Margaret CoolWalk into any counter store, and there’s a high chance you’d see a shelf devoted to the sales of various brands of CBD products. Rich with wellness properties, cbd & delta products for sale is becoming a well-known and accepted means of treatment. While many people know CBD is obtained from the cannabis plant, very few know how it is extracted.
CBD Extraction Methods
The different CBD extraction methods have distinct processes, and some may require the use of advanced technologies. As you can learn in the video below, there are several ways CBD is extracted from cannabis plants.
It’s important to note that all CBD products are extracted from hemp plants. These usually have less than 0.3% THC and do not contain any psychoactive properties. Some of the common CBD extraction methods are:
CO2 Extraction
The CO2 extraction method is perhaps one of the most common yet complicated methods in which CBD is extracted. This is usually because the CO2 extraction method ensures that CBD is extracted fully and contains a significant and consistent amount of CBD.
This method uses different pressure levels and temperatures to extract CBD. The CO2 breaks down the trichomes in the cannabis plants and produces insoluble molecules. These molecules are then separated to distinguish CBD cannabinoids and other phytochemical compounds. The CO2 extraction method is quite expensive since it uses high-tech equipment, so CBD products extracted through this method are usually quite costly.
Ethanol Extraction
This method is also known as the alcohol extraction method and is not as complicated or expensive as the CO2 extraction process. Although not complicated, the process requires total attention and caution to avoid causing hazards since alcohol is being used.
To extract CD using this process, you’ll first need to soak the plant material in Ethanol for an hour or more, depending on the quantity of plant material being extracted. During this period, the Ethanol then strips the plant of its compound. The liquid obtained from this is then heated for another period in which the extracts gotten from its evaporation are stored in carrier oil.
While this is a more simple method, Ethanol extraction can be dangerous as alcohol is highly flammable. If you want to carry out a homemade extraction process, using the Ethanol method is usually not advisable.
Vegetable Oil Extraction
The vegetable oil extraction process is another simple process of extracting CBD from cannabis plants. This is especially useful for those who want to get homemade CBD oils. All that’s needed is any type of cooking oil that contains a significant amount of saturated fats.
These fats increase the bioavailability of cannabinoids with low THC. If you’re extracting CBD for CBD oil, you can use coconut oil or butter. If you’re extracting CBD to make creams, you can use almond, sunflower, or argan oil. The extraction process is pretty simple.
You first have to heat the plant material for a short period to ensure they’re dried. After that, you’ll immerse the plant in a pan of oil at very low heat and let it simmer for about 1 – 2 hours. After that, transfer the oil from the pan into a container and store it for future use.
