Decarb and Winterization

Once hemp oil has been extracted from the cannabis plant, there remains a few additional processing steps to convert it into the more valuable form preferred by consumers and product manufacturers. These two steps are decarboxylation (or “decarb” for short) and winterization. These methods serve to further purify the raw hemp oil, and also to convert it into the form that can be absorbed and used by the body. For now, you can think of them as the “heating” (decarb) and “cooling” (winterization) steps to create a high purity cannabis extraction.

What is decarboxylation?

Decarbing is a process that turns what most people would consider “inactive” cannabis components into active compounds. In a nutshell, raw hemp plant material is rich in acid precursors to the most well-known cannabinoids on the market today. For example, “THCA” and “CBDA”, when decarboxylated, will become the more commonly known “THC” and “CBD”. These cannabinoids have to be converted from their raw acidic forms before they interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system.

In their cannabidiolic acid form – which is when they still have an “A” on the end – these raw compounds are not as desirable. However, once activated, they have much higher bioavailability in the body. This is the same reason that THC found in recreational cannabis must be smoked or heated before its mood-enhancing properties can be unlocked.

Decarboxylation is a Two-Step Process

1. Time – During the initial stage of decarboxylation, plant material is heated over a specific time period to produce a chemical reaction. The molecular structures of raw cannabinoids have a carboxyl ring or group (COOH), which is composed of a carbon atom attached to an oxygen atom (CO) and a hydroxyl group (OH). Once heated, the carbon atom evades the structure and carbon dioxide (CO2) is released. For hemp that is rich in CBD, longer exposure and higher temperatures may be necessary; preserving terpenes requires a slower decarboxylation process.
2. Heat – When decarboxylation takes place with heat via smoking, heating or drying, acidic cannabinoids like CBDA are transformed into their active form — CBD. Prior to this, the acidic cannabinoids are thermally unstable. The temperature-controlled process that involves the gentle heating of dried cannabis flower is one of the most basic forms of decarboxylation.

What is Winterization?

 Another integral cog in the inner workings of hemp CBD oil production is winterization. Crude CBD extract should be winterized to boost quality and value, which will essentially improve consumer satisfaction and rid the final product of anything that shouldn’t be there; e.g. plant lipids and waxes.

When an extract is cloudy or softer/waxier in texture than it should be, it’s likely that it contains fatty acids like lipids. Failure to remove lipids means that the product purity and flavor will be less desirable. Thankfully, with winterization, a hemp extract can be further purified. This process requires the hemp oil to be soaked in alcohol and frozen for the separation of waxes. Hemp winterization may also prove beneficial for the removal of additional phytonutrients that may add unwanted bitter tastes to ingested oils.

Winterization is a Two-Step Process

To better understand how high-quality hemp CBD extracts are produced, enlighten yourself on the two main steps involved in winterization:

1. Winterization: First, the crude extract will be dissolved in a solvent like ethanol or isopropanol, before it is placed in a sub-zero freezer. Temperature and time are two variables that may change based on the procedure and solvent being used. However, in most cases, manufacturers will conduct winterization with temperatures of -20 to -80°Celsius over a 24-48 hour period.
2. Filtration – The next part of the process is filtration, which takes place once the lipids have precipitated to the solution’s surface. Generally, the solution will be filtered through various layers with the use of pumps and vacuums. Once evaporated, the hemp CBD extract will be stable, pure and lipid-free. Because of its purity and stability, the end product can be stored for a longer duration and, consequently, is more shelf-stable when mixed with other ingredients in oils and flavored tinctures.

At Nutra Pure Extraction, we have developed our proprietary methods for both of these processes with a focus on minimal “low-touch” approach. We believe that leaves a purer product closer to what Mother Nature intended. When you see the difference in our processed cannabis oils compared to mass-scale corporate extraction and processing, we think you will agree that the effort is worth it.

