CBD is one of 113 cannabinoids available for extraction found in the cannabis plant.
Keep reading to learn how we extract it in our Denver Processing Center.
CBD Extraction
What is it?
CBD extraction is the process of obtaining cannabidiol (CBD) from the hemp plant for various applications. There are several methods employed in this extraction, with the most common being CO2 extraction, ethanol extraction, and hydrocarbon extract. These techniques separate CBD from the plant fibers, leaves, and flowers, resulting in a concentrated form that can be used in the creation of a wide range of CBD products, from oils and tinctures to edibles and topicals.
Why do we use it?
Extraction of CBD and other cannabinoids into an oil form allows us to introduce the benefits of the hemp plant into all of the different products we offer! The separation of the plant fibers and material from the Cannabinoid extract is crucial to maintain consistent quality and potency in our products, offering consumers a reliable and effective way to incorporate the benefits of CBD into their wellness routines.
Supercritical CO2 Extraction
What is it?
Supercritical CO2 extraction is an advanced and environmentally friendly method used to extract CBD from hemp plants. This extraction technique is also employed in industries such as essential oil extraction, herbal supplements, and the decaffeination of coffee and tea. The process involves utilizing carbon dioxide in a supercritical state—where it’s neither liquid nor gas—to efficiently and selectively extract CBD, yielding a pure and high-quality product. Widely regarded for its precision and ability to preserve the integrity of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds, Supercritical CO2 Extraction is the gold standard for quality in the CBD industry.
Why do we use it?
We feel that Supercritical CO2 maximizes the efficiency of CBD removed from the plant while minimizing the amount of further processing needed to make a desirable product for our customers. Hydrocarbon extraction requires harsh solvents, like butane and hexane, to get introduce into products that you are ingesting as a customer. Ethanol extraction is very effective, but ethanol is such a strong solvent that when used on the raw hemp flower it will extract a lot more from the material than desired, such as chlorophyll, mold, and any any water-based pesticides or heavy metals. Cold pressing the hemp flower, while the “purest” way to remove the CBD considering no extraction process is required, is not very effective in removing all of the Cannabinoids. A lot of the CBD that started in the plant material is left behind, so the same amount of resources needed to grow and prepare all of the hemp flower can only create about 70% of the output.
Supercritical CO2 is not without its own faults and limitations. The equipment is very expensive and the extraction time is slower than the other methods. The fats and waxes from the hemp flower will still need to be removed during post-processing as well. As a company, we think that these downsides are worth the hassle if it lets us create the highest quality product possible for our customers.
CBD Winterization
What is it?
Winterization is the removal of the fats, waxes, and lipids from the hemp extract. When the extract comes out of the CO2 extractor it is a thick consistency, similar to peanut butter, and is completely opaque. We warm the extract and mix it with 190-proof organic ethanol and place it in an ultra-low -86*C Freezer. At temperatures that cold the CBD oil will stay mixed with the ethanol, but the fats and waxes from the oil will separate from the oil and stay suspended in the solution. We run the solution through a series of filters at different sizes where the CBD oil and ethanol can pass through, and these waxes will be left behind on the paper just like ground coffee ran through your standard drip machine. We evaporate and collect the ethanol form the oil to be reused for our next batch, and the oil is ready for our full-spectrum products!
Why do we use it?
While we could keep the waxes and fats in the oil, they don’t serve a benefit for our users. Our full spectrum tinctures would be hazy in the droppers, and the “mouth-feel” would not be nearly as enjoyable when ingesting. Plus, who wants extra fats in their diet when they don’t need it?
For the products that use distillate, like our Distillate Tinctures and CBD Pain Sticks, we remove the waxes before we begin the distillation process. The heat from distillation bakes the waxes onto glassware, make a virtually uncleanable coating that would require multiple without using harsh, intense cleaning solvents (which we strongly avoid using whenever possible.)
CBD Distillation
What is it?
Distillation is the refinement of our winterized CBD oil into CBD Distillate using heat and vacuum. At specific temperatures the difference components of the oil can be boiled into a gas, rapidly cooled, and condensed back into a separate collection vessel. We change the collection vessel based on what part of the oil we are trying to collect; any moisture and terpenes will boil at the lower temperature and can be collected together, the cannabinoids can be collected in bulk in the next fraction, and any remaining fats, waxes and chlorophyll can be left behind before the distillation concludes because of their high boiling points.
Why do we use it?
We like to think of it as the gasoline in your car and the jet fuel they used in rockets. Distillation greatly improves the clarity and quality of the oil; by removing the less-desirable aspects of the oil we can create a high quality, 80%+ CBD Potency, bright, golden, flavorless extract that can be easily introduced into a wide variety of products. CBD Distillate lets our scent blends in CBD Bath Bombs be the focal point of your bubble bath, without having to compromise it with the earthy smell of hemp extracts.
CBD Dilution
What is it?
Dilution is combination of our CBD extracts with a carrier oil, like MCT oil.. CBD extract is very thick, similar to honey in viscosity, and very concentrated, about 65-85% potency so dilution lowers the overall potency and thins out the oil mixture to be more versatile.
Dilution lets us lower the potency of our CBD Tinctures down from 65-80% to 3.5-7%, and the overall viscosity of a tincture becomes smoother so that it can flow easily in and out of the dropper
Why do we use it?
Since our extracts are very concentrated, it is difficult for consumers to measure and dose the exact amount of CBD in a serving on its own. Dilution lets us lower the potency of our CBD Tinctures down from 65-80% to 3.5-7%, and the overall viscosity of the tincture drops so that it can flow easily in and out of the dropper for consumption.
CBD Chromatography
What is it?
Chromatography is the separation of different molecules in our CBD Distillate based on their size or polarity. The distillate is diluted and ran through a super fine silica filter, and as it travels it takes some molecules (some cannabinoids) longer to pass through the filters than others. In the end the oil is separated into about 100 different tubes, each containing a different ratio of the parts of the oil based on how quickly they flow through the silica. Specific tubes can be discarded and other can be recombined to create a specific ratio of cannabinoids.
Why do we use it?
Chromatography is critical for removing the THC for our THC-Free Tinctures and CBD Gummies. We can identify all of the collection tubes that contain THC, remove them, and recombine the rest of collection tubes. All of the CBD and minor cannabinoids, like CBG, will be maintained, and we call this Broad Spectrum Distillate.
Our Denver CBD Lab
As a certified Colorado Processing center – we’re equipped to extract not only CBD, but an array of cannabinoids from local farm-fresh cannabis. Our mission to provide really simple solutions with really simple ingredients is made easy thanks to our network of local-to-Colorado farmers and distribution partners. We only use top-tier ingredients that answer to your needs. If it doesn’t then it doesn’t belong in our products. We welcome you to learn more about our CBD lab here.