Chances are you’ve heard about CBD oil, but have you ever wondered how it was made? If so, you are going to want to read further because in this article we’re going to cover one of the most prominent ways of extracting CBD oil along with this method’s pros and cons. When it comes to extracting CBD oil, there are a handful of ways.
The most popular are as follows;
- CO2
- Utilizing the Rick Simpson Method
- Ethanol and Canola Oil
In this article we will be discussing the process, pros and cons of utilizing the CO2 extraction technique to produce CBD oil. So what is CO2 and how is it utilized to make CBD oil? Let’s take a look.
What is CO2 and How is it Used to Make CBD Oil?
CO2 also known as carbon dioxide, is a naturally occurring molecule made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms that can be utilized as a natural solvent for extracting CBD oil. CO2 extraction takes place within specialized equipment that allows for a closed-loop process. When in its fluid state, CO2 is held at a critical pressure and temperature and is considered to be in a supercritical state.
In this condition, CO2 has both the properties of gas and liquid simultaneously. The CO2 is heated during the extraction process and pushed through whatever material it is extracting compounds from at high pressure. This process allows all heat sensitive nutrients and components to remain intact and unaltered. As the CO2 is pushed through the material, pure, potent oil is extracted, and voila, you have high-grade medicinal CBD oil!
Pros and Cons of CO2 Extraction
Now that you know what CO2 is and how it is utilized to extract CBD oil, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of this specific extraction technique.
Pros
- CO2 is nonflammable unlike solvents used in other methods of extraction.
- Is perfect for working with temperature sensitive materials/substances
- The CBD extracted using CO2 contains non-toxic extract residues.
- The CO2 to be reused thanks to the closed-loop process that CO2 utilizes.
Cons
- The CO2 extraction process isn’t a process that can be repeated consistently. This is because, after each extraction session, materials and equipment must be sterilized and treated.
- CO2 extraction requires special training and expensive equipment.