When the extractor has been properly shut down, it’s time to disassemble it and reveal the cannabinoid alchemy you’ve performed, turning solid green plant matter into a concentrated liquid gold $)

Final image - Shut down

Step 7 – Extractor Disassembly – remove stainless steel hose (D) from extractor column valve (1)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 7.1 – Extractor Disassembly – open extractor column valve (1) to allow air to enter extractor
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 7.2 – Extractor Disassembly – remove extraction column (11)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 7.3 – Extractor Disassembly – remove extractor base from extractor collection vessel (12)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x

 

As always, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section. Your questions and time are valuable and we will make every attempt to help you through your process.

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HempHacker.com is supported by Orion GMP Solutions, LLC. We write on this open-source platform to share our thoughts on the standardization of cannabis manufacturing.

We have a team of experienced scientists and engineers, with backgrounds in Department of Defense Consulting, Aeronautical Engineering, Organic Chemistry of Natural Products, Plant Biology, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

We bring our perspectives and direct experience with standardized cannabis manufacturing to our readers, hoping to give something to the international cannabis community in return for the great opportunities is has provided us.

What We Do

We are constantly involved with the international cannabis community. We speak to groups around the world about standardized cannabis manufacturing, with the full intention of ensuring social equity in the process. We work with small farmers up to publicly traded corporations. We adjust our price based on what is a fair an equitable price, and we deliver what we say we will.

Our entire group participates in the ASTM D37 Cannabis Standards Committee, where Andrew serves as the chairman of the Quality Management Systems Committee. We work by helping our clients implement standards, preparing them for GMP audits, and we are proudly the first cannabis consulting firm with a focus on Good Manufacturing Practices for Cannabis.

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We engage with clients in a number of ways. You will most likely see us at ASTM D37 Cannabis Standards events, the Cannabis Science Conference, CannaTech, and the MJBiz Daily Conference. Many clients started off with us through email, just asking simple questions that we have quick answers to. Either way, we like to get out and meet industry stakeholders and see where there are synergies for business.

Once we get to know our potential clients, we work through the fundamentals: business plans, project management plans, financials. We help answer the questions, like: “is this a good idea?” Once we establish that our goals are aligned, we work with our clients through gap audits, GMP Implementation plans, GMP and Quality Management Implementation, GMP Training, and Certifications audits to their preferred standards.

Once the extraction collection chamber reaches the desired pressure under vacuum, it’s ready to shut down. Shut down always starts with stopping the flow of butane – i.e. turning off the recovery pump.

Final image - Shut down

Step 6 – Post Recovery Shut Down – turn off the recovery pump (7)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 6.1 – Post Recovery Shut Down – close the recovery cylinder liquid side valve (5)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 6.2 – Post Recovery Shut Down – close the purge port (4)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 6.3 – Post Recovery Shut Down – close the high pressure recovery manifold (3)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 6.4 – Post Recovery Shut Down – close the extraction column valve (1)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x

 

As always, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section. Your questions and time are valuable and we will make every attempt to help you through your process.

After running the continuous shower, the liquid butane is pulled off into the gas phase by the recovery pump and pushed into the liquid phase, which then fills back into the recovery cylinder. The push/pull method of recovery requires heating the extraction collection vessel (10) and cooling the recovery cylinder (5). The recovery cylinder can be cooled to -50C if you use a dry ice/ethanol bath, but is not necessary – it just speeds up the recovery. Push/pull is governed by the most useful branch of chemistry – thermodynamics – we’ll explain that at a later time if anyone is interested…

Final image - butane recovery

Step 5 – Butane Recovery – heat extraction collection chamber (10) to 85F/30C; cool the recovery cylinder (5) to -4F/-20C; open the purge port (4)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 5.1 – Butane Recovery – open the recovery cylinder liquid side valve (5) and simultaneously turn on the recovery pump (7)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 5.2 – Butane Recovery – open the recovery cylinder liquid side valve (5) and simultaneously turn on the recovery pump (7)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 5.3 – Butane Recovery – recover butane until the pressure gauge reads 10″Hg to 22″Hg
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x

 

As always, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section. Your questions and time are valuable and we will make every attempt to help you through your process.

After the desired amount of time running the continuous shower, the process needs to be shut down. The process can transition directly to the recovery step, but first make sure that no unsafe conditions exist. Since this puts several pounds of butane into the recovery cylinder, the process is inherently dangerous. Take your time and make sure every valve is open or closed as it should be.

Final image - Shut down

Step 4 – Continuous Shower – turn off the recovery pump (7)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 4.1 – Continuous Shower Shutdown – close the low pressure recovery manifold (2)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x

 

As always, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section. Your questions and time are valuable and we will make every attempt to help you through your process.

Continuous showers are the easiest and most efficient way to extract cannabinoids in a CLS. The butane is recycled by being pulled out of the bottom of the collection chamber, in the gas phase. It then passes through the recovery pump, up the the recovery manifold, and is condensed into the liquid phase by keeping the high pressure side of the recovery manifold (3) at ~100PSI.

Final image - Continuous Shower

Step 3 – Continuous Shower – open the high pressure recovery manifold (3)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 3.1 – Continuous Shower – turn on recovery pump (RP) and run the continuous shower for 5-45 minutes – maintain a pressure of ~100 PSI on the high pressure side of the recovery manifold
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x

 

As always, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section. Your questions and time are valuable and we will make every attempt to help you through your process.

Once the extractor has reached maximum vacuum and no leaks have been detected, it can be filled with butane.

Final image - Filling

Step 2 – Fill the extractor – open recovery cylinder liquid side valve
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 2.1 – Fill the extractor – open purge port (4)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 2.2 – Fill the extractor – open the low pressure recovery manifold (2)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 2.3 – Fill the extractor – open the extraction column valve (1) and allow butane to fill the extractor until 45 PSI or the butane stops flowing
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 2.4 – Fill the extractor – when butane stops flowing, close the recovery cylinder liquid side valve (5)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x
Step 2.5 – Fill the extractor – close purge port (4)
Component # Component Name Abbreviation Open/On Closed/Off
1 Extraction Column Valve ECV x
2 Low Pressure Recovery Manifold RM2 x
3 High Pressure Recovery Manifold RM3 x
4 Purge Port PP x
5 Recovery Cylinder RC x
6 Vacuum Pump VP x
7 Recovery Pump RP x

 

As always, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section. Your questions and time are valuable and we will make every attempt to help you through your process.