Chromatography Explained

Description

Chromatography has become critically important for the widely popular formulations of CBD products including full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate – all of which are increasingly desired in the growing hemp extract markets. With the ability to selectively manipulate various cannabinoids, terpenes and other materials from the plant matrix, there are a number of methods by which chromatography can be accomplished, and various forms of chromatography have proven themselves to be advantageous for an number of reasons in larger scale extraction.

For a hemp extract to be legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, any particular hemp product must contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive cannabinoid. Lawmakers limited the amount of THC that could be present in hemp biomass so as to distinguish it from other plants that produce high amounts of the psychoactive component.

When the biomass is extracted, however, the amount of THC in the extract is at a higher level than the limit that was established by the Farm Bill. As the oil becomes more refined, the concentration of THC will increase to the point where the oil is no longer fit for commerce.

As a result, many producers have added a separation process into their hemp processing workflow. Hemp extract that has had THC removed from it is known as broad spectrum hemp oil. The production of broad-spectrum hemp oil typically requires the separation of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the other cannabinoids in the oil.

In this episode of extrakTALKS, Dr. Jon discuss the ins and outs of chromatography in the hemp extraction industry. This important final step of hemp extraction is critical for properly formulating CBD products in terms of legality and consumer preference. Watch and listen as Dr. Jon and Randall explain chromatography in detail and introduce extraktLAB’s high performance liquid chromatography system – the pure99.