Continuous isolation of cannabidiol and conversion of cannabidiol to delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol
AssigneeCleen Technology Inc.
InventorsMark G. Tegen, Joon Cho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In alternative embodiments, provided are processes comprising the continuous isolation and purification of cannabinoids and further isomerization of the purified cannabidiol to Δ8tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8THC) and Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9THC). In alternative embodiments, provided are processes for converting Δ8-THC into Δ9-THC. In alternative embodiments, provided are processes for the industrial scale continuous isolation and purification of cannabinoids and further isomerization of the purified cannabidiol to Δ9-THC.
Claims10
A method for catalytic modification of cannabidiol (CBD) into a resulting final reaction product composition comprised substantially of Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first extract, aliquot or sample of CBD;
- mixing the CBD with a first reaction solvent;
- adding a catalyst to the CBD and the first reaction solvent to generate a first reaction mixture containing primarily CBD;
- reacting the CBD with the catalyst and the first reaction solvent, under reaction conditions of about 0° C., to prepare a modified portion and an unmodified CBD portion of the reaction mixture together comprising CBD, Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC;
- adding a neutralizing agent to the first reaction mixture when about 70% of the CBD remains and about 30% of the CBD in the first reaction mixture has been modified to Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC creating the modified portion;
- removing substantially all of the catalyst and the neutralizing agent from the first reaction mixture to generate a first reaction product comprising CBD, Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC, wherein the modified portion of the first reaction product is 75% or more Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC;
- removing the first reaction solvent;
- dissolving the first reaction product in elution solution;
- loading the dissolved first reaction product onto a first chromatography column;
- eluting the dissolved first reaction product from the first column with an or at least one elution solution;
- collecting, in a first elution fraction, the CBD in the first reaction product from the elution solution;
- collecting, in a second elution fraction, the Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC in the first reaction product from the elution solution;
- removing all or substantially most of the elution solvent from the first and second elution fractions, thereby obtaining a final reaction product composition comprising Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC;
- and
- discarding or recycling through the first reaction mixture any fraction of the elution which is not THC,
- wherein the catalyst includes p-toluenesulfonic acid and the catalyst is free of boron trifluoride and free of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.