Abstract

Some variations provide a process for producing an alternative tobacco product from leafy edible biomass, comprising: introducing leafy edible biomass and a liquid solvent mixture to an extraction vessel, wherein the liquid solvent mixture contains a solvent and an anti-solvent; extracting one or more compounds from the biomass into the liquid solvent mixture, to generate a first phase and a second phase; recovering solvent from the second phase, thereby generating recovered solvent; removing one or more compounds from the recovered solvent, thereby generating purified recovered solvent; recycling the purified recovered solvent back to the extraction vessel; drying the first phase to remove residual solvent, thereby generating dried extracted biomass solids and a vapor of the residual solvent; condensing vapor of the residual solvent, thereby generating condensed recovered solvent; recycling the condensed recovered solvent back to the extraction vessel; and recovering the dried extracted biomass solids as an alternative tobacco product.

IPC Classes  ?

• A24B 15/24 - Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by extractionTobacco extracts
• A24B 15/16 - Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of tobacco substitutes
• B01D 3/18 - Fractionating columns in which vapour bubbles through liquid with horizontal bubble plates
• B01D 11/02 - Solvent extraction of solids

Abstract

Some variations provide a process for producing an alternative tobacco product from leafy edible biomass, comprising: introducing leafy edible biomass and a liquid solvent mixture to an extraction vessel, wherein the liquid solvent mixture contains a solvent and an anti-solvent; extracting one or more compounds from the biomass into the liquid solvent mixture, to generate a first phase and a second phase; recovering solvent from the second phase, thereby generating recovered solvent; removing one or more compounds from the recovered solvent, thereby generating purified recovered solvent; recycling the purified recovered solvent back to the extraction vessel; drying the first phase to remove residual solvent, thereby generating dried extracted biomass solids and a vapor of the residual solvent; condensing vapor of the residual solvent, thereby generating condensed recovered solvent; recycling the condensed recovered solvent back to the extraction vessel; and recovering the dried extracted biomass solids as an alternative tobacco product.

IPC Classes  ?

• A24B 15/18 - Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
• A24B 15/24 - Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by extractionTobacco extracts
• A24B 15/26 - Use of organic solvents for extraction
• A24B 15/20 - Biochemical treatment

Abstract

11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature below the solvent boiling point, to generate a mixture; subjecting the mixture to a second temperature that causes vaporization of the solvent, to precipitate at least some of the cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids.

IPC Classes  ?

• C07C 37/00 - Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
• C07C 37/84 - SeparationPurificationStabilisationUse of additives by physical treatment by crystallisation
• A61K 31/00 - Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• A61K 36/28 - Asteraceae or Compositae (Aster or Sunflower family), e.g. chamomile, feverfew, yarrow or echinacea
• A61K 36/185 - Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
• A61K 31/05 - Phenols
• A61K 31/352 - Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin having six-membered rings with one oxygen as the only ring hetero atom condensed with carbocyclic rings, e.g. cannabinols, methantheline
• C07C 37/74 - SeparationPurificationStabilisationUse of additives by physical treatment by distillation
• C07D 311/80 - DibenzopyransHydrogenated dibenzopyrans

Abstract

11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent; introducing the starting composition and the solvent to a conversion reactor; chemically converting some, but not all, of the cannabinoid to a cannabinoid derivative, generating a reaction mixture containing unreacted cannabinoid; conveying the reaction mixture to a crystallization unit; cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate unreacted cannabinoid out of the reaction mixture, thereby generating a mother liquor containing the cannabinoid derivative; and isolating and recovering the cannabinoid derivative from the mother liquor. Systems configured to carry out the disclosed processes are also provided. This invention offers a large-scale solution to economically convert CBD to D9-THC, among many other example. The principles of the invention may be applied to the conversion of various cannabinoids and terpenes into derivative products.

IPC Classes  ?

