Pros And Cons Of Different CBD Extraction Methods

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CBD Extraction Methods
CBD Extraction Methods

Cannabidiol (CBD) is extracted from hemp or cannabis plants. Different methods are used by the manufacturers to extract CBD from these plants. Some of these methods are very efficient, as they produce high-quality CBD oil, whereas some others can be dangerous, as they involve the use of different solvents that are harmful to health. Hence, it is important for you to know about different CBD extraction methods for finding a high-quality product for you. We are listing some of the important pros and cons of different methods for CBD extraction.

Solvent Extraction

This is one of the most commonly used CBD extraction methods by CBD manufacturers for producing CBD oil. It is performed by using different solvents including butane, petroleum ether, ethanol, isopropyl, naphtha, or other types of alcohol.

Here, the plant materials including leaves, buds, or trimmings are held in a container and the solvent will be poured over the top of it. This will be useful for stripping off the cannabinoids and other compounds present in the plant. After this, the mix of the solvent and CBD oil will be collected in a chamber where the solvent will be allowed to evaporate from the mixture. This will leave behind the concentrated oil that includes all the cannabinoids and other compounds present in the hemp plant.

Pros

  • It is an inexpensive method, as the solvents are readily available.
  • This method is quick, therefore, it can be used for producing large volumes of oil in a relatively short amount of time.
  • It is one of the easiest CBD extraction methods that are available today.
  • Most of the constituents in the plant can be extracted using this method, hence, it is a complete extraction process.

Cons

  • This is one of the most dangerous methods used for extracting CBD, as it involves solvents that are highly flammable.
  • This method can dissolve some of the plant waxes which have some health benefits, hence, these waxes will not be present in your final product.
  • Along with cannabinoids, it can also extract chlorophyll present in the plant thereby adding a bitter taste to the oil.
  • The solvent may change the properties of some of the compounds present in the oil, therefore, you may not get the desired effects from the CBD oil.
  • If the solvents are not completely evaporated from the final product, they can become toxic and can create health problems.

Olive Oil Extraction

This is another easy method used for extracting CBD oil. This method uses olive oil for extracting the CBD instead of the solvents used in the previous method. Here, the plant materials will be heated first for activating different compounds present in them. After this, these plant materials will be heated again along with the olive oil. The final product includes olive oil mixed with CBD oil. Unlike the previous method, where the solvents are removed from the final product, this method will not separate the olive oil from the CBD oil. Hence, the olive oil will be present in your final product too.

Pros

  • This is one of the safest methods for CBD extraction, as olive oil will not create any harmful effects.
  • This method is very inexpensive and among the easiest methods for extracting CBD.

Cons

  • The final product is highly perishable, therefore, you cannot store it for longer periods.
  • It needs specific storage requirements.
  • The concentration of CBD and other cannabinoids will below, as they are mixed with olive oil. Therefore, you might have to consume more oil for getting the desired benefits.
  • It cannot be used for vaping.

CO2 Extraction

This is one of the highly efficient methods that are available today for extracting CBD. It uses supercritical CO2 for the extraction process. This needs a special apparatus which has three chambers. One chamber will hold the plant materials and the next will hold pressurized CO2 that is in a state between liquid and gas, which is known as supercritical CO2.

The CO2 will be pumped into the chamber which contains the plant materials. This will strip off all the cannabinoids and other compounds from the plant and the mix of CO2 and CBD oil will be collected in the third chamber. The CO2 will be separated from the final product and what remains will be highly concentrated CBD oil.

Pros

  • This method is the most advanced method available today for extracting CBD.
  • It produces high-quality CBD oil without the presence of any toxic solvents.
  • You will get high-quality CBD oil that is rich in cannabinoids and other compounds present in the plant.
  • It can be used for extracting specific cannabinoids.
  • The oil produced by this method is also suitable for vaping.

Cons

  • Highly expensive.
  • Need a special apparatus for the extraction process.
  • Need more expertise in doing the procedures associated with this method.

CBD manufacturers use a large number of processes for extracting CBD from the hemp plant. The properties and characteristics of the CBD oil produced by each method will be different. Therefore, you have to be aware of these methods for selecting the right CBD product for you. Learn more about the effects of the different types of CBD here.