Why You Should Know About Extraction Methods

We don't need to tell you that CBD products derived from hemp have swept the markets around the globe in the form of promising topicals, supplements, edibles and vape products. While so many products infused with CBD are available in the market, some companies keep the health of their customers in mind while others neglect the safety and health of the customers just to generate profits.

This brings us to a question that, what should a customer look for before buying a CBD product so that he can differentiate low-quality, profit focused products from trustworthy, good quality products?.

In this regard, there are many factors that a customer must know and check before buying CBD products and one of them is the method of extraction used to obtain CBD.

People in the CBD market know very well how the extraction method affects the quality of a product but a layperson has no idea about the method that is used to obtain CBD. So, it becomes even more difficult to select a product that suits your needs but does not disregard your safety.

Let's explore in detail different methods of CBD extraction and how premium techniques provide better quality products.

CBD and Cannabinoids

CBD or cannabidiol is an exocannabinoid of the Cannabis Sativa plant. Among these cannabinoids, a sister cannabinoid of CBD; THC is associated with creating euphoric effects when consumed recreationally. Whereas studies have shown that consumption of CBD cannot create euphoria.

By now we know that as CBD is introduced in the body it interacts with the endocannabinoid system that comprises receptors and endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids generated by our body have a great similarity to CBD in function and structure so the use of CBD for therapeutic purposes becomes more acceptable.

Why is Extraction Important?

CBD is produced in the trichomes of the female plant along with other flavonoids, terpenes and cannabinoids. Extraction methods are important to extract your desired product from a plethora of compounds present in the cannabis plant that are not required by us such as THC.

To obtain high-quality CBD extract, the processing method needs a lot of care. We must know that if the wrong method of extraction is employed, even the best-grown plants fail to provide quality oil. In a nutshell, we can say that the effectiveness, purity, quality and potency of CBD depends upon the extraction method used.

Types of CBD Extraction Methods

There are four main extraction methods of CBD and each has its advantages and drawbacks, let’s see each of them separately.

Olive oil Extraction Method

 Any oil can be used to extract CBD but olive oil is mostly preferred because of its versatility, and ability to mask the weedy flavour of Cannabis. This is the most popular and oldest method to extract CBD. The first step of this method is to decarboxylate (Decarboxylation converts or activates chemical compounds to make them more potent and easy to extract) the chemical compound in the hemp flower by providing heat. After that, the temperature is set at 215 degrees Fahrenheit and the olive oil is added to the cannabis plant material. The mixture is heated for about two hours and resultantly CBD oil is extracted. Since CBD infused olive oil can perish easily you must ensure that the resulting product is stored in a cool and dry place.

-  Pros

Olive oil extraction is extremely safe and can be done on a larger scale commercially or at home.

Unlike other methods, it is not very complicated and very cost-effective as no expensive apparatus is required for extraction.

-  Cons

Since it is a slow and rigorous process it’s very difficult to use it for the large-scale production of CBD oil.

The final product still contains olive oil which is why we cannot use it to make a variety of products.

The olive oil and CBD oil extract should be properly stored to avoid the destruction of the oil.

Steam Distillation Extraction Method

This is one of the most tried and popular methods used to extract essential oils but now it is also used to extract cannabinoids such as CBD. The basic process involves the utilization of steam to free cannabinoids from the raw plant. As a result, dense vapours are produced that are packed with desirable cannabinoids and compounds. These vapours are cooled and condensed to obtain a water-oil mixture. The final step is the separation of water from the oil by distillation to obtain pure CBD oil.

-  Pros

This method of extraction is very inexpensive and straightforward.

Since it does not utilize any solvent, CBD oil obtain is free of any solvents which makes it safe for use.

-  Cons

It is considered an inefficient method because it requires a large amount of plant material but produces less amount of CBD oil.

There is also a potential risk associated with using steam. If the temperature of the steam is too high it can damage the chemical and physical properties of some heat-sensitive compounds, cannabinoids and terpenes.

