Published on : 03 July 20203 min reading time
CBD, a substance derived from cannabis, is increasingly sought after today because of its many therapeutic properties. Classified as a dietary supplement, this molecule can come in several different forms, but the oil remains the most common of them. Therefore, by what means can it be extracted?
Liquid solvent extraction
This process of extraction of CBD oil involves the use of a liquid solvent to separate cannabinoids from hemp and cannabis flowers. In most cases, heated alcohol is used to easily extract this molecule. This can be grain alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and even naphtha.
Not very demanding in terms of equipment and above all cheap, this technique allows you to make your own homemade cannabis oil. All you will need is your rice cooker, a hotplate and several glass containers.
Be careful though, because using alcohol as a solvent exposes you to a relatively high risk of explosion. Also, some residue may remain after evaporation if the operation is not well controlled, which can undermine the therapeutic effects of CBD and increase its harmfulness. It is therefore necessary for you to have a minimum of knowledge in this field, to ensure that each stage of this technique is carried out correctly.
Extraction with natural oil
Unlike the first method, this one uses natural vegetable oil as a solvent. This is the case with olive oil and coconut oil. Fast and easy to use, the extraction of CBD oil by this technique is safer and is done without chemicals, thus avoiding possible health risks. However, the disadvantage remains the fact that the product obtained by this process has a low CBD content. Similarly, cannabinoids can easily spoil and dissipate easily if not stored properly. Therefore, production remains limited and is for personal use only.
Extraction by CO₂ supercritical
This extraction method is certainly the most complex, but also the most efficient. It makes it possible to obtain a much healthier and more concentrated oil, if not the best. As a result, it requires sophisticated equipment, in-depth knowledge and represents a high cost. This process of extracting oil from CBD is used by professionals to produce pure, residue-free oil in large quantities.
Once subjected to extreme temperature or pressure, the CO2 reaches a state qualified as supercritical, which facilitates the separation of cannabinoids. Thanks to its gaseous properties, it can easily pass through plant matter, or dissolve its constituents when in a liquid state.
