Systems, methods, and equipment for chemical extraction
AssigneeLoxley Systems, LLC
InventorsRaechel SHERWOOD, Steven SHERWOOD, Reese CULLIMORE, Greg MEHOS
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Abstract
Novel thermal evaporative processes for the recovery of heat-sensitive constituents, raw essential oil concentrates, and other compounds from plant biomass material are disclosed, as are systems for implementing such processes. Particularly, the processes include a solvent-less process for either batch-wise or continuous removal and recover), of refined oils, such as volatile aroma components and heavier oils, from plant material.
Claims31
A method for extracting at least one chemical compound from plant material, comprising:
- a) preparing a feedstock by at least one of chopping, cutting, treating, pelletizing, and grinding the plant material;
- b) preheating the feedstock to a first temperature at atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure for a preselected time to form a preheated feedstock;
- c) heating the preheated feedstock to a second temperature at sub-atmospheric pressure in an evaporation chamber to form a heated feedstock;
- d) flowing a heated motive gas through the evaporation chamber to drive the at least one chemical compound from the heated feedstock, thereby forming a pregnant motive gas;
- and
- e) condensing a portion of the pregnant motive gas to recover the at least one chemical compound.
A method for extracting at least one chemical compound from plant material, comprising:
- a) preparing a feedstock, the preparing step comprising the sub-steps of:
- a1) at least one of chopping, cutting, treating, pelletizing, and grinding the plant material to form a size-reduced plant material, and
- a2) contacting the size-reduced plant material with a solution of at least one carboxylic ester hydrolase enzyme in water to form the feedstock;
- b) preheating the feedstock to a first temperature at atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure for a preselected time to form a preheated feedstock;
- c) heating the preheated feedstock to a second temperature at sub-atmospheric pressure in an evaporation chamber to form a heated feedstock;
- d) flowing a heated motive gas through the evaporation chamber to drive the at least one chemical compound from the heated feedstock, thereby forming a pregnant motive gas;
- and
- e) condensing a portion of the pregnant motive gas to recover the at least one chemical compound.
A system for extracting at least one chemical compound from plant material, comprising:
- a) a feedstock preparation unit, configured to size-reduce the plant material by at least one of chopping, cutting, grinding, and shredding to form a size-reduced plant material and apply a solution of at least one carboxylic ester hydrolase enzyme to the size-reduced plant material to form a feedstock;
- b) a preheater, configured to receive the feedstock from the feedstock preparation unit and heat the feedstock at sub-atmospheric or atmospheric pressure to drive off moisture and low-boiling volatile components to form a preheated feedstock;
- c) a vacuum evaporator, configured to receive the preheated feedstock from the preheater;
- d) a means for delivering a motive gas to the evaporator to form a pregnant motive gas;
- and
- e) a recovery unit, configured to receive the pregnant motive gas from the evaporator and to condense the pregnant motive gas to recover the at least one chemical compound.
A system for extracting at least one chemical compound from plant material, comprising:
- a) a feedstock preparation unit, configured to size-reduce the plant material to form a size-reduced plant material and apply a solution of at least one carboxylic ester hydrolase enzyme to the shredded plant material to form a feedstock;
- b) a preheater, configured to receive the feedstock from the feedstock preparation unit and heat the feedstock at sub-atmospheric or atmospheric pressure to drive off moisture and low-boiling volatile components to form a preheated feedstock;
- c) a means for delivering a motive gas to the preheater to form a first pregnant motive gas;
- d) a first recovery unit, configured to receive the first pregnant motive gas from the preheater and condense the pregnant motive gas to recover moisture and low-boiling volatile components;
- e) a vacuum evaporator, configured to receive the preheated feedstock from the preheater;
- f) a means for delivering a motive gas to the evaporator to form a second pregnant motive gas;
- and
- g) a second recovery unit, configured to receive the second pregnant motive gas from the evaporator and to condense the second pregnant motive gas to recover the at least one chemical compound.
A concentrated cannabinoid oil, comprising at least about 80 wt % cannabinoids, wherein the cannabinoid composition is substantially free of chlorophyll and waxes.
A continuous method for extracting a chemical compound from solid plant material, comprising:
- a) providing a continuous flow of solid plant material;
- b) contacting the solid plant material with a non-oxidizing motive gas stream at sub-atmospheric pressure to form a pregnant motive gas comprising the chemical compound;
- and
- c) condensing the chemical compound from the pregnant motive gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.