-cannabis terpene isolates, which are food grade. As another example, the terpene materials may include one or more terpenes extracted from one or more cannabis plants. As yet another example, the terpene materials may form a cannabis/non-cannabis hybrid formulation, including one or more naturally derived non-cannabis terpene isolates and one or more terpenes extracted from one or more cannabis plants. 
     Furthermore, the terpene blend may include materials other than specific terpenes. For instance, the terpene blend may include one or more essential oils. Additionally, or alternatively, the terpene blend may include one or more flavor enhancers, such as an ester and an aldehyde. 
     Furthermore, the terpene composition may have one or more emulsifiers, such as polysorbate 20, which may have a weight percentage of two and five tenths percent, and polysorbate 80, which may also have a weight percentage of two and five tenths percent. (Although two emulsifiers are described herein, one emulsifier or more than two emulsifiers may be used instead. Furthermore, different emulsifiers other than polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 may be used.) 
     Additionally, a humectant, such as glycerine, may be used to thicken the terpene composition—in essence providing viscosity to prevent deformation. In one embodiment, the humectant has the largest weight percentage of any of the ingredients in the terpene composition (e.g., fifty five percent). Another example of a humectant that may be used is propylene glycol. Yet another example of a humectant is butylene glycol. Alternatively, a combination of humectants (e.g., glycerine/propylene glycol/butylene glycol) may be utilized. 
     Finally, the terpene composition may have a solvent, such as various forms of water. For example, deionized water may have a weight percentage of thirty percent of the entire terpene composition. (Alternative forms of water (e.g., distilled water, spring water, drinking water, purified water, alkaline water, reverse osmosis water, tap water, and electrolyte-enhanced water) may be used instead of deionized water.) Alternatively, a solvent other than water may be used instead. 
     The specific formula provided in the table above is only one example of a particular formulation, by weight percentage, that may be used for the terpene composition. A variety of weight percentages, being bounded by certain ranges, may be used to determine other formulations. The table illustrated below provides weight percentage ranges for the various ingredients in the terpene composition: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 Wt % Range 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Terpene Blend 
                 5 to 50 
               
               
                   
                 Polysorbate 20 
                 0 to 20 
               
               
                   
                 Polysorbate 80 
                 0 to 20 
               
               
                   
                 Glycerine 
                 35 to 75  
               
               
                   
