CO2 Extracted CBD Oil

CO2 Extracted CBD Oil

CBD oil (cannabidiol) comes from the hemp plant and can provide people with many health benefits.
Not all CBD oils are created with the same quality. There are many extraction methods, but here we
will focus on CO2 extracted oils. The extraction method will have a direct effect on its effects. While
many people have added CBD to their health and wellness routine, it’s important to find a high-quality
product.

What is CO2 extraction?

CO2 extraction utilizes pressurized carbon to draw the CBD from the hemp plant and is one of the
more common extraction types. The supercritical state is reached by the equipment used to achieve
this extraction method. In this state, the CO2 becomes both a liquid and a gas and then the CO2
passes through the hemp plant.

At this point, the extraction process is able to pull out essential oils and other key parts of the plant,
like terpenes and trichomes. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give the oil its distinct flavor
and aroma. Terpenes also boost and enhance the CBD oil’s benefits through the “entourage effect.”
Trichomes produce hundreds of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that make strains effective
and potent.

Finally, the solution goes through a separator. The CO2 is removed and can be re-used to extract
more CBD oil.

The Positives and Negatives of the CO2 Extraction Method

Some of the beneficial effects of using the CO2 method are as follows. There is less waste and
environmental impact as the CO2 can be reused for the extraction process. It is a safer practice at it
doesn’t require any flammable materials. The risk of residual solvents in a product decrease as CO2
evaporates.

One of the bigger of the negatives using this extraction method is a more expensive product.
Additionally, fewer terpenes are extracted which will limit the “entourage effect” that was previously
discussed. Due to fewer terpenes, the product is considered to be a weaker product since some of the
additional benefits are lost.

Other Methods of Extraction

There are many methods currently being used to produce CBD oil. Olive oil extraction is considered to
be a safe method, but produces lower yields and is highly perishable. Dry ice extraction is an easy and
clean method but doesn’t create a higher quality product. Steam distillation is very simple and
requires very little equipment, but it leaves behind many important oils or can damage some of the
essential oils.

The best method to create a highly potent CBD oil with many benefits is the ethanol extraction
method. The drawback to this extraction type is that it takes special equipment and a higher skill
level than the other processes. The final product will have a higher terpene concentration than the
other methods.