CO2 Extraction

As the popularity of ingestible cannabis extracts in legal states, and CBD in every state, continues to grow, more hemp producers are seeking out opportunities in this ever-evolving space. Since concentrated cannabis products constitute one of the most profitable segments of the market, it’s not surprising that the CO2 hemp extraction business is emerging as a preferred “cleaner” alternative to hydrocarbon and ethanol extraction.

The majority of hemp ingestible products like CBD oils and THC edibles are made using harsh solvents to pull the desired cannabinoids from the hemp plant. The harvested cannabis plant is dried, ground up, and put through a chemical process that often involves flooding the material with gases like propane or butane, then using chemistry to remove these chemicals from the extracted oil afterwards. The risk of these chemical pollutants remaining in small amounts afterwards is high.  

With so many consumers eager to get their hands on refined CBD products, extraction plays an important role in the overall process.

Why extract CBD With CO2?

CO2 extraction provides a more fine-tuned way to do smaller-scale, gentler extraction of botanicals. Because the pressure and temperature can be adjusted to capture more or less of specific compounds, like terpenes, it provides a more customizable cannabis extraction than large-scale hydrocarbon and ethanol extractions. Hundreds of delicate terpenes, flavonoids, and minor cannabinoids that are destroyed or chemically altered by those harsher extraction methods can be preserved using CO2 extraction. Less processing is required on CO2 extracted oil to remove chemicals after the extraction process, leaving a more natural and less processed raw material for finished goods that will be consumed by users.

What is CO2-extracted hemp oil?

Put simply, CO2 extraction separates cannabinoids like CBD that exist naturally in the hemp plant. Once extracted, the cannabinoid can be added and infused into a broad scope of products; e.g. topical balms and salves, ingestible edibles and drinks, sublingual sprays, etc.

CO2 is a versatile solvent that can be relied on to control pressure and temperature, all the while drawing the all-important cannabinoids, terpenes and waxes from the hemp plant material.

The result? A high-absorption, vaporizable oil with an amber tinge. CO2-extracted hemp oil is also rich in aromatic terpenes and therapeutic flavonoids; these plant-derived chemicals interact with CBD to amplify the oil’s overall effects.

How does CO2 extraction work?

Pressurized carbon dioxide is used to pull the phytochemicals from hemp with CO2 extraction techniques. Just like with cannabis-derived CBD oil, hemp-derived CBD is first pulverized into a dusty consistency, before being added to the extraction vessel. Once this step is complete, the pressurized CO2 will either be processed at a low pressure and temperature (subcritically) or at a high pressure and high temperature (super-critically) and passed over the hemp plant material.

During this stage, CO2 behaves like a solvent, which essentially forces the plant material to separate from the sought-after compounds. Once the hemp CBD oil manufacturers are satisfied that they have extracted all of the essential organic compounds, they will be left with a full-spectrum CBD oil. It’s important to keep in mind that subcritical extracts may not require any post-processing, whereas supercritical extracts must undergo post-processing as a means of removing undesirable fats, waxes and plant compounds. While we do not use alcohol extraction methods, our lab does rely on high-proof alcohol for our winterization services.

What are the benefits of CO2 extraction?

Considered to be the most efficient method of CBD extraction, CO2 is not overly time consuming and is regarded as being a generally safe practice. This “low-touch” method preserves and maintains more of the natural plant profile. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that this is a low-risk method of botanical extraction with no risk of solvent contamination.

CO2 is a non-toxic, non-flammable gas that serves as an environmentally-friendly option. Not only does it boast recyclability but also, it is free from chemical residues. Since no solvent sediment is leftover, nor nasty emissions released during the process, CO2 extraction is deemed to be one of the cleanest choices for hemp CBD oil producers.

Although CO2 extraction necessitates the labor of qualifiedpersonnel – and may therefore cost more money to execute – the efficiency and speed associated with this process is by far the most appealing in comparison with other methods of extraction. We are proud to only use CO2 extraction methods at our facility, because we believe it offers the cleanest hemp products for the consumer market.