Beginner’s 101
What is CBD Oil made from?
At Endoca we pride ourselves on being one of the industry leaders in the production of high-quality CBD hemp products. But what makes us different from other CBD hemp oil producers?
One of the key factors in the creation of our high-quality CBD products is the way in which we extract CBD from the hemp plant, and in fact, this method enables us to produce one of the world’s highest quality CBD products.
The technique is known as “Supercritical CO2 Extraction” and this method allows us to extract the best quality CBD extract from hemp, whilst still maintaining the whole plant properties, this method uses CO2– as in the air you breathe, pure oxygen!
So, what is our supercritical CO2 extraction (ScCO2) process and why is it so important when producing our CBD products?
What is Supercritical CO2 Extraction?
One of the main reasons our chosen method of extraction is supercritical CO2 is that it ensures we achieve a clean, pure, and high-quality product, that eliminates the need to use potentially toxic solvents whose residues sometimes can take hours to remove from the product.
This method was first discovered in 1822 by French engineer Charles Cagniard de La Tour, in the infamous ‘cannon barrel experiment’. Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction is now recognized as being one of the most efficient extraction methods and is widely used within the commercial plant extraction industry because of its superior results.
This technique allows for greater control over the separation of components during the extraction process. CO2 is a clean, safe, and versatile process that is perfect for extracting plant extracts such as cannabis and is our preferred method in the production of all of our Endoca products. A high-quality product is achieved because CO2 acts as a purifying agent and extends the shelf life of the product.
How does Supercritical CO2 Extraction work?
Supercritical CO2 extraction works by using temperature and pressure to create a series of changes in carbon dioxide (CO2). The ability to control the temperature and pressure in this method makes it easy to regulate the end result and therefore makes it highly versatile.
The series of changes that occur during this process creates a climate that allows plant compounds of different weights to be separated and filtered during a single extraction.
The control this method gives allows for flexibility, but also enables us to provide consistency in product quality and permits us to collect the compounds we prefer and filter out other heavier lipids we don’t need.
What are the steps of CO2 CBD extraction
1) An extractor chamber is filled with ground hemp material (known as trim)
2) A pump forces pressurized carbon dioxide gas at the optimum temperature (ScCO2) into the extractor chamber
3) The supercritical carbon dioxide interacts with the hemp, dissolving the cannabinoid compounds contained within the plant.
4) The supercritical CO2 carries the hemp oil particles past a pressure release valve to a cyclonic separator
5) In the separator, the pressure is lowered and the carbon dioxide and hemp oil begins to separate
6) The carbon dioxide rises and is routed back to the CO2 tank for reuse
7) The hemp oil, waxes, and resins descend in the separator where they are captured by a collection vessel
8) The resulting substance is processed further, finally creating our wonderful CBD oil, completely free of any solvents.
Why we use it supercritical CO2 extraction
Supercritical CO2 extraction has quickly emerged as the preferred method of extraction in both the medical cannabis and hemp industries, including that of CBD oil.
Achieving the critical point of CO2, using temperature and pressure is reasonably safe and easily accessible, with the critical temperature of CO2 only being 31°C and the critical pressure 1,071 psi.
Mild conditions of up to (40-60°C) are safety achievable, therefore results are available using moderate conditions and without leaving behind any harmful organic surplus.
CO2 becomes supercritical when its pressure and temperature surpass CO2‘s critical level. When CO2 is heated above 31°C (its critical temperature) or above, 1,071 psi (its critical pressure) it has the properties of both a gas and liquid and becomes what’s known as a “supercritical liquid”.
Supercritical liquids are able to pass through porous solids like sand and can also dissolve plant materials, making them ideal for use as solvents.
Our extraction system allows for the separation and collection of CBD and other compounds to be achieved during a single extraction, while also giving us flexibility over the ones we extract.
Supercritical (CO2) extraction enables us to target maximum outputs of CBD, while also keeping undesired compounds and lipids from the finished product.
The advantage of using carbon dioxide (CO2) in the extraction process is its remarkable ability to create pure, clean, and exceptionally high-quality oil, which is also highly economical, chemically stable, and non-toxic.
It’s even known as the ‘green solvent’ and is more environmentally friendly compared with other methods of production. Carbon dioxide-based extraction is thought to be far less toxic compared to solvent-based extractions that may require many hours to remove the solvents leftover in the oil.
Here are some of the main reasons why CO2 extraction is our preferred method of extraction.
Efficiency
CO2 extraction times are minimal with higher yields. This results in lower maintenance and energy consumption.
Purity
Evaporated CO2 from the ScCO2 process leaves us with virtually no residue. Low temperatures also help us to retain ideal organic states, while low extraction temperatures ensure that a full spectrum of beneficial molecules are preserved in our oils.
Versatility
An ability to pinpoint and extract desired components from hemp plant material, with a CO2 solvent that is “tunable” and allows for optimized oil quality.
Sustainability
The CO2 Supercritical extraction process is safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.
Supercritical CO2 extraction is known to be the cleanest and safest method available for extracting CBD and is the only method we use when creating our CBD hemp oils and other products. So, you can be assured that you will receive a CBD product that is high in quality and purity.