• C07C 37/00 - Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
• C07C 37/74 - SeparationPurificationStabilisationUse of additives by physical treatment by distillation
• C07C 37/84 - SeparationPurificationStabilisationUse of additives by physical treatment by crystallisation
• A61K 36/28 - Asteraceae or Compositae (Aster or Sunflower family), e.g. chamomile, feverfew, yarrow or echinacea
• A61K 36/185 - Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
• A61K 31/05 - Phenols
• A61K 31/352 - Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin having six-membered rings with one oxygen as the only ring hetero atom condensed with carbocyclic rings, e.g. cannabinols, methantheline
• C07D 311/80 - DibenzopyransHydrogenated dibenzopyrans

Abstract

The present invention provides improved solvents, methods, and systems for isolating purified cannabinoids from various sources. It has been found that C9 to C11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and especially n-decane, work surprisingly well for crystallization of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol. Some variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C9-C11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature, to generate a mixture; cooling the mixture to precipitate cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids. Other variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C9-C11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature below the solvent boiling point, to generate a mixture; subjecting the mixture to a second temperature that causes vaporization of the solvent, to precipitate at least some of the cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids.

IPC Classes  ?

• A61K 36/28 - Asteraceae or Compositae (Aster or Sunflower family), e.g. chamomile, feverfew, yarrow or echinacea
• A61K 36/185 - Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
• A61K 31/05 - Phenols
• A61K 31/352 - Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin having six-membered rings with one oxygen as the only ring hetero atom condensed with carbocyclic rings, e.g. cannabinols, methantheline

Abstract

11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent; introducing the starting composition and the solvent to a conversion reactor; chemically converting some, but not all, of the cannabinoid to a cannabinoid derivative, generating a reaction mixture containing unreacted cannabinoid; conveying the reaction mixture to a crystallization unit; cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate unreacted cannabinoid out of the reaction mixture, thereby generating a mother liquor containing the cannabinoid derivative; and isolating and recovering the cannabinoid derivative from the mother liquor. Systems configured to carry out the disclosed processes are also provided. This invention offers a large-scale solution to economically convert CBD to D9-THC, among many other example. The principles of the invention may be applied to the conversion of various cannabinoids and terpenes into derivative products.

IPC Classes  ?

• C07D 311/80 - DibenzopyransHydrogenated dibenzopyrans
• A61K 31/05 - Phenols
• A61K 31/352 - Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin having six-membered rings with one oxygen as the only ring hetero atom condensed with carbocyclic rings, e.g. cannabinols, methantheline
• A61K 36/185 - Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
• A61K 36/28 - Asteraceae or Compositae (Aster or Sunflower family), e.g. chamomile, feverfew, yarrow or echinacea
• C07C 37/00 - Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
• C07C 37/74 - SeparationPurificationStabilisationUse of additives by physical treatment by distillation
• C07C 37/84 - SeparationPurificationStabilisationUse of additives by physical treatment by crystallisation

Abstract

Some variations provide a remediation composition for pesticide and/or heavy-metal remediation of a biomass extract, the remediation composition comprising at least one polysaccharide, at least one metal oxide, and at least one metal salt. Some variations provide a process for producing a biomass extract from a biomass feedstock, comprising: providing a starting biomass feedstock that contains a pesticide or a heavy metal; exposing the starting biomass feedstock to a process solvent, thereby forming a biomass extract dissolved and/or suspended in the process solvent, wherein the pesticide or heavy metal are contained in the biomass extract; providing a separation media containing a polysaccharide, a metal oxide, and a metal salt; and introducing the biomass extract to the separation media, wherein the pesticide or the heavy metal are removed by the separation media, thereby generating a remediated biomass extract. Systems utilizing the remediation composition in fixed or fluidized beds are described.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01D 11/02 - Solvent extraction of solids
• A23L 33/105 - Plant extracts, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives
• A23L 5/20 - Removal of unwanted matter, e.g. deodorisation or detoxification
• B01D 15/08 - Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography
• B01D 15/02 - Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbentsApparatus therefor with moving adsorbents