How to Isolate Cannabinoids
Cannabinoid isolation plays a crucial role in medical research by separating specific cannabinoids for testing and observation. However, it also has a commercial purpose, helping weed dispensaries improve and develop their products for higher efficacy. Learning how to isolate cannabinoids can prove useful for personal use as well since you can consume the finished product in isolation or in combination with food, oil, hemp, etc.
Below, we’ll go over the complete process of cannabinoid isolation and provide step-by-step instructions on how it works. We’ll also briefly cover the different uses and applications of purified cannabinoids, so stick with us.
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How to Isolate Cannabinoids
To understand how the process of cannabinoid isolation works, it’s important to first learn what cannabinoids are. Cannabinoids are chemical substances found in the cannabis plant that are structurally related to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) and bind to cannabinoid receptors, possibly causing a high feeling in the body and mind.
The types of cannabinoids present in a cannabis plant are plenty, but you should mostly be concerned with THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, CBC, and THCV, which have pharmacological and recreational roles.
Cannabinoid isolation gains significance in various fields, including medicine, thanks to the purity level achieved through this method of extraction. This helps researchers stay on top of the latest developments in the cannabis world and the possible pain-relieving properties of cannabis. The commercial use of cannabinoids is popular as well, as many weed dispensaries sell isolated cannabinoids that can be tweaked to the taste of consumers.
Isolation can go through multiple phases – winterization, decarboxylation, distillation, and crystallization – depending on the technique.
Simply put, isolation involves heat, pressure, and agitation. A solvent is used to single out and purify cannabinoids at high heat, after which the mixture is left to chill and crystalize. Then, a solvent is used again to eliminate any leftover impurities, leaving a solitary cannabinoid.
Here’s how to isolate cannabinoids through different techniques:
Cannabinoid isolation techniques
Solvent-based extraction methods
Solvent-based extraction is used for producing live resin, hash oil, wax, etc. The solvents most used in this process are:
CO2
Ethanol
Butane
Propane
Hexane
Petroleum ether
Methyl tertbutyl ether
Diethyl ether
Olive oil
Here’s a quick overview of some popular solvent-based isolation techniques:
Vegetable oil extraction – You can try this method at home using sunflower, olive, or coconut oil. First, you decarboxylate the cannabis plant to make cannabinoids like THCA and CBDA active. Then, you drench the plant in oil and let it sit heated for a couple of hours. The result is an infused oil product you can use on your body, for example.
Ethanol extraction – The benefit of this extraction method is that it’s versatile (ethanol can be polar and nonpolar), low-risk, and leaves little to no residue. The ethanol is first boiled, condensed, and chilled and then used to soak the cannabis and start the isolation process.
Hydrocarbon extraction – For this method, light hydrocarbons like butane or propane are used in low heat due to their low boiling point, resulting in a full-spectrum cannabis extract (multiple cannabinoids).
Supercritical CO2 extraction – This method involves supercritical CO2 as a solvent that possesses both gas and liquid properties. Once cannabinoids are extracted using the solvent, heat and pressure are applied to separate specific cannabinoids. There’s no solvent residue after wrapping up this method.
Chromatography techniques
Chromatography separates components in a mixture based on how they interact with a moving (liquid or gas) vs. stationary phase. Here are the different types of chromatography used in cannabinoid isolation:
Centrifugal partition chromatography – During this technique, the cannabinoids move between a stationary liquid phase and a rotating liquid phase, causing separation based on their affinity for each phase. This method is most used for purifying cannabinoids from plant extracts.
Reversed-phase chromatography – A non-polar stationary phase is paired with a polar mobile phase, causing separation based on polarity. Since cannabinoids are generally non-polar, this can present a rather effective method, especially when passing through a polar mobile phase.
High-performance liquid chromatography – A liquid sample passes through a stationary phase, and separation is a result of the interaction between the components in the sample and the phase.
Supercritical fluid chromatography – In this case, a supercritical fluid like CO2 is used as the mobile phase. This method is excellent for separating non-polar compounds like cannabinoids while eliminating organic solvents.
