What are the different extraction methods?

Types of Extraction Processes

C02 Extraction Method

The process of C02 CBD extraction involves using pressurized carbon dioxide (C02) to extract natural cannabinoids, terpenes and oils from hemp biomass. When C02 reaches a certain temperature, it works as a solvent. Although heated C02 works as a solvent at higher temperatures, it is non-toxic and will not leave toxic left-over residue as a by-product in the finished CBD products. This is obviously one of the main benefits of extracting CBD with the C02 method. The downside is it is much more expensive than other CBD extraction methods.

There are different types of c02 extractions available. One such sub-method is supercritical extraction, which is a higher pressure process. Subcritical extractions are lower pressure and produce smaller yields than supercritical. The benefits of subcritical over supercritical are that the finished product retains more natural terpenes, oils and phytochemicals from the hemp. The downside is that it produces smaller yields than supercritical. Supercritical is used more often for pure CBD isolate and distillate because it damages most of the terpene profile and other phytochemicals. Supercritical C02 extraction will give a higher yield of CBD isolate per lb of hemp biomass.

CBD Oil

Ethanol CBD extraction Method

Ethanol is the more popular type of CBD hemp extraction process. Ethanol extraction bases its process off using ethanol as the solvent instead of heated gas in the C02 method. The FDA classes ethanol a Class 3 risk solvent; meaning it has a low risk of acute or chronic toxicity in pharmaceutical manufacturing when the residue is less than 0.5% of the remaining finished product. Many herbal products and extracts are made with the ethanol extraction method. This extraction method is by far the cheapest and fastest method for extracting CBD with very little ethanol residue.

There are two types of ethanol extraction and it is important to know the difference. There are room-temperature and supercooled extraction techniques. Room-temperature cooling preserves more pigments and waxes from the natural hemp flower. Supercooled strips more wax and pigments and is usually the chosen method for producing the cheapest CBD finished isolate and distillate.