CBD Oil Extraction by CO2 Extraction

There are two ways to obtain a CBD extract. On the one hand, it can be produced chemically, resulting in a CBD isolate. As the name suggests, this is an isolate that contains only pure CBD. The other option is natural extraction from the hemp plant using CO2 extraction, which results in a full-spectrum hemp extract. This has several advantages: it contains multiple cannabinoids that expand the range of effects, and it also contains terpenes and other ingredients in the CBD product. The additional active ingredients, alongside CBD, contribute to the so-called entourage effect.

In conclusion, those who use full-spectrum products can benefit from a synergy of CBD with other active ingredients found in hemp. Compared to cannabidiol isolates, full-spectrum hemp extracts show a naturally optimized effect that is not only stronger but also more far-reaching than that of pure CBD.

Therefore, Hanfgeflüster products are based on full-spectrum CBD extract to harness the full power of the hemp plant.

The growing popularity of CBD raises questions for many people. Most wonder how CBD can be extracted from the cannabis plant without coming into contact or being mixed with other substances such as illegal THC. In this article, we want to explain how CBD is obtained through the CO2 extraction process and which method is the most sustainable for the extraction process.

Even the selection of hemp seeds influences the quality of the final product. If the cannabis plant grows under biologically perfect conditions, a rich spectrum of ingredients and thus effectiveness can be expected. However, the best raw material is useless if its components cannot be extracted.

CBD is both fat-soluble and alcohol-soluble. This could lead to the misconception that high-quality products are created using either of these solvents. However, this is not the case! The reason for choosing extraction with alcohol or fat is primarily for profit. It doesn't cost much and doesn't involve high effort. Furthermore, retailers can sell it at a lower price than competitors who use CO2 extraction.

Extraction broadly means "pulling out" certain substances from a raw material using carbon dioxide. So, we use what we exhale to extract the active ingredients we are looking for from cannabis. As early as 1879, researchers began initial attempts at CO2 extraction. However, it has only been used industrially for about 40 years, as the capabilities for it were lacking before then.

However, it is used not only for cannabis extracts but also, for example, for caffeine and flavorings. It's no coincidence that the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries use this process. There are different "levels" of CO2 extraction, which can be divided into non-critical and critical. We currently use supercritical CO2 extraction, as it is the most effective. Basically, CO2 extraction involves two steps:

1. dissolving the desired substances from the cannabis
2. separation of the obtained extract from the solvent.

This method requires special equipment and extensive expertise. It works with a closed-loop system, meaning the process takes place in a completely separate circuit. The plant material is heated beforehand, separating the inactive cannabinoids from an acid group and activating them simultaneously. These processes are called decarboxylation. At the same time, the plant material dries, which in turn prevents the formation of carbonic acid.

The CO2 is then cooled to -56°C while simultaneously increasing the pressure to 5 bar. This causes the CO2 to be in a "supercritical" state, meaning that the boundaries between liquid and gas blur. In this state, CO2 behaves like a solvent. It is passed through a chamber containing the plant material. Meanwhile, the CO2 still has the density of a liquid but can fill the entire chamber like a gas. This is ideal for extraction, as denaturation or damage is prevented. The cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted by the CO2, meaning they are dissolved out of their flowers.

To separate the solvent from the extracted substances, the substances are then directed into a separator and subsequently broken down into different parts. The extracted compounds are collected in a collection tank, while the CO2 is passed through a condenser to be returned to its original state so that it can be recycled and subsequently reused in the same process.

Non-critical CO2 extraction is a similar process, but it requires lower pressure and therefore results in a lower yield or lower quality. Supercritical CO2 extraction produces a high-quality, pure oil, which is why we prefer this method.

Because with CO2 extract, the gentle extraction process preserves the full spectrum of plant compounds. As a result, our oil has a higher total cannabinoid content at the same percentages. Natural extracts from gentle CO2 extraction have the advantage that the entire spectrum of plant compounds from the hemp plant is preserved.

Full-spectrum CBD contains all the typical ingredients for cannabidiol, including secondary plant compounds (terpenes, flavonoids, phenols). These dissolve during supercritical CO2 extraction and are available for human health. Here, the consumer can be sure to consume naturally derived CBD.

A CBD isolate, on the other hand, can be obtained in two ways: either with the aforementioned CO2 extraction (on a natural basis) or in the laboratory (synthetically). While the isolate initially corresponds to a full-spectrum CBD after extraction, several "purification processes" turn it into a medicinal isolate, which contains exclusively CBD, without active plant compounds.

If you wondered at the beginning of the article how CBD can be extracted from the cannabis plant, we hope we have answered your question. As mentioned, there are several ways to apply this method. Commercial manufacturers tend to use CO2 extraction due to the quality of the oil produced. It is, of course, enormously expensive and technically complex, but a very safe and efficient method. Therefore, when buying CBD, pay attention to where the products come from.

In summary: The use of supercritical CO2 makes it possible to produce a clean extract from raw materials that is harmless to both nature and humans. Our high-quality full-spectrum CBD oils can be found here.