The CBD market is exploding. According to Grandviewresearch.com, the global CBD market was valued at 4.6 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow by over 22% from 2019 to 2025. As more people turn to CBD for its potential health benefits, more opportunities will arise. One of the major components of this growing market is the CBD oil process. Raw hemp plants are used to create the oil by extraction. There are multiple ways of producing CBD oil but what is the best method?
How to Extract CBD
Most CBD oil extract is created using one of the 3 major extraction methods. All the methods require hemp to be decarboxylated, meaning heated to activate the different sought-after chemical compounds in the hemp or cannabis plant.
Each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the goal of extraction. Safety, cost, and efficiency all come into play when deciding what extraction method makes sense. These methods can also be used to extract other cannabinoids to produce products such as CBG oil.
CBD Oil Extraction Methods
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CO2 Extraction
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Ethanol Solvent Extraction
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Olive Oil Extraction
CO2 Extraction
This is regarded by the commercial CBD industry as the best CBD extraction method. Using carbon dioxide as an extraction solvent has been used in the food industry for decades. It’s a tried-and-true method that most CBD manufacturing facilities utilize.
CO2 extraction is a safe process when used in a proper lab with trained professionals. The result is pure and safe to consume. CO2 is a natural occurring substance that is non-toxic. This is ideal to use as a solvent because any left-over residue can be safely consumed in the end product.
The CBD oil process can be expensive. This is the downside to CO2 extraction. If you are looking to make your own CBD liquid drops, this is probably not the choice for you. The equipment is extremely expensive, requires constant upkeep, a clean environment, and needs to be operated by people who know what they are doing. Most extraction facilities are highly regulated ensuring that the final product is safe to consume.
Ethanol Solvent Extraction
This extraction method uses highly purified alcohol as the solvent to extract the CBD. The solvent is added to the raw hemp biomass and heated causing decarboxylation. This process separates the unwanted cannabinoids and terpenes from the CBD.
This method can be used for CBD isolate not full spectrum. The CBD is separated from the hemp at a high yielding cost effective manner.
The downside to ethanol solvent extraction is safety. Alcohol is highly flammable making the process dangerous. If you have ever read about people blowing up their garage attempting to manufacture cannabis products themselves, most likely this was their extraction method.
The residue left behind is also course for concern. Any leftover residue is toxic. The yield must be below a certain threshold to be considered safe to use, otherwise the CBD product could be harmful to the consumer.
Olive Oil Extraction
This is the DIY approach to extracting CBD oil from hemp. This process is cheap and safe because olive oil isn’t flammable. A sanitized lab and team of trained scientist aren’t needed for this method.
Simply heat the hemp biomass to activate its chemicals. Add to olive oil and heat to 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
This method is idea for the do-it-yourself CBD user. The downside is that this is not cost effective and definitely not scalable for those looking to make a living off their own CBD oil.
The Best Extraction Method
CBD extraction can be costly process with real consequences. We recommend CO2 extraction because of its efficiency and safety. Carbon dioxide is a safe, natural occurring compound, there’s no need to be concerned with the final product as long as the lab is utilizing best manufacturing processes.
CO2 extraction is also the only way full spectrum CBD can be produced. This mean CBD with other cannabinoids and terpenes left behind in the extraction process. Full spectrum capsules are thought to deliver more benefits than CBD isolate (pure CBD without any other cannabinoids and terpenes).
When buying a new CBD product, it is essential to understand where the hemp comes from and how it is extracted.
