Process for generating hemp oil with a high cannabidiol (CBD) content
A method for producing hemp oil, comprising decarboxylation of CBDA in hemp oil; short-path evaporation of CBD from the decarboxylated hemp oil to produce CBD oil; selective THC to CBN conversion performed on the decarboxylated hemp oil.
1. A method for producing hemp oil, comprising:
decarboxylation of CBDA in hemp oil; and
evaporation of CBD from the decarboxylated hemp oil to produce CBD oil.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein decarboxylation of CBDA in hemp oil comprises:
starting with virgin CO2 extracted hemp oil that has been extracted from the whole plant;
decarboxylating the virgin CO2 extracted hemp oil by heating to 140-160° C. for 10-18 hours to convert the CBDA to CBD.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein upon reaching about 140-160° C., mixing the resultant solution and then lowering the temperature to between about 75-90° C.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the evaporation of CBD from the decarboxylated hemp oil to produce CBD oil comprises isolating the CBD from a crude decarboxylated CO2 extract generated by decarboxylation of CBDA in hemp oil using two sequential evaporation steps, and wherein the first step comprises:
placing decarboxylated hemp oil in a feed tank of a first evaporator;
setting the feed tank heater to between about 90-150° C. and allowing the decarboxylated hemp oil to fully melt;
maintaining a vacuum of at least 0.5 torr to 0.08 torr with primary vacuum pump.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the evaporator #1 is set to 250-275° C. with a feed rate of 2-3.5 Hz from a feed tank pump.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second step comprises using a second evaporator to refine the CBD to maximum purity.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second evaporator is set to 160-175° C. and is equipped with an additional diffusion pump capable of achieving an ultimate vacuum of 0.5-0.005 torr and wherein evaporator Evaporator #2 is fed at a rate consistent with the output of the residue from evaporator #1.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the evaporation is short-path evaporation.