Efficient extraction of terpenes from hemp and cannabis

UVic研究人员和Keirton之间的这种伙伴关系旨在进一步了解从大麻或大麻生物质中提取萜烯和其他挥发性有机化合物（VOC）的过程，并评估执行该过程的不同技术。萜烯带有大麻产品的味道，而医疗效果与大麻素有关。 常见的提取方法是基于溶液的，其中萜烯溶解在挥发性溶剂中，然后通过蒸发溶剂来分离。这些过程破坏了多达30-50%的萜烯。此外，溶剂产生低质量的产物（例如，混浊液体，难闻气味）。 该项目将研究使用冷冻干燥技术提取萜烯和挥发性有机化合物，以取代基于溶液的技术。拟议的研究将为提取过程的每个阶段确定或开发物理模型，并将其连接起来，以获得提取过程的全面知识，以便Keirton能够最佳地将该技术应用于加拿大制造的新产品并将其商业化。 过程的设计及其控制依赖于对过程物理的理解，这将是研究的结果。系统结构将需要关于不同方法的特点和要求的信息。确定最佳工作条件需要从热力学的洞察力。 大麻合法化在世界范围内取得了进展。加拿大处于合法化的前沿，并有望成为大麻产业相关技术的领导者和提供者。目前市场上没有用于提取大麻衍生的萜烯和VOC的工业技术。项目完成后，Keirton将应用通过该项目获得的知识，通过为不断增长的全球大麻市场设计和开发产品，将这项技术商业化。开发这项技术将使加拿大处于行业的前沿，并有助于加拿大大麻行业的发展。

This partnership between UVic Researchers and Keirton is intended to further the understanding of processes for extracting terpenes and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from hemp or cannabis biomass and evaluating different technologies for carrying out the process. Terpenes carry the flavor of cannabis products, while the medical effects are related to cannabinoids. The common extraction processes are solution based, where terpenes are dissolved in volatile solvents, and then isolated by evaporation of the solvent. These processes destroy as much as 30-50% of terpenes. Moreover, the solvents yield low quality product (e.g., cloudy liquid, unpleasant smell). The project will examine the use of freeze drying technologies for extraction of terpenes and VOC to replace solution based techniques. The proposed research will identify or develop physics models for each stage of the extraction process and interface them to obtain a full knowledge of the extraction process so Keirton can optimally apply and commercialize the technology into new products made in Canada. Design of the processes, and their control relies on understanding of the physics of the process, which will be a result of the research. The system architecture will need information about the characteristics and requirements of the different methodologies. Determining the best working conditions requires insight from thermodynamics. Legalization of cannabis is progressing worldwide. Canada is at the frontier in legalization, and is positioned to become a leader and provider of cannabis industry related technologies. There currently is no industrial technology on the market for extracting cannabis derived terpenes and VOC's. Following the project completion, Keirton will apply the knowledge obtained through this project to commercialize this technology by designing and developing products for a growing global cannabis market. Developing this technology will put Canada at the forefront of the industry and help to grow the Canadian cannabis sector.