With the popularity of CBD products that come in every form possible, there’s almost too much information out there.
Some of the key reasons behind CBD that’s been extracted (specifically) from hemp are reduced anxiety and stress. However, it’s a bit difficult for beginners to understand that not all methods of extracting CBD from hemp are made equal when it comes to quality. If you didn’t even know that there are multiple types of extraction out there, no worries. We’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading for our full breakdown of the common methodologies of how to extract CBD from hemp, and why it matters in the first place.
Sorry, but What’s CBD?
Alright, before diving into the methodologies of extraction, it’s essential to cover our bases. And there’s nothing more foundational to your CBD education than actually knowing what CBD is all about.
In the simplest of terms, CBD stands for a substance called Cannabidiol. It’s a compound that comes from a whole branch of cannabinoids that naturally occur in the cannabis plant.
Now, before you start thinking that CBD can only be extracted from marijuana, we’re here to clear up that misconception. The Cannabis Sativa plant family is divided into two main branches, marijuana, and hemp. Of course, most people gravitate towards CBD products for the CBD content, not the THC one.
That’s what makes hemp so useful. Hemp naturally has rather small amounts of THC, which is less than 0.2%. Moreover, with hemp plants perfectly legal to grow on a global scale, you’ll start noticing that the majority of good quality CBD products will be extracted from hemp.
CBD Extraction: Why Does It Matter?
As we’ve previously covered, in order to create CBD products, manufacturers have to extract the cannabinoid from its raw plant form. Yet, even with the best crops of hemp, the extraction method can immensely affect the quality of the final product.
For instance, there are some methods that can be more efficient and safer than others. While some can be a bit time consuming or costly, but the results can be superior in nature. Regardless of the preferred extraction method, you’ll want to know the difference between them, so you can pick the right CBD product for you.
Of course, if you’d rather avoid the whole exercise and go for getting hemp biomass for sale, you can rest assured of the quality yourself, and might even try your hand at the extraction process.
How to Extract CBD From Hemp 101: The Three Common Methods
The longer CBD stays in the public’s eye as a great alternative to painkillers, as well as a low-risk supplement to address other chronic health concerns, the more likely for additional research to be conducted, and for the extraction methods to increase.
But, for now, we’ll focus on the three main methods that are commonly used by CBD manufacturers.
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The Solvent Method
We’ll start with the least expensive, and fastest methods available to manufacturers. The solvent extraction methodology uses butane, propane, alcohol, ethanol, or isopropyl to extract the CBD.
Needless to say, once flammable solvents enter the equation, there will be a host of potential problems that can occur. The first of which would be the dissolution of the plant waxes that hold a substantial amount of nutrients.
This method is a bit of a blunt instrument, it’ll not only extract the cannabinoids, but also the chlorophyll, which can give some bitter aftertaste to the final product.
However, it’s considered to be a rather easy and streamlined process. Manufacturers will begin the process by placing the flowers and plant trimmings into a container, then the solvent will be either soaked or run through the plant material.
Afterward, the evaporation process begins, leaving a concentrated solution of cannabinoids in oil form left in the container. The trick to properly conducting this extraction method is the critical step of evaporating the solvent entirely before bottling the remaining oil. The issue with solvent residue is the potential toxicity if it hasn’t been completely eliminated.
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The Olive Oil Method
Another method that belongs to the old-but-gold category would be the olive oil extraction method. It’s the safest method available, and it’s rather simple to conduct.
It begins with heating (or decarboxylating) the raw plant material for a particular time period to activate specific chemicals in the plant. Then, the olive oil is added, and the mixture is heated again.
This way allows the cannabinoids to mix with the olive oil. On the other hand, you’ll want to keep in mind that the oil isn’t evaporated in the process, which results in less concentrated CBD products. Therefore, you’ll want to compensate your dosage accordingly.
Furthermore, one of the main issues that come with oil extractions is that it’s highly perishable. You’ll also have to keep a close eye on your storage protocol. It must be stored in a cool and dark area to avoid spoiling.
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The CO2 Extraction Method
As with any budding industry that’s going through a global boom, new high-tech extraction methods have become available. The CO2 method is one of the more advanced ways of getting your CBD concentrates.
While it’s quite the initial investment for a lot of manufacturers, it can create some superior CBD concentrates that are safe, potent, as well as chlorophyll-free for better taste.
Unfortunately, due to the price constraints, you’ll tend to see premium and big CBD corporations can take advantage of this method, but other smaller producers would probably be using another method instead.
Cracking the CBD Extraction Code
We know that the different extraction methods can be a bit overwhelming for the uninitiated. However, we hope our little guide into how to extract CBD from hemp gave you the right starting point to conduct further research.
For now, you can always ask CBD manufacturers about their extraction processes before making a purchase. Or, you can go natural and extract some CBD out of organic hemp plants yourself. Whatever your methodology, you’ll get to enjoy the multitude of benefits that CBD products can offer to your health.
