CBD continues to grow at an alarming rate, and with any growth comes a more streamlined approach in all facets of the business. The CO2 extraction method is one of the essential aspects of obtaining high-quality CBD oil. Why, you ask? Well, for starters, the wrong extraction method leaves harmful residues in your CBD oil, and if you’re striving to enhance your wellness,** this is counterproductive.
The hemp industry has seen various extraction methods, but the CO2 extraction method proves to be the best since it produces the purest oil. We’re going to take a look at this process, along with some other related techniques, to explain how it makes a difference with health and wellness.**
Why Do Extraction Methods Matter?
Okay, let’s get down to business and reveal why extraction matters for your wellness. Some older, dated extraction methods used harsh chemicals to extract or separate plant matter during the extraction process.
Some of those harsh chemicals are left behind in the oil used in product formulations in these processes.
Overall, the extraction process is most important because the CBD oils produced serve as a baseline for everything else. Let’s take a look at some of the older methods before we jump into CO2 extraction.
What Happens During the Extraction Process?
So, what is the objective of the extraction process?
Some could care less, as long as they end up with quality CBD oil, but it doesn’t hurt to understand the entire process.
The primary objective of the extraction process is to pull beneficial compounds from the plant matter while avoiding a slew of harmful chemicals.
We already know there are over 100 different cannabinoids in the hemp plant, but on the plant, itself, are trichomes — tiny crystal-like structures on the plant. The extraction process aims to infiltrate and separate those trichomes from the hemp plant, so the oil has all those benefits.**
The Solvent Extraction Method
This method was the go-to method of extraction in past times. With the solvent extraction method, you could use a solvent like alcohol, butane, or propane (to name a few). The problem with these solvents is they leave a residue in the CBD oil.
This residue then makes its way into various products, posing potential problems and risks to the consumer. The solvent method is faster and cheaper than the CO2 method, but this means you end up with a lower-quality product. Let’s compare solvent extraction to the CO2 extraction process.
The CO2 Supercritical Extraction Method
The CO2 extraction process is the preferred extraction method for larger CBD companies because it provides the cleanest oil. The CO2 method uses pressurized carbon dioxide. It’s a supercritical fluid that liquefies under the immense pressure produced within the process.
Wondering how this magic takes place?
For starters, this isn’t something you can whip up in your basement as a weekend hobby. You need a proper setup, which is intricate and pricey. First, the CO2 gas converts into a liquid, as mentioned above, and then this liquid washes through the plant material, taking the trichomes with it to produce a cannabinoid-rich CBD oil.
Interestingly, the liquified CO2 works similarly to the solvents in the method described above, but it doesn’t have all the harmful chemicals that stick around. When it’s all said and done, the liquid returns to its original state, producing a clear, solvent-free oil.
What It Means for Your CBD Products
Utilizing the CO2 extraction process means you end up with a higher-quality CBD product. When you have higher quality products, you ensure you’re able to have the best experience. Some people look for the cheaper options, thinking all CBD products are created the same, but as you can see, this just isn’t the case.
Low-end products, created with solvent extraction methods, are easy to identify if you look at the third-party lab reports. Lab tests show you an accurate depiction of what’s in the oil — cannabinoid content, terpenes, and any chemicals or toxins lurking in the oil.
When you’re looking to introduce CBD wellness into your life,** you want to start with the highest quality. When you take the opposite route, settling for low-end products, it’s quite possible the effectiveness won’t be there.
Most reputable CBD companies utilize the CO2 method, and this information should be easy to locate once you’re on the website.
Make sure you check the three main quality benchmarks when shopping for CBD:
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- • CO2 extraction
- • Third-party lab reports
- • Organically sourced hemp
When you check all of these things off the list, you’re sure to have the best CBD experience.**
Moving Forward With CO2 Extraction
There are many ways to extract CBD from the hemp plant, but the CO2 process reigns supreme for several reasons. It produces the purest oil without leaving any toxic chemical residue behind.
Remember, the CBD extraction process is an essential part of product development, because it’s the starting point for most products. With the CBD industry expanding as quickly as it has, one can only wonder what’s in store.
Here at CBDfx, all of our products are created with the CO2 supercritical process, so you know your product has top-tier CBD oil — with lab reports to back it up!
With all of this new information, you’re probably ready to experience this level of CBD wellness for yourself!
Check out our full line of CBD Tincture Oils & other CBD Products to kick start your CBD wellness journey!**
