CBD Extraction: Ethanol, Cold Press or CO2?
Why is extraction important?
Like many in the Dragonfly CBD community, we think it’s important that the product you are using is plant-based, not synthetic. The fact that all our extract is derived from organically cultivated Cannabis Sativa L. – grown by our team of specialist farmers – makes Dragonfly CBD products a game-changer.
However, transforming high-quality Cannabis Sativa L. into carefully crafted CBD is no easy feat. The manner in which the Cannabidiol is extracted plays an integral part in the overall quality of the finished product. At Dragonfly, we take pride in the fact that we control every part of this transformation – from seed to shelf. Therefore, you know exactly what’s in each bottle.
Part of our mission is to inform consumers and build a transparent industry. So, we want you to know exactly how Dragonfly CBD oil is made and what sets it apart from the rest.
How Dragonfly CBD is Extracted
At Dragonfly CBD, we use advanced ethanol techniques to extract all our CBD. Before we tell you why ethanol is best in a minute, let’s take a quick look at the careful process behind every single bottle:
- First, we grow our Cannabis Sativa L. plants organically for five months with the help of plenty of water and sun
- Once harvested, we separate the CBD-rich leaves from the flowers, seeds and stems
- Next, we soak the leaves in ethanol to extract a ‘full spectrum’ CBD. This extract includes other Cannabis compounds, terpenes and waxes
- This crude oil is then further purified using advanced chromatography and fractional distillation technology, to completely remove the THC
- Finally, we formulate our CBD extract with organic hemp seed oil and bottle it at our GMP facility, ready for the shelves
Back to Ethanol Extraction
Generally speaking, ethanol and supercritical CO2 extraction are the two most popular ways to extract CBD. While CBD is a relatively new category, there remains a lot of misinformation regarding these two techniques. We’re here to set the record straight and tell you why ethanol is the ticket to high-quality CBD products.
What is Ethanol?
Some of you might already know that ethanol is a form of alcohol. It is a common misunderstanding, though, that ethanol is in some way dangerous, synthetic or harmful. In fact, it is the most natural means of Pharmaceutical grade extraction. Much like your favourite wine, it is made entirely naturally as a by-product of fermenting plants. Unlike your favourite wine, it is sterile and protects all CBD extract from bacteria and fermentation.
Why Ethanol?
As ethanol is produced from plants by natural means, it is the purest way to derive CBD from the Cannabis plant.
Out of all potential methods, ethanol extracts the highest number of naturally occurring compounds from the Cannabis plant. This includes terpenes, waxes and cannabinoids. Better still, ethanol extraction ensures these compounds are retained in their original chemical ratios, maintaining the plant’s natural balance. Our Ethanol Extraction method makes Broad Spectrum Dragonfly CBD Oil so rich in flavour and maximises its harmonising entourage effect.
How about CO2 CBD Extraction?
Unlike ethanol, CO2 offers a very limited extraction. Not only does it fail to extract a wide range of compounds, but it also extracts a high quantity of fats and lipids. In an attempt to up the quality of their extract, some companies then turn to the preferred substance – ethanol – to remove (‘winterise’ out) fats and lipids. In many cases, though, a cheap and harmful solvent is used to do this.
Why you should not trust Cold Press Extraction
Ultimately, you should opt for a producer that extracts using ethanol from the outset. This will ensure your CBD products are safe and contain the best of the Cannabis Sativa L. plant.
Take a look at the Award Winning range of Dragonfly CBD Oil or read some independent reviews of our products!