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Industrial Hemp Extraction Equipment
CO2 cannabis extraction, alcohol cannabis extraction, butane/propane cannabis extraction, and ice water extraction are the four main processes for cannabis extraction in the cannabis industry. Each extraction process uses different types of machines and equipment, which are discussed in the following sections.
CO2 Cannabis Extraction Method — The Hi-Flo FX2
- Under the CO2 cannabis extraction method, there are five known equipment used, which include the BOSS CO2 Extraction System, Cannabis SFE, the Hi-Flo FX2, Apeks Supercritical CO2 System, and the Super C Extractor. Each equipment comes with a different price, with the prices of some machines depending on size.
- The Hi-Flo FX2 5K2 is very expensive and costs about $175,000. Besides its high cost, the extractor also consumes a lot of space. Importantly, it uses CO2 to deliver quick, efficient, and toxin-free (cannabidiol) CBD oil.
- Some advantages of the Hi-Flo™ High Performance Series include non-stop reliability due to its high-quality material and engineering design, simple operations following a centralized control center, and low maintenance costs due to CO2 recapturing and the absence of internal moving parts.
- The disadvantages of the Hi-Flo™ High Performance Series include the need for a highly ventilated and controlled environment, unsuitable for small scale operators, high purchasing costs, and lower capacity when compared to other competitor products.
Alcohol Cannabis Extraction — Genius ASAHI Rotary Evaporator
- The Genius ASAHI Rotary Evaporator is ideal for commercial use. It uses solvent alcohol to extract cannabinoids and terpenes at low temperatures. Again, it is available in different sizes, i.e., 10 liters, 20 liters, 30 liters, 50 liters, 100 liters, and 200 liters.
- The machine is not quite expensive; however, the prices vary depending on size. Moreover, the company selling this equipment requires one to place an order before they can reveal the price.
- The advantages of the rotary evaporator include the ability to extract CBD at low temperatures versus competitor items, it is relatively affordable when compared to peers, it is available in many sizes, and is easy to clean and maintain.
- On the flip side, the Genius ASAHI Rotary Evaporator requires users to purchase items like chillers and pumps separately, limited capacity in smaller models, the extraction process is manual, and the machine does not offer much flexibility.
Butane/Propane Extractors — The PX40 Extraction System
- The PX40, or “The Executioner,” is the world’s largest CBD extraction machine, which can process 90 pounds of raw input material per run.
- The pricing for the PX40 or “The Executioner,” starts from about $189,000.
- Some top advantages of this machine include its simple to use nature, requires nominal space to work, it is compatible with hydrocarbons such as propane and butane, high output volume, and is ideal for terpene extraction.
- The disadvantages of the PX40 include the use of hydrocarbon solvents that must be removed, it is complex and very expensive, not ideal for small scale use, and the hydrocarbons require careful handling.
Ice Water Extraction — The Eberbach Model E5703
- The Eberbach Model E5703 machine was designed by both Eberbach and Mountain High Suckers as a commercial alternative of ice water extraction. The machine is made from stainless steel and food-grade materials.
- The machine costs approximately $15,000 and is ideal for small scale extraction.
- Some advantages of the Eberbach Model E5703 include simplicity, cheap to run and maintain, does not use harmful chemicals, and is suitable for small scale use versus commercial.
- On the other hand, the machine has its fair share of cons, which include slow extraction due to the use of ice water, it is still in development, lacks add-ons to scale up production, and there is no data available in public to show its efficiency.
Research Methodology
Your research team uncovered four examples of methods used in industrial hemp extraction, including an example of machine/equipment used in each process. We relied on information published by engineering institutions such as Engineeringk12.org, along with cannabis analytics tech companies like Analytical Cannabis and Cannabis Tech. We also checked cannabis news platforms like Industrial Hemp Exchange and business magazines like the MG Retailer. Equally, we checked the websites of the manufacturers of these machines, i.e., Go Eden Labs, Asahi Glass Plant, and Eberbach, to unearth more insights into their products and processes. All these sources and many more referred to the same processes and equipment; therefore, we handpicked those in each category that are designed for industrial and commercial use. Specifically, we focused on equipment with high output volumes since such machines are ideal for industrial use. Overall, all details regarding the procedure, the machine, and its advantages and disadvantages are examined above.