If your a conosuer of cannabis then it is likely you have heard of or even made your own shatter or BHO wax, a concentrate of some description.
Whether your used butane or isopropyl alcohol. One of the processes in extracting the fine terpenes is getting these liquids to very low temperatures. Which are going to help the terpenes separate from the plant.
Now Hemp and concentrates of cannabis are becoming more popular. A company that specializes in chriogenically freezing things, headed up by Bryan Berger who is also the co-founder of Lytos Technologies, a start-up developing biopesticides for organic agriculture.
The Study developed in the USA is looking at the benefits of cryogenic freezing on cannabinoids. Those found in industrial hemp, from the time of harvest through extraction and final processing.
The research team is seeking best practices, to maximize value immediately transferrable to hemp growers and processors seeking to optimize their product yield.
Industrial gases can play an important role at several points in the hemp value chain. Meaning from when the plant produces THC to when it is cropped. And broken down to made into products, the terpenes are in a process of being degraded by the environment like light and oxygen.
So what can freezing weed at extremely high temperatures do?
Harvesting – Flash freezing freshly-harvested industrial hemp with liquid nitrogen. To help prevent biomass degradation or mold while locking in the chemical content.
Processing – Adding liquid nitrogen when grinding biomass material. To eliminate heat and oil stickiness that causes machine clogging and downtime.
Extraction – For ethanol extraction, using the ultracold properties of liquid nitrogen. To maintain temperatures in the less than -80⁰C range for precise extraction.
Packaging – Dosing the final product with a small amount of liquid nitrogen. To provide against oxidation or moisture, enhancing oil quality and shelf-life.
Inerting/Blanketing – Keeping oils free from moisture and oxygen via nitrogen blanketing. For extend shelf-life, and to meet best practices standards for safety and quality.
Basically getting the most out of your cannabis, keeping the good stuff in, and things like mold out. while at the same time increasing the shelf life of products.
