Decarboxylation is a chemical process achieved via the heating of a substance in order to remove a carboxyl group. Cannabis naturally contains tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) which can be converted into the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol molecule (THC) via decarboxylation. This is essential for pharmaceutical and recreational cannabis manufacturing applications.
The PF460 has been specially designed for the drying and decarboxylation of cannabis for the pharmaceutical industry and is capable of operating up to 200°C. This range allows the customer to switch between optimum temperatures for both drying and decarboxylation processes.
The oven features two large air recirculation fans that help to both maintain temperature uniformityand extract moisture from inside the chamber; manual air inlet and outlet dampers to enable the customer to adjust the amount as air flow as required. Although fitted with four grilled shelves, there is provision for up to 13 shelves to be fitted, enabling the customer to maximise throughput and take full advantage of the ovens 460 litre capacity.
The PF460 is available with a range of options, including an exhaust fan for moisture removal, a nitrogen gas system, and a range of alternative temperature controllers. Designed specifically for the USA market, these ovens are also CSA/UL compliant.
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RETSCH is putting to use its full product portfolio of grinders, sieve shakers and sample dividers to help process and prepare cannabis samples. The sample preparation process needs to be adjustable to the considerable complexity of the various matrices. Whether the samples are gummy bears, brownies, candies, or cannabis flower, RETSCH can provide assistance in selecting the ideal instrument to meet the application requirements.
The Ultra Centrifugal Mill ZM 200 is ideally suited for quickly pulverizing fibrous samples like cannabis or hemp flower to grind sizes below 0.5 mm. The wide range of accessories includes distance sieves which allow for processing heat-sensitive samples. The use of a cyclone has a cooling effect on the sample and allows for grinding up to 4.5 l of sample
For pesticide analysis of oily, sticky samples like hemp, the required homogenization should be carried out in a cryogenic mill like RETSCH’s CryoMill. To transfer the pesticides from the sample into the organic phase, the mixture is agitated for 1 to 3 minutes, e.g. in a laboratory mill like the Mixer Mill MM 400.
To reliably quantify active components in cannabis, a representative sample needs to be extracted from the bulk. The GRINDOMIX GM 300 can homogenize up to 4 liter of plant material from which a small fraction is taken for analysis. Remnants of small twigs or resinous blossoms are no problem for this mill. The smaller model GRINDOMIX GM 200 quickly and efficiently homogenizes up to 700 ml sample material high in sugar or fat content, such as cannabis-infused cookies.
The high-performance Cutting Mill SM 300 is now available in a stainless steel 316L foodGrade version.This mill ensures reproducible particle size reduction without loss of cannabinoids or terpenes.
With a 150 l drum of 316L stainless steel the Drum Mill TM 500 is is also available in a 316L foodGrade version.
Applications within the cannabis industry benefit from an accurate particle size analysis. From seed to consumer product, the cannabis industry has different levels of processing with numerous exit points for final product. For example, if your desired product is consumable plant matter, you are not going to be concerned with the complicated steps of oil extraction.
One application is the measurement of spray dried powders which are created from nanoemulsions. By analyzing the dried powders, one determines the quality and uniformity of the particles to insure consistent and effective product. This is best performed by Microtrac Sync Dry Laser Diffraction instruments, which can measure dry powders from 0.25 to 2,000 microns.
Additionally, particle size analysis is critical for nanoemulsion creation from THC or CBD oil extracted from either cannabis or hemp. This product is commonly called “water-soluble” oil. Despite the misnomer, the oil is not made soluble. It is made into a stable nanoemulsion by reducing the size of the oil droplets to a level by which they are completely clear in a drink and stable on the shelf. The product is also made more bioavailable. In order to develop and continuously measure these processes, you will need a Dynamic Light Scattering particle size analyzer.
Dynamic Light Scattering is well suited for this application due to the measurement range of the instruments. The Microtrac NANOTRAC family of instruments have a particle size measurement rage of 0.3 nanometers to 10 micrometers. While there is overlap of the range from the Laser Diffraction particle size analyzers from Microtrac, experience has shown that this application is best suited for DLS analysis. The NANOTRAC family of analyzers allows for customization of analysis with the various configurations of internal well with Zeta potential analysis, external probe analysis, and cuvette-based analysis.
When it comes to particle size analysis of nanoemulsions, Microtrac has instrumentation which is suited to your needs and preferences.
