What Is The Best CBDa and CBD Extraction Method?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid compound that occurs naturally in Cannabis. Remember, there are many varieties of cannabis plants, including high-THC marijuana and low-THC hemp. Here at Tanasi, we extract CBD from hemp plants, so that they are legal and contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. And so that they aren’t psychoactive or intoxicating. 

But in order to get the full effects of that CBD, we’ve spent years researching the best ways to deliver this plant extract to you. And here’s what we’ve discovered: CBD is 2X more effective when we combine it in a 1:1, patent-pending formulation with CBDa. But that’s not the only way we help make all of our supplements more effective. Because we also pay close attention to the best CBDa and CBD extraction method. 

What Does CBDa and CBD Extraction Mean?

This refers to the process of removing the CBDa and CBD compounds from hemp flowers, turning them into extracts ready for infusion into other products. 

In order to get our premium, high-quality CBDa and CBD products, we take lots of care during processing. It is important to note that even well-grown plants with a high CBD percentage can fail to yield extracts if you use the wrong extraction method. Simply put, the extraction method impacts the quality, potency, purity, and effectiveness of the resulting hemp-extracted supplement.

Which Is the Best CBD Extraction Method?

There is no simple answer to this question. For starters, we can extract CBD from hemp flowers using several different methods. Additionally, with each passing day, new extraction methods are developing, so we strive to stay up-to-date and at the cutting edge of hemp technology. 

There are many factors that come into play when choosing the best extraction method. Each method has its benefits and drawbacks. To try and find an answer to the question above, we first have to understand the different types of methods used when you extract CBD from hemp flowers.

A Detailed Analysis of The Methods Used in Extracting CBD Oil

These are some methods you can use to process CBD oil:

Solvents

You can strip CBD from hemp flowers using solvents such as alcohol, butane, and ethanol. Ethanol is the most commonly used solvent for this method because of its effectiveness.

In this extraction process, you mix hemp flowers with a solvent to dissolve and isolate the CBD. Once you’ver removed cannabinoid compounds from the hemp flowers, you can then evaporate the solvent, leaving behind crude CBD oil for further processing. 

Pros

•       The solvent extraction method usually produces a higher yield of CBD oil compared to other extraction methods.
•       It is more cost-effective since the processing does not require a lot of sophisticated machinery.
•      You can try ethanol extraction at home as long as you exercise great care when evaporating the ethanol to yield a concentrated oil.

Cons

•       This extraction method can be dangerous since the solvents used in the process are highly flammable.
•       Depending on the solvent used and its concentration, there is a risk of the cannabinoids getting damaged, lowering the potency and effectiveness of the final extract.
•       Trace amounts of chlorophyll and solvent may remain in the extract, reducing the final’s product’s purity and safety.

CO2 Extraction

Though it requires the use of expensive machines, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas extraction is a great way of processing CBD from hemp. While CO2 is a gas, it turns into a liquid with heat and pressure, allowing it to act as a natural solvent.

Under this method, machines freeze CO2 gas and then pressurize it. Next, it’s heated to a supercritical state so that it adopts a liquid state. When in this liquid state, the CO2 is then passed over hemp flowers, already waiting in an extracting machine. Now acting as a natural solvent, the CO2 extracts the cannabinoids which then flow into a collection container while the CO2 is condensed and re-used.

Depending on the temperature of the heated CO2 used in the extraction process, this method of extracting CBD oil can be sub-divided into three categories; 

1.       Supercritical – With CO2 heated to this level, the extraction process usually yields a higher concentration of CBD but the risk of damaging cannabinoid compounds increases.
2.       Subcritical – With CO2 heated to this level, there is less CBD yield but less risk of damage to the cannabinoids.
3.       Mid-critical – With CO2 heated to this level, there is a much lower CBD yield and the extract is usually less pure.

Pros

•       This extraction method yields extremely pure concentrations of CBD.
•      It’s very safe since CO2 does not have any toxic properties.
•       This extraction method is also used for products in other industries meaning it’s practiced, perfected and effective.

Cons

•       To undertake CBD oil extraction using this method, you need expensive and sophisticated equipment that requires intensive maintenance.
•       This extraction method also produces lower yields of CBD compared to extraction using solvents.

CBD Extraction Using Olive Oil

This is one of the oldest and most popular methods of extracting CBD oil. It can be done commercially at a small scale or even at home; plus, it does not require a lot of expertise.

Under this method, the first step is to activate the chemical compounds in hemp flowers by heating them with a process called ‘decarboxylation’.  Once complete, you then add olive oil to the mixture, heating the combination to 215 degrees Fahrenheit for about two hours. Then, you can extract the CBD, storing it in a dark and cool place since olive-oil infused CBD is highly perishable.

Pros

•       This extraction method is extremely safe.
•       It can be done on a small scale from the comfort of one’s home.
•       The extraction process is relatively simple and uncomplicated.
•       It requires no expensive equipment.

Cons

•       This extraction method cannot be used on a large scale; it is slow and rigorous.
•       The CBD oil extracted through this method is impure and cannot be put to many uses.
•       To avoid destroying the extracted CBD, you have to employ very rigorous storage measures.

So, how do you choose the best CBD extraction method?

As you can see from the discussion above, each extraction technique has its benefits and drawbacks. When it comes to selecting the most ideal method of extracting cannabidiol from hemp, there are certain factors to consider as discussed below.

Factors to Consider When Selecting an Extraction Method

Desired Yield

Different extraction methods usually produce varying CBD yields. If you are looking to get the most CBD concentration from your hemp, you should consider using the solvent extraction method.

Desired Purity Levels

CBD oil extracts can be put to different uses as we will discuss later in this article. Different cannabidiol-based products require different levels of purity. For example, if you are hoping to create CBD isolate, you will need CBD that has the highest levels of purity. To achieve the high levels of purity you need to create a powder or crystalline isolate, you should use the CO2 extraction process. 

The Available Hemp Biomass

The method of extraction to be used will also be dictated by the amount of hemp flowers available. If you are looking to extract CBD from a lot of flowers for commercial use, it is best to rely on effective and fast extraction processes such as solvent-based or CO2 extraction. However, if you are only extracting CBD from a small bundle of hemp flowers, you can use the olive oil extraction process. 

Available Capital

Some techniques such as the CO2 extraction method rely on the use of expensive machines thus, they are best suited for use when the CBD oil is being extracted for commercial use or when one has the capital to purchase the requisite equipment.