Best CBD Extraction Methods

When it comes to consuming CBD, few people consider more than the products they see in front of them on the shelves. But these CBD infused products don’t come from anywhere and are required to undergo a complex extraction process before being bottled or packaged for distribution. It can take hours if not days to produce pure CBD products that offer greater benefits than those that are produced at scale, providing a range of suitable health advantages to those who experience discomfort and pain as a result of a chronic illness, want to offset anxiety and more. With that in mind, we’re taking a closer look at what happens behind the scenes of extracting CBD oil and the best CBD extraction methods.

Top Two CBD Extraction Methods

Ethanol extraction and Supercritical CO2 Extraction are amongst the top best CBD extraction methods, providing manufacturers the ability to retain the quality of the final CBD product in a safe and controlled environment. We’re taking a closer look at how each method of CBD extraction is carried out below.

What Is Ethanol Extraction?

When it comes to extracting CBD oil, ethanol extraction is one of the most popular CBD extraction methods, also commonly being used in a range of food-grade products such as wine and beer. Due to its natural properties, ethanol plays a key role in this type of CBD extraction particularly when producing CBD oil and CBD gummies. Many steps are carried out as part of the extraction process, whereby the plant material enters an ethanol soak before being filtered. Importantly, ethanol extraction is carried out at extreme cold temperatures starting at -40 degrees. This helps to ensure that all the lips and fats are removed from the extract, contributing to the pureness of the final product. The ethanol is then removed to the product with only small traces remaining.

What Is Supercritical CO2 Extraction?

Supercritical CO2 extraction is also a clean and safe way used to extract CBD from hemp plants. Similar to ethanol extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction is also used to make beer. The process starts with the CBD being pressurised in a chamber. Carbon dioxide is then added to the chamber, kick-starting the extraction process. The CO2 extraction then works to separate the compounds of the plant, removing the need for further purification. After the extraction has taken place, the CO2 is precipitated into a liquid ready to reuse.

Ethanol Extraction vs. Supercritical CO2 Extraction

Ethanol extraction is a safe way to produce a pure CBD product compared to other, sometimes more complex extraction methods. What we know is that both ethanol extraction and supercritical CO2 extraction are notably environmentally friendly and safe, producing pure CBD without the need for further distillation. 

Ethanol extraction in particular provides greater consistency in terms of the quality of the final product providing the CBD was sourced from quality plants in the first place, often making it a more reliable method when producing a product that is trusted by customers. This is ultimately what will keep customers returning to your product, positioning your CBD products amongst the best.

On the other hand, supercritical CO2 extraction offers little concern to both manufacturers and customers as carbon dioxide does not impact our health at the required concentration, offering a reliable solution to CBD extraction. This type of extraction also offers a stronger CBD concentration which is ideal for individuals who favour CBD products that contain further cannabinoids and compounds. 

Ultimately, the element both extraction methods have in oil is the ability to divide cannabis oil into solo components, increasing the possibility of extracting particular cannabinoids.

What Happens Next?

The time in which it takes to produce CBD extract largely varies depending on the extraction method used. However, the pure CBD extract produced at the end far outweighs the time taken to get there. Some ways CBD extract can be used is for CBD oil which is a convenient option for individuals who are always on the go, gummies which allow you to enjoy the benefits of CBD extract in a unique way, tablets which offer a quick relief and topicals which offer energy enhancing effects.

Extracting CBD oil is far more complex than it sounds, requiring precision to ensure it is carried out successfully to produce an end product that is both pure and provides the desired benefits. So, the next time you come across a CBD product, think about its journey from plant to extract. Shop a range of high-quality CBD products online, now!