Processes and apparatus for extraction of active substances and enriched extracts from natural products

A process for preparing a cannabinoid-rich extract from cannabis plant material or a crude solvent extract thereof loaded onto an inert matrix material, comprising contacting the cannabis plant material or crude solvent extract with a heated gas at a first temperature and then with a heated gas at a second temperature which is greater than the first temperature, greater than 105° C. and sufficient to volatilize one or more cannabinoids to form a vapour but does not cause pyrolysis of the cannabis plant material or crude solvent extract, and condensing the vapour formed at the first and/or the second temperature to form a cannabinoid-rich extract, wherein the cannabinoid-rich extract prepared by the process is substantially free of terpenes, wherein the heated gas is a reducing gas or a non-oxidising gas, and wherein the crude solvent extract is a soft extract prepared by maceration, percolation or reflux extraction and contains inactive material or ballast.