Method of drying botanicals
View Patent ↗A method for drying to increase the useful life of botanicals and shorten the time to market after harvest of the botanicals. The method may include flash freezing the botanicals, at a desired optimal temperature range, soon after harvest. The method may include storing the frozen botanicals indefinitely prior to drying. The method may include drying the frozen botanicals using a lyophilizer at a desired optimal temperature and pressure.
1. A method comprising:
flash freezing a botanical to solidify moisture content within the botanical, wherein the botanical contains an initial volumetric dimension;
sublimating substantially all of the solidified moisture content from the botanical to form a sublimated moisture content;
converting the sublimated moisture content to liquid form, said liquid form being comprised of water and terpene oil, said terpene oil being lighter in weight than said water; and
separating said terpene oil from said water; and
collecting said separated terpene oil.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sublimated moisture content is separated from the botanical, and a final volumetric dimension of the botanical is substantially the same as the initial volumetric dimension.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising placing the botanical within a chamber of a lyophilizer.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sublimated moisture content is separated from the botanical by vacuuming the sublimated moisture content from the chamber to leave the botanical in a substantially dried state.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the substantially dried botanical is placed in an airtight sealed container for preservation for further use.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the substantially dried botanical is trimmed to form a residue of particles, and the trimmed particles are then packed into cylindrical containers for future use.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the substantially dried botanical is converted into powdered form and is packed into at least one cylindrical container for future use.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein oil is extracted from the dried botanical, and the extracted oil is stored in capsule form.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein oil is extracted from the dried botanical, and the extracted oil is converted into pill form.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the botanical is hemp.
11. A method comprising:
harvesting a botanical;
separating leaves from the botanical;
flash freezing the leaves to solidify moisture content contained therein;
sublimating the solidified moisture content from flash frozen leaves forming substantially moisture free flash frozen leaves;
forming a mulch from the moisture free flash frozen leaves; and
packing the mulch into at least one container.
12. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
converting the sublimated moisture content to liquid form, said liquid form being comprised of water and terpene oil, said terpene oil being lighter in weight than said water;
separating said terpene oil from said water, and collecting said separated terpene oil.
13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the botanical is hemp.
14. A method comprising:
harvesting a botanical;
separating leaves from the botanical;
forming a mulch from the leaves;
flash freezing the formed mulch to solidify moisture content contained therein;
sublimating the solidified moisture from the flash frozen mulch to form substantially moisture free flash frozen mulch; and
packing the moisture free flash frozen mulch into at least one container.
15. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
converting the sublimated moisture content to liquid form, said liquid form being comprised of water and terpene oil, said terpene oil being lighter in weight than said water;
separating said terpene oil from said water, and collecting said separated terpene oil.
16. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the botanical is hemp.
17. A method comprising:
freezing a botanical to solidify the moisture content within the botanical;
sublimating substantially all of the solidified moisture content from the botanical to form a substantially dried botanical;
extracting oil from said substantially dried botanical;
converting the extracted oil into pill form;
converting the sublimated moisture content to liquid form, said liquid form being comprised of water and terpene oil, said terpene oil being lighter in weight than said water;
separating said terpene oil from said water; and
collecting said separated terpene oil.
18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the botanical is hemp.