CBD distillate is the result of an extensive distillation & refining process which separates desirable cannabinoids from hemp plant material. This refining process converts the plant material into a concentrated & pure oil known as CBD distillate.
The process of making CBD Distillate requires specialized knowledge & skill. Certain aspects of the process may be dangerous for non-professionals to attempt, thus producing these types of distillates should always be left to the professionals. Creating quality distillate requires a specially controlled lab environment where precision to detail and proper equipment can be utilized to ensure the optimal results and most importantly the safety of those involved.
CRUDE OIL EXTRACTION
This is the initial step in which cannabinoids are separated from the hemp plant material. This separation is either performed physically or chemically.
Physical separation is any form of extraction that relies solely on physical techniques such as pressing hemp material to extract rosin.
Chemical separation is any form of extraction that relies on chemical solvents to extract oil from the hemp material. An example of this would be CO2 or Butane extraction methods.
Depending on the extraction processes used, the crude oil extract may contain plant matter or other impurities that must be removed prior to the refining process. Some extraction equipment will have inline filters that prevent impurities from collecting with the extracted crude oil.
WINTERIZATION
This next step removes chlorophyll, plant waxes, fats, and lipids from the crude oil extract.
Ethanol is mixed with the crude oil and the mixture is placed in an extremely cold environment for up to 48 hours. The cold temperatures cause the impurities and undesirable compounds within the oil to coagulate and drop to the bottom of the container, separating from the desirable compounds.
The crude oil extract and ethanol mixture is then put through a filter to remove the undesirables and leave behind a refined oil extract and ethanol mixture. The next step is removing the ethanol. The removal of ethanol from the mixture is often achieved using an evaporation process, such as rotary evaporation.
In some cases, an additional step is required, depending on the cannabinoids desired in the end product. For example, if the oil at this stage is rich in CBDa, but the manufacturer desires a CBD rich oil, the oil must be decarboxylated to convert the cannabinoid acids to pure cannabinoids. One reason this may be required is if the distillate is intended to be used in edibles. CBDa isn’t easily digestible and will not provide the effects that CBD provides when ingested.
DECARBOXYLATION
Decarboxylation converts cannabinoid acids to more usable cannabinoids. In this process, carboxylic acid is removed from a cannabinoid in order to make the cannabinoid active in the body and able to bind to the endocannabinoid system. CB1 (cannabinoid type 1) and CB2 (cannabinoid type 2) receptors in the human nervous system are unable to bind with cannabinoids in their carboxylic acid forms.
Cannabinoids decarboxylate above specific temperatures. CBDa and THCa both tend to decarboxylate around 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Decarboxylation isn’t just required when producing CBD Distillate intended for edibles, but also when making edibles at home or with other types of CBD Concentrates.
Finally, the distillation process.
DISTILLATION
The decarboxylated distillate is then distilled using vacuum pressure and heat. Specific cannabinoids and terpenes are separated from the decarboxylated oil by adjusting the heat and pressure according to the boiling points and molecular weights of the desired cannabinoids.
