CBD oil production: How is cannabidiol extracted??

CBD oil is an extract obtained from the hemp plant, which is said to have many beneficial properties. We will show you which manufacturing processes are available.

CBD oil has gained popularity in recent years. Unlike THC, the active ingredient CBD is not said to have any intoxicating effect and consequently does not make you high.

During production, the active ingredient is carefully extracted with the help of special processes and mixed with hemp seed oil to make it available to everyone.

Besides CO2 extraction, there is the possibility to extract CBD by using alcohol. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, with one method clearly leading the way.

From what is CBD oil extracted?

CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant, but there are major differences here. Those who think of hemp usually associate it with an intoxicating effect caused by the cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

Like THC, CBD is a cannabinoid, but it is not intoxicating and therefore not psychoactive. On the contrary, cannabidiol is even said to have positive effects on the body, which is why the active ingredient is available as CBD oil in many online stores.

Since CBD oils are supposed to offer a wide range of applications, they are also offered in different concentrations. CBD oils usually contain between 3 and 5 percent CBD, but they are also available with a content of 10 to 25 percent cannabidiol.

Even though the oils are not completely free of THC, the maximum content of 0.2 percent is so low that it cannot cause any intoxicating effect.

What plant ingredients are used to make CBD oil?

For the production of CBD oil, not only the leaves but also the flowers of the hemp plant are used, whereby the largest proportion of CBD is said to be in the flowers.

Before the actual manufacturing process begins, the leaves and flowers are carefully dried by storing them in a dark and well-ventilated room.

The use of additional methods for drying the plant components is avoided wherever possible in order not to destroy the valuable ingredients.

In order not to compromise the positive effects of CBD oil, many manufacturers offer organic products that are free of chemical ingredients and additives.

How CBD oil is produced

Meanwhile, there are many different manufacturing processes to obtain CBD oil. CO2 extraction has proven to be particularly effective, as the cannabidiol is extracted extremely gently here and the ingredients of the useful hemp are preserved.

With so-called full-spectrum oils, which contain not only the cannabinoid cannabidiol but also other ingredients such as flavonoids and terpenes, there is always talk of the so-called entourage effect. This effect says that the ingredients can complement each other and improve the effect of CBD.

Contrary to many opinions, CBD oil is not obtained by pressing the hemp leaves and hemp flowers. This method is much more suitable for the production of hemp oil – a vegetable oil extracted from hemp seeds.

Hemp oil is particularly rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids and is often used in vegan cuisine. In the following, we will show you which processes are available and how CBD oil is produced in detail.

CBD oil production with alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most common methods of extracting CBD oil. In contrast to CO2 extraction, this method is not only simpler, but also cheaper, as it does not require complex equipment.

For the production of CBD oil, a pure alcohol (for example ethanol) is usually used, which is brought into the plant structure with the help of ultrasound.

Through the combination of alcohol and ultrasound, the ingredients of the hemp plant can be carefully dissolved out, which are then offered as an extract in the trade.

In contrast to the gentle CO2 extraction, however, it can easily happen here that the chlorophyll contained in the hemp plant is extracted during the production, which can affect the taste of the CBD oil.

CBD oils that contain a little more chlorophyll often taste slightly more bitter than oils that contain no or very little chlorophyll. There is also a risk that the finished CBD oil contains traces of the chlorine solvent used and is therefore contaminated.

CBD oil production by CO2 extraction

In addition to extraction with alcohol, there is another and much more effective method to extract CBD. CBD oil production using CO2 extraction is not only considered particularly gentle and environmentally friendly, but also safe.

Since no solvent residues are to be expected in the CBD oil and the oil is also almost free of chlorophyll, it is also very mild in taste.

In order to extract cannabidiol with the help of CO2, the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant are subjected to enormous pressure and brought into a so-called supercritical state of aggregation.

The plant substances are carefully dissolved out by the CO2. Afterwards, the pressure is reduced again to allow the CO2 to volatilize.

CO2 extraction is a bit more expensive than alcohol extraction, but this method can produce a high quality and very pure CBD oil that is free of residues.

The product is of even higher quality if the raw materials come exclusively from organic cultivation.

The carrier oil used is usually hemp oil, which is extracted from hemp seeds so that the active ingredient cannabidiol dissolved in the oil can be dosed drop by drop and ingested with the help of a pipette.

Conclusion: CBD oil can be produced in different ways

Not all CBD oil is the same. For the production of the oil, different processes are used, which can influence the quality.

The most common method is the production of CBD oil with the help of alcohol, because it is relatively inexpensive and does not require much effort.

However, there is a risk that solvent residues remain, which can affect the quality of the finished CBD oil.

For this reason, more and more manufacturers are turning to CO2 extraction to select CBD from the hemp plant using carbon dioxide.

The finished oil is not only said to be particularly rich in plant compounds that can enhance the effects of CBD – it is also said to be free of residues, as no solvents are used here.

If the ingredients are also from organic cultivation, the so-called full-spectrum oils are said to be of the highest quality.