                 Deionized Water 
                 0 to 50 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As illustrated in the table above, the terpene blend may have a weight percentage in the range of five percent to fifty percent, leaving at least half of the remainder of the terpene composition to be other ingredients. Furthermore, the humectant (e.g., glycerine) may have a weight percentage in the range of thirty five percent to seventy five percent. In essence, the terpene blend itself, and the humectant that increases viscosity of the terpene composition to prevent deformation, are necessary ingredients in the terpene composition. 
     Conversely, the other ingredients may be optional. For example, the emulsifiers (e.g., polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80) may disperse the terpene blend in an emulsion for subsequent thickening via the humectant, but the terpene blend may be exposed to the humectant without any emulsion. As another example, the terpene composition may not have any water. 
     Moreover, a particular process for manufacturing the terpene composition is provided for herein.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a physical environment  100  in which a user  101  (e.g., lab technician) prepares the terpene composition. In particular,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a front perspective view of the physical environment  100 . Conversely,  FIG. 1B  illustrates a rear perspective view of the physical environment  100 . 
     Initially, the user  101  procures a container  102  (e.g., vial, test tube, etc.) containing a terpene blend  111 . For example, a container rack  103  may contain a plurality of containers  102 , each having the same terpene blend  111  or each having different terpene blends  111 . The user  101  may begin the process by weighing a beaker  104  containing the terpene blend on a scale  105 , as the user  101  pours the terpene blend  111  into the beaker  104 . For example, the user  101  may pour the terpene blend  111 , either directly from the container  102  or indirectly from a dropper  106 , into the beaker  104  until a predetermined weight has been reached. 
     Additionally,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate other equipment that will be subsequently used in the manufacturing process of the terpene composition. For example, one or more emulsifier flasks  107  may be labeled/allocated for storing one or more emulsifiers. As another example, a glycerine flask  108  may be labeled/allocated for storing glycerine, or another humectant. As another example, a solvent flask  109  may be labeled/allocated for storing a solvent, such as water. The user  101  may also use a digital timer  110  to determine time constraints during the manufacturing process. Finally, the user  101  may user a stirring rod  112  to mix various ingredients. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an emulsification phase of the manufacturing process for the terpene composition. In particular,  FIG. 2A  illustrates the user  101  adding one or more emulsifiers  201 , via the one or more emulsifier flasks  107 , to the terpene blend that was added to the beaker  104 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . After adding the one or more emulsifiers  201  to the terpene blend  111 , the user  101  may utilize the stirring rod  112  to mix, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , the terpene blend  111  with the one or more emulsifiers  201  until the one or more emulsifiers  201  are dissolved in the terpene blend  201  to produce an emulsified solution  202 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a viscosity phase of the manufacturing process for the terpene composition. In particular,  FIG. 3A  illustrates the user  101  adding a humectant  301  (e.g., glycerine), via the glycerine flask  108 , to the emulsified solution  202  of  FIG. 2B . Further,  FIG. 3B  illustrates the user  101  mixing, utilizing the stirring rod  112 , the humectant  301  with the emulsified solution  202  according to a predetermined time threshold, based on batch size, to form a viscous solution  302 . For example, the predetermined time threshold may be in the range of five to fifteen minutes; a smaller intended batch size of the terpene composition corresponding to five minutes, and a larger intended batch size of the terpene composition corresponding to fifteen minutes. (The range of five to fifteen minutes is provided only as an example, and may vary.) 
     Finally,  FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a solvent phase in which the viscous solution  302  is mixed with a solvent  401 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates the user  101  adding the solvent  401  to the viscous solution  302  illustrated in  FIG. 3B . Various solvents may be utilized. As an example, the solvent  401  may be water (e.g., deionized water, distilled water, spring water, drinking water, purified water, alkaline water, reverse osmosis water, tap water, and electrolyte-enhanced water). Additionally,  FIG. 4B  illustrates the user  101  mixing the solvent  401  with the viscous solution  302  to form the terpene composition  402 . Initially, the terpene composition may turn opaque and white. The user  101  may mix the terpene composition  402  according to a predetermined time threshold until the terpene composition  402  is fully dissolved (i.e., no longer opaque and white). For example, the predetermined time threshold may be in the range of ten to twenty minutes. 
     To summarize,  FIG. 5  illustrates a process  500  that may be utilized to form the terpene composition  402 , illustrated in  FIG. 4B . At a process block  501 , the process  500  determines an amount of one or more terpene materials that meets a predetermined weight threshold of the terpene composition  402 . Furthermore, at a process block  502 , the process  500  adds one or more emulsifiers  201  to the one or more terpene materials. Additionally, at a process block  503 , the process  500  mixes the one or more terpene materials in the one or more emulsifiers  201 , until the one more terpene materials are dissolved, to form an emulsified solution  202 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . At a process block  504 , the process  500  adds a humectant  301  to the emulsified solution  202 . Furthermore, at a process block  505 , the process  500  mixes the humectant  301  with the emulsified solution  202 , according to a predetermined time threshold based on batch size, to form a viscous solution  302 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . Alternatively, the mixing may be performed irrespective of batch size. At a process block  506 , the process  500  adds a solvent  401  to the viscous solution  302 . Further, at a process block  507 , the process  500  mixes the solvent  401  with the viscous solution  302  to form the terpene solution  402 . In one embodiment, the one or more terpene materials are in a range of five to fifty percent of the terpene composition  402 . 
     Although the process  500  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-4B  as being performed by the user  101 , depicted as a lab technician, the process  500 , alternatively, may be performed by an end-user. As yet another alternative, the process  500  may be performed by one or more machines. Finally, as another alternative, the process  500  may be performed by a combination of the user  101  and one or more machines. 
     Finally, the terpene composition is just one example of an aroma restoration/enhancement composition that may be utilized with respect to cannabis. For instance, another composition may be formulated with the ingredients, and ranges provided for herein, but with one or more non-terpene materials in place of the one or more terpene materials. For example, various flavor enhancers (ester, aldehyde, etc.) may be used without any terpenes in the composition. 
     It is understood that the apparatuses and processes described herein may also be applied in other types of apparatuses and processes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the embodiments of the apparatuses and processes described herein may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present apparatuses and processes. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present apparatuses and processes may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.