Use of Vacuum Pumps in Botanicals Processing Workflow
The typical THC/CBD extraction workflow consists of several steps. These steps typically include
- Extraction
- Winterization
- Concentration
- Distillation
For the Extraction step, solvents such as Butane, Ethanol or supercritical CO2 are used to extract CBD/THC from Cannabis. During Winterization, the cooled extract is filtered in a vacuum, before the solvents will be removed again during the concentration step in a rotary evaporator and later in a vacuum oven. In the last step, the terpenes are separated from THC/CBD via distillation (including Short Path, Fractional, and Wiped Film). Vacuum pumps are used to lower the boiling point of the Terpenes, THC and CBD as well as remove any oxygen to inhibit degradation and thermal decomposition.
