System and method for processing hemp plants and products produced thereby
A system and method for processing hemp plants is disclosed. The process is capable of processing whole cannabis plants for producing multiple useful products. A pair of hammermills are used in series in order to produce an extractable cannabis material for obtaining cannabinoids, such as CBD, and a fiber product. The hurds contained in the cannabis plant material are controlled and fractionated during the process for allowing high throughput.
1 . A plant product comprising a cannabis material made by a process comprising the steps of:
feeding cut and dried cannabis plants to a first hammermill and decorticating cannabis plants to form a fiber material stream and a cannabis material stream, the fiber material stream containing cannabis hurds in an amount of from about 20% to about 55% by weight, the cannabis material stream containing cannabis hurds in an amount from about 2% to about 15% by weight, the cannabis material stream further comprising a blend of shreds and fines, the shreds and fines comprising cannabis leaves, cannabis buds, and the cannabis hurds;
collecting the cannabis material stream;
feeding the fiber material stream to a second hammermill and screening the fiber material stream to remove cannabis hurds and fines to form a fiber tow; and
baling the fiber tow, the fiber tow containing cannabis hurd in an amount less than about 10% by weight.
2 . The plant product as defined in claim 1 , wherein the decorticated cannabis plants are fed to a screening device during or after being fed through the first hammermill for forming the fiber material stream and the cannabis material stream.
3 . The plant product as defined in claim 1 , wherein the cannabis hurds and fines removed from the fiber material stream are collected to form a shive product.
4 . The plant product as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of extracting one or more cannabinoids from the cannabis material stream.
5 . A system for processing a cannabis material comprising:
a first hammermill, the first hammermill configured to decorticate cannabis plants to form a fiber material stream and a cannabis material stream, the fiber material stream containing cannabis hurds in an amount of from about 20% to about 55% by weight, the cannabis material stream containing cannabis hurds in an amount from about 2% to about 15% by weight;
a second hammermill; and
a screening device, the screening device configured to screen the fiber material stream to remove cannabis hurds and fines.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the system is configured to form a fiber tow.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the fiber tow contains cannabis hurds in an amount less than about 10% by weight.
8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second hammermill is configured to decorticate the fiber material stream.