Hemp Extraction Has Come A Long Way In The Last Five Years

Hemp has been used for thousands of years as a source of fiber, food, and medicine. However, it wasn’t until recent decades that scientists began to isolate specific compounds found within the plant – such as the well known cannabinoid CBD (Cannabidiol). Clinical research has found hundreds of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytochemicals that have been shown to support many therapeutic effects. 

Less than a decade ago the only cannabis product that most people had heard of was THC, known for its psychoactive effects. It was banned in just about every U.S. state, but over the last five years, things have changed considerably. As medical professionals began to realize cannabis’ many treatment applications for healthcare, novel use cases started to shed light on scores of other compounds that could help people feel better. 

As research into these compounds grew, so too did interest in developing better ways to extract them from hemp plants.

Extraction Yesterday vs. Today

In the past, most hemp extracts were produced using rudimentary techniques such as cold pressing or solvent-based extractions. While these methods can be effective at separating certain components from the plant material, they often result in low yields and impure end products.

Today’s advanced extraction technologies have revolutionized how we obtain high-quality hemp extracts by offering increased efficiency and purity levels never before possible. (source: https://u.osu.edu/nexus/2023/06/07/tech-brings-new-innovation-and-investment-to-the-hemp-industry/ )

Compounds like cannabidiol and cannabinol (CBN) can be isolated to such an extent today that some extracts reach 99% concentration levels. This has led to a revolution in product development in the global marketplace. 

Introduction to Hemp Extraction Technology

With advancements in technology and an increased understanding of hemp’s potential, modern extraction methods have become more efficient, sustainability friendly, and science centric.

While the debate between which extraction method is best continues to rage within the industry, there are three primary technologies in use today.

• CO2 Extraction (Carbon Dioxide)
• Ethanol Extraction (Alcohol)
• Hydrocarbon Extraction (Propane and Butane)

CO2 Extraction

CO2 extraction has become highly sought after within the hemp industry in recent years because it’s efficient and produces high-quality extracts. This process uses carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solvent under specific temperature and pressure conditions to separate cannabinoids, terpenes, and other valuable compounds from the raw plant material, or biomass.

CO2, while costly in terms of equipment, allows manufacturers to selectively extract specific compounds like CBD or CBG while leaving behind unwanted components like chlorophyll or lipids by adjusting temperature and pressure settings during the extraction process. This method yields highly concentrated hemp compounds. (source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8290527/ )

One of its drawbacks, according to critics, is that the high temperature and pressure used during the extraction may destroy or minimize the compounds themselves, rendering them less effective for wellness applications.

Ethanol Extraction

Ethanol Extraction, or alcohol extraction, involves soaking hemp biomass in ethanol to dissolve the desired compounds. The mixture is then filtered and evaporated under controlled conditions, leaving behind a concentrated oil containing CBD, CBN, CBG, CBC, and other beneficial compounds. Ethanol is FDA-approved for consumption, making it ideal for producing consumable products like tinctures or edibles. 

More advanced ethanol extraction methods, such some sub-zero single-pass sugar cane extraction processes, have been approved by the National Organic Program for USDA organic program certification. The raw material resulting from this type of extraction can best be described as a carbon-copy of the original hemp plant, as compound concentration ratios are nearly exactly the same in the extract as they are in the hemp plant from which they were extracted. (source: https://www.organicanaturals.com/ )

One drawback of this method is that concentration levels of cannabidiol and other compounds are often lower than those of CO2-extracted raw material. 

Hydrocarbon Extraction

The hydrocarbon extraction method uses solvents like butane or propane to extract valuable compounds from hemp plants. The solvent is passed through the ground-up hemp plant material under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. It collects the cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp biomass, which is then separated. Afterward, this mixture undergoes an evaporation process where heat removes any residual solvents from the extracted oil.

Hydrocarbon extraction is cheaper than CO2 and can yield higher concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes in less time compared to other extraction methods. 

However, there a couple of drawbacks to hydrocarbon extraction, including safety concerns surrounding the highly flammable solvents posing a risk of explosion if not handled properly. Furthermore, if residual solvents are not removed entirely during the evaporation stage they can remain in the final product, potentially affecting its taste or causing health issues for consumers. While all three extract methods require strict testing under regulatory guidelines, hydrocarbon extraction quality control processes should be taken seriously by manufacturers of these products. (source: https://osha.oregon.gov/essentials/cannabis/processors/pages/default.aspx#hydrocarbon )

The End Result

Modern extraction methods and follow-up processes have led to the production of raw hemp extracts that may contain anywhere from 60% to 99% of the active compounds in the hemp plant. These higher potency concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes provide an efficient way for cannabis product manufacturers to develop products that allow consumers the ability to experience desired effects without consuming large amounts of material. 

In the days of old, you’d have to consume more than a liter of cold-pressed hemp seed oil to achieve the same amount of cannabinoids that you get in even a single drop of high potency CBD oil manufactured with today’s extraction and refining methods. (source: https://www.organicanaturals.com/store/10000mg-zero-high-thc-free-hyper-concentrated-cbd-oil-isolate/ )

As research continues and more scientists and consumers discover the potential benefits of these compounds, we can expect further innovations in extraction methods and product formulations.