Cannabis Remediation Solutions
Remediation of cannabis oil can refer to the removal of many different types of contaminants. The main types of remediation in cannabis processing are THC remediation, heavy metal remediation, color remediation, and pesticide remediation. To effectively remediate cannabis oil, it is important to have proper analytical testing done on samples to determine the net amount of possible contaminants and how this can affect downstream processing.
THC Remediation
THC remediation is the process of making a compliant distillate end product that contains less than 0.3% THC. This is the legal limit for CBD and hemp products that go to market. When hemp goes through the extraction process, the small amount of THC in the plant becomes concentrated and therefore must be removed prior to end product creation.
One of the more popular ways for remediating THC is the use of chromatography. In most cases a flash chromatography system is used to specifically target the THC cannabinoid and remove it from the mixture. Although it is impossible to fully remove all of the THC, it can be brought down to below the legal limit of 0.3%.
CBD and THC have different polarities. This difference in polarity causes the THC and CBD to separate at different rates. A flash chromatography system uses solvent and special types of media to force this separation and collect separate fractions based on the different polarities of these compounds.
There are also other processes which can be utilized to separate the two cannabinoids such as liquid/liquid extraction. This process uses specific solvents to separate the cannabinoids by polarity in multiple washing stages without the use of media or a chromatography column.
Heavy Metal Remediation
Heavy metal contamination can be caused by a variety of metalloid contaminants which come in contact with the cannabis plant material during the growing process, or with direct contact of the cannabis oil itself. Heavy metal remediation often involves using specialized media to target these heavy metals. (ativan) The media is added to a filtration system and the oil is dissolved in a solvent. The solvent oil solution is then passed over the media, where the heavy metals are separated via adsorption.
Pesticide Remediation
Pesticides are the most complex and difficult thing to remove from cannabis oil. Pesticide contamination is a direct consequence of using these chemicals during the growing process.
Once the oil is extracted from the cannabis plant material, the pesticides become concentrated, making the oil unsafe for human consumption. Pesticide removal is made even more difficult by the amount of different pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides on the market today. Some pesticides can be removed by simple adsorption when passed over media in a solvent solution. Others are inherently more complex due to their solubility and polarity.
Some pesticides can be removed via liquid/liquid extraction while some can only be removed through advanced chromatography techniques. The best way to avoid pesticide contamination is to simply not use these chemicals in the growing process. This is easier said than done, but the cost per gram of removing pesticides from cannabis oil can be extremely high and begs the question of whether these chemicals are worth using in the growing process at all.
Color Remediation
Color Remediation is often used hand in hand with filtration. In fact, many filtration systems are built around using color remediation techniques within the filter system itself. This is often done with media designed to remove pigments and other contaminants from the solution.
To achieve the best color remediation results, the correct type of filter media must be utilized. Filter media comes in a variety of types that target specific compounds in the solution. Medias that are predominately made from carbon or charcoal as well as bentonite clay are usually excellent choices for color remediation and removing pigments from the solution. The media is placed inside the filter system or mixed with the solution and fed into the filter as a slurry. We carry a variety of filter medias to achieve proper color remediation as well as to remove a variety of other contaminants.
There are many types of contaminants that can cause failed test results when it comes to cannabis oil. High THC content in a CBD sample, heavy metals, and pesticides are all examples of compounds that must be remediated to ensure a safe, compliant end product is brought to market.
The remediation process can involve a variety of types of equipment such as specialized medias for filtration, flash chromatography systems, and reactors for liquid/liquid extraction.
Cannabis Remediation Solutions
With cannabis and hemp solutions for cultivation through post-processing, Precision experts have the information you need. Looking for cannabis remediation solutions? Talk to a Precision expert to learn more.
