1. Cannabidiol (CBD)

2. Why is CBD extraction important?

3. How to extract CBD from cannabis?

4. How long does CBD extraction take?

5. What happens after the extraction of CBD oil?

6. What is the best method of extracting CBD?

7. Extraction methods used for Relaxing Nature CBD products

8. Finally

9. Sources

The manufacturing process for CBD products is complex and demands excellence at every step. And today we are going to introduce the extraction process. In this article, you'll get the basics of what extraction is, the main methods of CBD extraction, and those used at Relaxing Nature to create high-quality products.

1. Cannabidiol (CBD)

CBD or cannabidiol is an ingredient in the natural products industry and is the focus of several new areas of cannabis research. CBD is one of many cannabinoids or compounds produced exclusively by the cannabis family. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive, which means that it does not have a strong influence on the cognitive activity of the brain and does not cause high sensations.

All varieties of the cannabis family produce cannabinoids, including hemp. While CBD and THC are the best-known cannabinoids, there are many other types of cannabinoids, and it's only recently that significant resources have been invested in researching them. There are specific receptors in our brain responsible for receiving cannabinoids, called CB1 and CB2. These receptors are responsible for the uptake of cannabinoid molecules, resulting in psychoactive and immune responses associated with cannabis use.

2. Why is CBD extraction important?

CBD extraction involves isolating a chemical compound from surrounding plant material and distilling it to high concentrations. According to research, cannabinoids can have beneficial effects on physical and mental health, and using multiple extraction processes allows more of these cannabinoids to be consumed with less effort.

Although there are several methods for extracting CBD from hemp, some are much more effective and safe than others. You have to be familiar with the different processes, because each acts differently on the efficiency and purity of the final product.

3. How to extract CBD from cannabis?

In this part, we will give you an overview of the differences between the various methods of extracting CBD and highlight some of their positive and negative characteristics.

3.1 Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction method

Three chambers are used for this method. In the first chamber, CO2 changes to a liquid state due to changes in pressure and temperature (the first increases and the second decreases significantly). The pressure and temperature slowly increase until the liquid CO2 reaches the stage where it is half liquid and half vapor. This mixture is pumped into a second chamber containing the hemp plant material. CO2 passes through hemp, which is rich in cannabinoids and other compounds. The oil and carbon dioxide then enter the third chamber where they are separated and the residual CO2 evaporates. The end product is a highly concentrated CBD oil extract.

Advantages :

CO2 does not present the same hazard associated with the use of other solvents.

This method provides a higher yield of CBD oil compared to other extraction methods.

This method makes it possible to reuse the carbon dioxide.

Disadvantages:

This method requires expensive machinery.

It takes longer than other methods.

It requires a very competent professional team.

3.2 Solvent extraction method

Things are constantly changing, and solvent extraction is one of them. From a basic, almost artisanal and low-efficiency method, it has evolved into one of the most secure processes for extracting CBD from the cannabis plant. This category of methods uses several different solvents, including ethanol, butane hash oil, and hydrocarbon.

3.2.1 Extraction method using ethanol

This method also requires the use of multiple chambers, and here's how it works. CBD-rich plant leaves are loaded into a bin and placed in the extraction chamber. The ethanol is cooled to -40°C, then injected into the extraction chamber, thus soaking the plant material. The solute product is extracted thanks to the ethanol which passes through the plant material. Then the ethanol extract solution is pumped from the extraction chamber into a collection vessel for further processing. The solvent is evaporated by a rotary evaporator or a falling film evaporator. The extract can then be used to prepare finished products or be distilled again to increase the purity of the cannabinoids.

Advantages :

According to the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), extracting CBD using ethanol is safe.

It is easy to do.

It significantly increases the quality of the final product.

Disadvantages:

It may require many more steps to obtain a pure CBD product.

expensive equipment is required (for cold ethanol extraction).

Ethanol is limited in terms of the products it can produce.

3.2.2 Butane hash oil extraction method

BHO or Butane Hash Oil is a cannabis product that comes in many textures and consistencies. BHO contains between 60 and 90% THC, so it cannot be used as an end product. However, it can be used to create another high quality product. The process is the same as for the ethanol extraction of CBD, except that the BHO does not experience a drop in temperature. The positives and negatives are also slightly different.

Advantages :

A wide variety of products with different tastes and effects are obtained.

This method allows a better formulation of terpenes.

It is easy to do.

Disadvantages:

BHO is explosive.

It may be less environmentally friendly.

It is not as reliable as the ethanol extraction method of CBD.

3.3 Olive oil extraction method

Olive oil is another ingredient that can be used to extract cannabidiol. Even though virtually any oil can be used in this process, olive oil is preferred for its masking taste and flexibility. First, the raw hemp is heated to a precise temperature. Then the raw material is mixed with olive oil and heated again to obtain the cannabinoids. The end product is more like a CBD oil than a concentrated extract because the olive oil does not evaporate.

Advantages :

This method is considered safe and effective.

It is easy to perform.

It does not require large financial investments or expensive equipment.

Disadvantages:

The oil extracted with this method is perishable.

It gives low yields of active cannabinoids.

The CBD oil obtained this way is not concentrated.

4. How long does CBD extraction take?

CBD extraction processes vary wildly from method to method. However, our specialists estimate that it takes about an hour to extract around 160 kilograms of hemp.

5. What happens after the extraction of CBD oil?

Once the CBD oil has been extracted, the winterization process begins. During this process, impurities and unwanted elements (e.g. fats, lipids, and waxes) that entered during the extraction process are removed, and the crude oil is transformed into a more refined oil. The name of this process comes from the step where the extracted oil is mixed with ethanol and the solution is frozen. Impurities and unwanted compounds solidify and fall out of the solution, which then passes through a filter that separates the waxes, lipids and fats from the oil. The last step is to remove the ethanol from the solution.

The CBD may undergo an additional process after winterization to achieve the purest possible CBD product. The post-processing phase is known as short distillation. This process is similar but uses reduced pressure to keep the boiling point below normal. The solution heats up just enough for impurities to evaporate and leave the system quickly, leaving behind pure CBD oil to be distilled in the collection chamber.

6. What is the best method of extracting CBD?

Among the different methods of extracting CBD, CO2 extraction is considered to be the best. It is completely safe and creates very little waste for the company that uses it to produce CBD products. From safety to purity, CO2 CBD extraction allows growers to easily extract CBD from cannabis flowers and create high-quality products with excellent yields.

7. Extraction methods used for Relaxing Nature CBD products

At Relaxing Nature, we use several extraction methods to produce high quality CBD and derivative products. These methods include CO2, BHO (butane hash oil), and ethanol extractions. All our extraction processes are carried out in accordance with the latest safety standards, which ensures that we only provide our customers with the highest quality products.

8. Finally

That concludes our basic guide to the different methods of extracting CBD. As you can see, there are many ways to extract CBD from the cannabis plant. But the extraction process is just one link in the chain of making a high-quality CBD product. At Relaxing Nature, at every stage of the manufacturing process, our products are third-party tested and subjected to rigorous quality control measures, so you don't have to worry about the quality of products produced under the Mary Jane brand.

9. Sources

1. Does CBD Oil Get You High? (https://cfah.org/does-cbd-oil-get-you-high/)

2. Endocannabinoid Binding to the Cannabinoid Receptors: What Is Known and What Remains Unknown (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4120766/)

3. Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/)