Solvent Extraction Method

The solvent extraction method is similar to steam distillation, except it utilizes water as a solvent to separate CBD from the Cannabis plant material. Solvents utilized can be hydrocarbons such as propane, butane or food grade ethanol. The plant material is first washed or soaked in the solvent. As a result, a mixture of useful compounds, cannabinoids and terpenes is obtained that is further refined to remove as much solvent as possible. After that mixture goes through final purging to ensure that any remaining solvent is also removed, leaving concentrated and pure CBD oil. If the solvent used for extraction is ethanol, the distillation process is used to separate ethanol from hemp oil.

-  Pros

This method is very cheap that can also be done at home. The only thing that should be kept in mind is that ethanol should be evaporated carefully from the mixture to obtain a concentrated final product.

As it provides high concentrations of pure CBD it is very good to produce an oil that can be further processed to form CBD isolate.

One of the most important benefits of solvent extraction is that it produces high concentrations of CBD oil.

This process is also considered very efficient as solvent locks on to the desired compounds and draws them out very neatly. Especially hydrocarbons are very good in preserving the Aroma and flavor of the compound.

-  Cons

You can find remains of solvent or chlorophyll in the final product that can affect the purity of the oil.

Hydrocarbons can also damage the cannabinoids that can decrease the effectiveness and efficiency of the oil.

If the process is not very well executed it can be a little dangerous if inflammable hydrocarbons are left behind.

Prolonged ingestion of trace solvent in CBD products can cause health issues.

CO2 Extraction Method

This method utilizes a solvent; carbon dioxide gas in its liquid form. A machine first freezes carbon dioxide gas and then it is pressurized. After that, it is heated to a point or supercritical state where it converts into liquid. Now the liquid carbon dioxide is passed over the raw hemp plant parts. The carbon dioxide acts as a solvent and extracts cannabinoids, the solution obtained is then passed through a separator. The residue carbon dioxide is stored and cannabinoids are taken to the next step for further processing and refinement.

-  Pros

This is the effective and precise method of extraction that provides highly pure CBD.

It is also considered a safe method to obtain CBD because carbon dioxide has no toxic properties.

This method is also utilized by many other industries which implies that it is a very effective and proven method.

-  Cons

The problem with this method is that it requires expensive equipment which needs extensive and regular maintenance.

 As compared to other solvents such as olive oil or other hydrocarbons it gives less yield of CBD.

Why CO2 Extraction Method is the Best Method for Creating Extracts?

What makes the supercritical CO2 CBD extraction method better than any other method of extraction is that it is safe for customer health. It is because the carbon dioxide used as a solvent is not toxic or volatile like hydrocarbons. Moreover, there is no danger of chemical contamination if carbon dioxide is used as a solvent. The process is so safe and that it is being utilized for many years to decaffeinate coffee consumed by hundreds of people every day. 

So, if you are looking for CBD products it would be best to buy products that contain CBD extracts obtained by utilizing the carbon dioxide extraction method. If the product is made by using natural and clean CO2 there is no doubt that it is the healthiest and safest CBD product available in the market.

What Type of Products Can be Made from Extracts?

Once CBD is extracted from the raw plant material it is added in different formulas to obtain different products. Without any exception, all CBD products are made by using CBD hemp extract and then combined to make the following products:

• Capsules are made with a hemp extract blended oil of choice such as MCT oil.
• Gummies can be made by adding CBD extract in flavourings, corn syrup and juice. 
• To make vape oils; vegetable oil, propylene glycol, natural flavouring and glycerine are combined with hemp extract.
• Tinctures can be made by adding carrier oil to the extract.
• To make balms, creams, and salves, CBD is mixed with shea butter, essential oils and waxes which are then mixed.

RUDERALEX® CBD Products Are Made Using State-of-The Art Technology

At RUDERALEX® our products are made with not just the best extract available on the UK market but 100% of the ingredients of the highest quality.

To produce one of the best hemp extracts, Apeks Supercritical CO2 extract is used to extract the most wholesome cannabinoid rich extract, which is then combined with the finest range of carrier oil such as sunflower seed oil and hemp seed oil.

Specially trained scientists use the latest technology, with the best hemp bio mass to produce one the most powerful CBD oils that you can buy here.

 

 

Please note that this article was written by a 3^rd-party author who is a specialist on the topic of CBD, hemp and cannabis.  Any information or recommendations contained within this article, are independent to the opinion of RUDERALEX CBD and our employees.  We make no claims for any of our products, please read our disclaimer for additional information.