Researchers Find CBD Transforms During High-Temperature Extraction
A study published in Food Chemistry investigated the effects on CBD during various extraction temperatures and using different solvents. The researchers found that during low-temperature extraction, CBD remained unchanged as a cannabinoid. When a high-temperature extraction process was used, CBD was found to transform into other known cannabinoids and unknown derivatives.
The growing interest in cannabidiol (CBD) stems from its promising therapeutic potential. However, the compound’s isolation for study, often done through pressure-assisted liquid extraction (PLE), is not without risks. PLE, known for its efficiency due to high pressure and temperatures, also poses a risk of transforming compounds under such conditions.
The CBD molecule is susceptible to transformation during PLE due to oxidation, polymerization and conversion into delta-8 and delta-9 THC. High temperature, an acidic environment and the type of solvent used during extraction influence how CBD transforms. The authors wrote,
“During its high-temperature extraction, CBD is transformed into derivatives, the number and quantity of which depend mainly on the type of extracting liquid and water and air (oxygen) content in the extraction system.”
The researchers tested CBD under different conditions during this experiment, using high-temperature extraction and solvents like dichloromethane, methanol, hexane and ethyl acetate. They used models and real samples that included hemp and various CBD-infused products, such as cookies, candy and tea.
The chemical structure of CBD, with its hydroxyl groups and double bonds, is susceptible to change under certain conditions. Depending on the extraction process used, this can lead to inaccuracies in determining CBD content in consumer products.
The researchers concluded that while advanced extraction techniques like PLE improve CBD recovery and extraction efficiency, they also carry the risk of unwanted CBD transformations. They caution that lab researchers and producers of commercial CBD products should optimize extraction conditions to ensure accurate CBD quantification and maintain the integrity of research and commercial applications. They also stressed the need for ongoing research into CBD extraction methods, which is essential for standardizing analytical protocols and ensuring the reliability of medical and consumer CBD products.
This study confirms the importance of buying CBD products from high-quality brands that thoroughly test them for cannabinoid content and solvent presence. In an unregulated industry, it is incumbent upon consumers to be knowledgeable buyers.
0