CBD extraction from hemp

With the explosive popularity of CBD oil, the cannabis industry is always searching for more efficient ways to make it. In this post, you will learn about the CBD extraction from hemp and how it is processed.

Chances are you’ve already heard about CBD oil. It has gained a huge market in recent years, and it seems to be in everyone’s life today, from Hollywood and sports celebrities to people with serious health conditions. Everybody is using it to ease wide-ranging symptoms such as chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy and insomnia. 

But most people don’t even know how CBD oil is made. Read above to learn about the process of making this natural super-healing product.

First things first: what exactly is CBD oil?

As you must know, hemp is a variety of cannabis plant that produces only an insignificant amount of THC, the chemical compound found in some types of cannabis plant that gives you the “high” feeling. In fact, it has less than 0.3% THC (you’ve probably heard about 3% CBD). 

On the other hand, hemp – which has served a wide variety of purposes for more than 10,000 years – produces lots of CBD (short for cannabidiol) an active super-powerful compound that experienced an ever-growing popularity in recent years.

In that sense, CBD oil is a refined hemp extract that has been added to a carrier oil (which is usually some form of vegetable oil or vegetable glycerine, you can check this at the label of the product you want to buy). 

These oils serve an important role: they help deliver the CBD to the body. Manufacturers choose the carrier oil from a wide variety of oils, each with their own pros and cons. Most common carrier oils are coconut oil, olive, hemp seed, MTC oil (which is considered one of the best) and glycerine.

The Process of Making CBD Oil: Most Common Methods of CBD extraction from hemp 

The purpose of CBD extraction from hemp is to end up with CBD in a highly concentrated form to make it suitable for human consumption. 

There are multiple ways for CBD extraction from hemp, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the goal of the finished product. Here are some of the most common techniques.

CO2 Extraction Method 

This is considered one of the most beneficial techniques to extract CBD. It produces an extremely pure CBD, and CO2 is non-toxic, so is considered fully safe for humans. CO2 (carbon dioxide) is a gas that when heated and converted into liquid, it works like a natural solvent (the solvent is what breaks down the raw material to turn it into CBD).

After that process the resulting solution is then passed through a filter to separate the essential oils. 

This method requires equipment that are quite expensive and complex. It is used by most food and medical big companies for many years as it is very predictable. 

Olive Oil Extraction Method

This very popular method can be performed at home or in a small commercial establishment

The first necessary step is decarboxylated (heating the plant to a certain temperature to activate its chemicals). After that, the hemp material is added to the olive oil and heated again for at least a couple of hours. Then, the extraction is done. 

CBD extraction from hemp

This technique is very cheap and safe, too. However, it is not suitable for commercial use and the resulting CBD  is not so pure. 

Ethanol Extraction Method

This is probably the oldest method of extraction. Ethanol (or a high profile alcohol like butane) is used as a solvent to strip CBD from hemp. After alcohol is evaporated, the result is CBD crude oil. 

This technique is cheaper and effective than others, but involves certain risks, due to the solvents that are used are highly flammable and combustible. Also, there can be some trace amounts of solvent left over.

More information = better decisions

It’s important to understand the different methods of CBD extraction as they impact on the quality of the end product (and your health!).

CBD is on the rise, but the lack of standards can cause problems for customers. Knowing how CBD oil is made is extremely important to make sure you’re buying quality stuff

If you are going to buy a CBD oil, ask about the methods that the supplier uses to remove undesirable ingredients to make sure you are getting the best possible.