Let's make THC extract

Find innovative production technology for making thc and connect directly with world-leading specialists.

The cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing in the world with a revenue of $20.47 billion in 2020 which is expected to soar up to $197.74 billion in 2028. The famous cannabis substance that causes marijuana’s psychological effects is THC and it was first isolated in 1964. There are two methods of extracting THC from cannabis: solvent-based and non-solvent extraction. Each technique requires different THC oil extraction equipment.

Connect directly with world leading technology suppliers.

We will connect you directly with a technology specialist that has experience with your process.

CBD and THC: what is the difference?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, and THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, are the two most common substances in cannabis. They affect receptors that release neurotransmitters in the brain. THC, the most psychoactive molecule, induces the feeling of being high.

On the other hand, CBD is non-psychotropic and associated with well-being, and therefore a natural treatment for conditions such as arthritis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, etc. THC is sourced from marijuana, while CBD, which can be extracted from both, is more commonly sourced from hemp that contains 0.3% or less THC.

The differences between the effects of the two substances lay in their molecular distinction. Although they have the same chemical formula, they are composed of 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms, the atoms are constructed differently.

THC oil extraction equipment and processes

Two main techniques for cannabis extraction are solvent-based and solventless extraction methods. Solvent-based methods rely on chemicals such as ethanol, hypercarbons, CO2 or oils, to dissolve cannabinoid trichomes from the plant. On the other hand, solventless techniques use agitation methods and machines with low heat and pressure without any chemical solvent involved, to extract trichomes from the plant.

The solvent-based extraction method using ethanol is a popular choice for being efficient and safe. In the extraction agent, which is chilled in an inline chiller to as low as -40℃, the previously soaked cannabinoid compounds are extracted from the biomass. Subsequently, a filtration skid filters out suspended particulates and adsorbents and a falling film evaporator vaporizes ethanol from the oil. During decarboxylation, the solvent-free cannabinoid molecules is converted into consumable versions. Finally, the purified THC is separated from the crude oil in a rolled film distillation.

The THC oil extraction equipment used for the solventless method known as mechanical separation is a hash oil extractor machine, which separates the cannabinoid-rich trichomes from the biomass by using water, ice and an agitational force. The trichomes broken off the plant float into the water and are filtered out through screening bags.

Another favored solventless processing method is similar to cold-pressed oil production, bearing the same name. The oil is extracted using a cold press machine by crushing the pre-cooled plant material. This method is considered a more natural way of processing biomass, which caters to enjoyers of the pure plant flavor.

Hemp cultivation and the environment

The cultivation of hemp has significant environmental benefits. Namely, the plant grows fast, requires no pesticides, is drought-resistant, and nurtures the soil by returning 60% of the nutrients it takes while growing. Therefore, hemp improves soil fertility but suppresses the growth of weeds. Moreover, hemp is a culture ΔCO2 negative, which means it removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits.

Hemp can substitute plastic such as grocery bags and bottles, polyester in textiles, and hemp seed oil can be used as biomass fuel. Finally, hemp paper is an excellent alternative to prevent deforestation which has several terrible side effect such as climate change, soil erosion, and displacement of animals and native tribes. Trees take decades to grow – this means we cut them down faster than we can replace them – but the hemp plant matures in a couple of months. China, Romania, Germany, Ecuador, Colombia and Lithuania are some of the most prominent faces on the global hemp industry scene.