The Safest and Most Effective Ways to Extract and Produce CBD Oil

CBD Oil is gaining in popularity for a wide variety of issues. Have you ever wondered how it is produced? It is derived through the process of extraction, which is the process of separating the CBD oil from the rest of the plant material. There are several ways to achieve CBD oil extraction.

Carbon Dioxide Extraction

CO₂ extraction utilizes supercritical carbon dioxide in the separation process. “Supercritical” means that the CO₂ has both liquid and gas states. Sometimes referred to as Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), this method is one of the most common means of extraction. In this process, pressurized chambers and pumps create high pressure and low temperatures for CO_2. This results in the CBD oil.

This method requires expensive equipment; however, CO₂ extraction is the preferred method for processing CBD products because it is safe and efficient. The Apeks CO2 extraction system can yield a product containing as much as 92% CBD because the use of CO₂ solvent impacts the isolation of individual compounds, which can then be separated.

Winterization

The winterization process facilitates the removal of fats, waxes and lipids. After SFE, winterization is needed because this intense extraction pulls everything from the plant, not just the oil that will be used in the final product. The extracted oil contains remnants and extra materials not used in CBD so they must be removed through the filtration process.

The filtration process involves combining the extracted elements with 200 proof alcohol. The mixture is then placed in a deep freezer for 24 hours. Once the mixture looks cloudy, it is ready for filtration. One method for the removal of fats, waxes and lipids is to run it through a filter paper into an extraction jar. A Buchner Funnel is often used for this process. First, the undesirable elements are filtered and then the alcohol is removed using heat. The mixture is essentially warmed until the alcohol evaporates since alcohol has a lower boiling point that oil.

Other Processing Methods

Steam Distillation is another extraction method. While this process is tried and true, it’s also inefficient. Therefore, it’s less preferred. Another method is solvent extraction, which is similar to steam distillation. This technique produces oil with the solvent remaining, which then must evaporate. Solvent extraction is more efficient and less expensive than steam distillation. However, the solvents used contain carcinogens and must be fully removed.

There are many methods for CBD oil extraction. Each method has its own set of pros and cons. So far, Co2 extraction has remained the most popular process due to the efficiency, rate of concentration in the product, and the fact that there are no remaining residuals after processing that could pose risks to health. This information is important to know whether you are thinking of producing your own CBD or purchasing your own.