We offer inline degassing and decarboxylation. While collecting the terpene fractions, gentle heat and light vacuum are applied to automatically decarb the material in the boiling flask.
Decarboxylation, aka Decarbing, is the process of spontaneously converting THC-A to THC with heat (approximately 80 - 90°C). During decarbing THC-A is converted to THC when the carboxylic acid group on THC-A is removed liberating a CO2 molecule leaving THC behind.
Decarbing is important because THC-A is not psychoactive, but THC is. Other cannabinoids like CBD and CBG also have acid forms.
Spinning Band Distillation
With spinning band distillation decarbing happens at the same time that terpenes are being removed. This is a huge time saver since decarbing happens naturally and doesn’t have to be done as a separate process.
As a bonus the spinning band distillation is under vacuum during decarbing so there is no possibility of oxidizing the cannabinoids.
Wiped Film Distillation
With wiped film, decarbing must be done as a separate process before distillation. If decarbing happens during distillation, spattering will occur contaminating the oil with raw extract.
Decarbing for wiped film distillation is often done on an open hot plate exposed to the atmosphere(oxygen). This leads to degradation and the unwanted formation of CBN.
Short Path
Be careful! Many people will recommend decarbing before distillation to avoid disaster… see short path decarbing gone wrong below:
Le Chatelier’s Principle and decarbing
Le Chatelier’s principle states:
“When any system at equilibrium for a long period of time is subjected to change in concentration, temperature, volume, or pressure, then the system readjusts itself to partly counteract the effect of the applied change and a new equilibrium is established.”
Now what does this really mean? Specifically for decarboxylation, this means that you want a low pressure, some heat, and to remove CO2 as it is formed.
Vacuum is perfect because it lowers pressure and removes CO2 while lowering/eliminating oxygen levels. So not only are you driving the reaction in 2 separate ways, you are also preventing oxidation (which according to Le Chatlier’s would be accelerated at higher temps)!
Oxygen + heat will degrade your product! Be careful if you are decarbing at high temperatures, especially without your THC/CBD crude being under vacuum or an inert atmosphere.
Kontakt
Zentrale
ANTEC GmbH
Analysen- und Prozesstechnik
Hauptstraße 4
82404 Sindelsdorf
Telefon: +49 (0) 8856 9910
Telefax: +49 (0) 8856 9891
E-Mail: kontakt@antec.de
Servicebüro
ANTEC GmbH
Servicebüro
Telefon: +49 (0) 89 72069268
Telefax: +49 (0) 89 72625045
E-Mail: service@antec.de