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Purification and Refinement
To ensure that the cannabinoids are pure and refined, the crude product undergoes multiple processing phases:
Removal of impurities
There are various methods for removing any impurities from cannabinoids that have managed to slip through:
Flash chromatography – In this case, there’s a column filled with a stationary phase (like silica gel) and a mobile phase (solvent). The cannabinoids pass through the column but at different rates based on how they interact with the stationary phase. The cannabinoids are then eluted by adjusting the solvent composition for further purification.
Distillation – Here, you separate cannabinoids based on their individual boiling points. This method is used for crude cannabinoid extracts obtained through less efficient isolation techniques.
Liquid-liquid extraction – The cannabinoid solution is purified using different solvents and observing how they react with individual compounds in the solution. Through this method, CBD and THC can be separated.
Crystallization and formulation
Applying all the mentioned methods above may not guarantee complete purity in the final product. That’s why crystallization is used as a refining method to ensure a purer end result:
Crystallization – Through crystallization, the cannabinoids are turned into purified crystals through controlled precipitation. This is often done through cooling or adding anti-solvents.
Recrystallization – You might think it’s the same as crystallization, but it’s actually more enhanced. In this case, you take the crude cannabinoid extract and dissolve it in a solvent, allowing it to recrystallize.
After the cannabinoids are completely pure, manufacturers implement other measures to ensure product consistency. To create standardized cannabinoid products, there must be strict cannabinoid ratio control, extraction methods for different cannabinoids, and established product delivery systems. Finally, through quality testing, manufacturers ensure compliance with regulatory standards and product consistency.
Factors Affecting Cannabinoid Isolation
Certain factors play a key role in cannabinoid isolation, including the type of extraction and the plant source and quality. Here’s how to make cannabinoid isolates for standardized products:
Plant source and quality
The choice of cannabis strain can greatly influence cannabinoid isolation. Each strain has a unique cannabinoid profile, with cannabinoid ratios varying from one strain to another. Furthermore, the cannabinoid profile can change during the growth stages, which is why the maturity of the plant also affects its cannabinoid composition.
It goes without saying that the chosen strain must be of high quality, well-cultivated, and have a clear origin. That’s why strains with known cannabinoid profiles are most desirable for cannabinoid isolation – they deliver precise results.
Extraction parameters
For cannabinoid isolation to be successful, you must pay attention to three determining factors – temperature, pressure, and time. Higher temperatures mean better solubility; however, crossing the specific temperature threshold means you’re risking the cannabinoid quality.
Pressure is important for the solvent to penetrate the cannabinoid matter effectively and separate the impurities. Proper duration of the extraction process ensures that all needed cannabinoids are extracted effectively without allowing impurities to pass through.
Applications and Uses of Isolated Cannabinoids
The diverse nature of isolate powder makes it possible to purchase it for personal use:
Using it sublingually for faster absorption – You can place some isolate powder underneath your tongue and hold it for a minute to speed up absorption. This method delivers the cannabinoids to the bloodstream instead of the digestive system, which means the effects might be near immediate.
Mixing it in oil and using topically – You can use isolated cannabinoids with oil to enhance its effectiveness or you can add it to your favorite topical product for targeted relief. This way, you have full control over the amount of cannabinoids you apply and how much you use.
Making edibles – Isolates are super purified, which means they’re stripped of the good stuff that makes up the cannabis plant, like its smell and taste; they’re more focused on the pure cannabinoids without the other characteristics. To enrich them, you can add them to your favorite recipe and feel the effects kick in in minutes. Add them to your morning coffee or tea, smoothies, cookies, etc.
Other uses of isolated cannabinoids include:
Pharmaceuticals for pain management, inflammation, epilepsy, sleep disorders, and other conditions
Wellness products like supplements, tinctures, and topicals
Medical research to discover new and improved ways of treating different conditions with cannabis
Cosmetics for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Kazyaka Konrad
Conclusion
Cannabinoids are the many different compounds found in the cannabis plant, some of them with mind-altering effects. Product manufacturers isolate these compounds to get the most out of a particular weed strain and sell products in the form of edibles, tinctures, oil, topicals, etc.
You can learn how to isolate cannabinoids at home with more feasible methods like ethanol or oil extraction. However, more complex isolation techniques like chromatography require professional equipment to ensure safety, protection, and accuracy.
Finally, there are some factors that should be considered before extracting cannabinoids from a cannabis plant. The quality of a strain, as well as the duration of extraction and the heat and pressure applied, determine the final composition of the isolated mixture.
