Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Hemp

Hemp is a natural allrounder

Hemp and its various products become more and more popular due to their advantages for various applications. Hemp fibres can be used for example for textiles, ropes or paper while the seeds provide edible oil. Essential oils can be extracted from leaves and blossoms. In addition, medicinal products like cannabidiol (CBD), can be derived from hemp by extraction and used in various products providing health benefits, for example relief from pain and anxiety.

But how to extract valuable compounds from hemp?

This is where supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using carbon dioxide comes into play. At pressures and temperatures above its critical point, carbon dioxide is in a supercritical state. There, CO2 exhibits properties of both, a liquid and a gas, making it a powerful solvent for non-polar and slightly polar materials. Supercritical CO2 can replace conventional solvents like ethanol or hexane in the extraction of, for example, CBD and terpenes. Supercritical fluid extraction provides many advantages compared to conventional solvent extraction and is an environmentally-friendly process.

Food-grade supercritical fluid extraction systems

Uhde HPT provides reliable, high quality pilot scale and industrial SFE extraction systems relying on the experience and know-how of more than 40 years. Every system is designed and fabricated to meet highest quality and safety requirements.

For the challenges of hemp processing using supercritical CO2, Uhde HPT’s systems provide design features for safe and easy operation, maintenance and cleaning. For example:

  • Quick-acting clamp closures for easy and quick access to the entire inner diameter of vessels

  • Heat exchanger design allows easy and thorough cleaning

  • Interlocks prevent operational failures

  • CO2 recirculation and recovery systems minimizes CO2-loss

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Discover the SFE process here.

Pharmaceutical-grade supercritical fluid extraction systems

While standard SFE equipment meets the requirements for processing of foods, the pharmaceutical industry has higher requirements. These concern materials, surfaces, prevention of dead legs, cleanability, process control documentation and others.

Uhde HPT pharmaceutical systems provide:

  • Plant design to allow easy draining of process fluids

  • CIP and WIP features

  • Design, manufacturing, qualification and documentation acc. to current Good Manufacturing Practice cGMP and GAMP

  • Compliance to the demands of FDA and EMEA

  • Visualization, SCADA according to the requirements of 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP