The benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) which is a cannabis compound are well known throughout several parts of the world. The compound has so many health benefits to both human beings and pets. Manufactures are doing all that they can to supply the best quality of CBD for pets in the market. However, we cannot run away from the fact that this process is arduous.
It is not easy to extract CBD from marijuana and Hemp. The two main compounds in cannabis are the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD. THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects that are in the marijuana and hemp. On the other hand, CBD carries the health benefits that most people crave to get. When making CBD products for pets, the manufacturer has to make sure that it has no traces of THC. It is good to give your pets products that will enhance their health. As a result, companies are adapting modern technologies for extracting CBD from hemp. The top 3 include;
Solvent
Solvent extraction entails the use of alcohol, isopropyl, propane, butane, and ethanol to extract CBD. It is among the cheapest options and also easy and fast. However, it is also the most dangerous because it has highly flammable liquid components.
The technique dissolves plant wax which hold quite a few nutrients by themselves. It extracts both the chlorophyll and the cannabinoids. Therefore, the CBD products will not have any bitter taste hence friendly for pet consumption.
To begin with, you put the plant and flower trimmings in a container. The solvent is run through the material or soaked hence stripping it of cannabinoids. The evaporation leaves the concentrated cannabinoids in a liquid form.
The other downside is that the solvent residue may be toxic if it is not eliminated completely at the evaporation stage. Some studies reported a trace of petroleum or naphtha hydrocarbons residue on the CBD products which is not healthy for your pets.
Olive Oil
This is the oldest method of extracting CBD for pets, human beings, and other users. Most CBD lovers claim that it remains to be the best technique. The method is simple, fast, and does not cost much.
You heat the raw plants to the desired temperature for a particular time to activate the chemicals in the plant. You then combine olive oil and the plant and then heat again to extract the cannabinoids. The olive oil is not evaporated meaning the extract is not as concentrated as the other techniques. You can compensate this with the dosage that you give to your pets. The other issue with olive oil is the fact that it is highly perishable. Therefore, you must store it in a cool dark place and hence does not work for the needs of many CBD consumers and producers.
CO2 Extraction
The CO2 extraction method continues to become more advanced as companies continue to flourish in the international market. Even though this investment is complex and expensive, it makes safe, potent-free, and successful, and chlorophyll-free CBD extractions.
Its only challenge is that it is a big investment for the CBD producers. It brings safe and high-quality CBD products for the consumer. Besides, there are minimal chances of getting contaminants in the final products.
CO2 extraction uses the ‘closed-loop extraction’ process. This machine has three chambers and the first one holds pressurized dry ice or CO2. The second chamber contains dried help plant material and the last one is used to separate the final product.
CO2 from the first chamber is pumped to the second chamber and takes the supercritical CO2 form- between a liquid state and gas. The supercritical CO2 rums through the materials to extract the cannabinoids. It is then pumped to the last chamber and CO2 rises to the top. It leaves the extract at the bottom where it is isolated from the CO2.
