CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present patent application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application number 62/666,502 filed May 3, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus for extracting active cannabinoids from a cannabinoid biomass, and more particularly related to the apparatus for extracting the active cannabinoids from the cannabinoid biomass, using a microwave-assisted extractor.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] Cannabis is a genus belonging to the family of cannabaceae. Three common species include Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The genus has been indigenous to Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Cannabis has a long history being used for medicinal, therapeutic, and recreational purposes. The importance of cannabis in therapeutics is emphasized by the ever-increasing number of research publication related to the new indications for cannabis. For example, pharmaceutical research companies are presently developing new natural cannabinoid formulations and delivery systems to meet various regulatory requirements. Cannabis is known, for example, to be capable of relieving nausea (such as that accompanying

chemotherapy), pain, vomiting, spasticity in multiple sclerosis, and increase hunger in anorexia.

[0004] The term cannabis or "cannabis biomass" encompasses the Cannabis sativa plant and also variants thereof, including subspecies sativa, indica and ruderalis, cannabis cultivars, and cannabis chemovars (varieties characterised by chemical composition), which naturally contain different amounts of the individual cannabinoids, and also plants which are the result of genetic crosses. The term "cannabis biomass" is to be interpreted accordingly as encompassing plant material derived from one or more cannabis plants.

[0005] Cannabis biomass contains a unique class of terpeno-phenolic compounds known as cannabinoids or phytocannabinoids, which have been extensively studied since the discovery of the chemical structure of tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC), commonly known as THC. Over 113 phytocannabinoids have been identified. Such cannabinoids are generally produced by glandular trichomes that occur on most aerial surfaces of the plant. The cannabinoids are biosynthesized in the plant in acidic forms known as acidic cannabinoids. The acidic cannabinoids may be slowly decarboxylated during drying of harvested plant material. Decarboxylation may be hastened by heating the cannabis biomass, such as when the cannabis biomass is smoked or vaporized.

[0006] The principle cannabinoids present in cannabis are the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Delta-9-THCA) and cannabidiolic add (CBDA). The Delta-9-THCA does not have its own psychoactive properties as is, but may be decarboxylated to Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9- THC), which is the most potent psychoactive cannabinoid among known cannabinoids. The neutral form of CBDA is cannabidiol (CBD), which is a major cannabinoid substituent in hemp cannabis. CBD is non-psychoactive and is widely known to have therapeutic potential for a variety of medical conditions. The proportion of cannabinoids in the plant may vary from species to species, as well as vary within the same species at different times and seasons. Furthermore, the proportion of cannabinoids in a plant may further depend upon soil, dimate, and harvesting methods. Thus, based on the proportion of the cannabinoids present in a plant variety, the psychoactive and medicinal effects obtained from different plant varieties may vary.

[0007] Depending upon the psychoactive and medicinal effects obtained from different varieties of the cannabis plant or the different methods of cultivation for cannabis, a specific variety of cannabis may be considered more effective or potent than others ( e.g ., in providing the desired physiological effect at a desired level in an individual). Similarly, some specific combinations of pharmacologically active compounds in a cannabis variety may be more desirable in comparison to other varieties. When preparing cannabis plant extracts, the retention of the full mix of cannabinoids present in the original plant may be desirable for some varieties, while other varieties may be preferred in altered form due to the variances in the specific cannabinoid composition and concentrations. Such variance is further exacerbated by the presence of certain terpenoid or phenolic compounds, which may have pharmacological activity of their own and which may be desired at different concentrations in different combinations.

[0008] Historical delivery methods have involved smoking ( e.g ., combusting) the dried cannabis plant material. Smoking results, however, in adverse effects on the respiratory system via the production of potentially toxic substances. In addition, smoking is an inefficient mechanism that delivers a variable mixture of active and inactive substances, many of which may be undesirable. Alternative delivery methods such as ingesting typically require extracts of the cannabis biomass (also known as cannabis concentrates or cannabis oils). Often, cannabis extracts are formulated using any convenient pharmacologically acceptable diluents, carriers or excipients to produce a composition. Raw cannabis biomass may also be more susceptible to possible biological contaminants such as fungi and bacteria than extracts.

[0009] Previously, compounds may be extracted from cannabis by using conventional methods of extraction, such as maceration, decoction, or solvent extraction. Such conventional methods may suffer from various limitations and disadvantages (e.g., extraction times may be very high so as to be impractical to scale). For example, subjecting the biomass to a prolonged extraction process may risk modification of the plant profile, negative effects on terpenes, or otherwise cause other undesirable effects that lower the quality or purity of the end product. Traditional methods of extraction may therefore hamper quality and purity of the final product. Further, final concentrated or purified active compounds are often diluted or dispersed into an oil, fat or other lipid-based excipient or carrier to a desired concentration for certain uses (e.g., in a pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic formulation).

[0010] Other methods such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) make use of supercritical fluids to selectively remove compounds from solid, semisolid, and liquid matrices in a batch process. SFE is, however, dangerous and requires very high pressures to be employed (> 70 atm).

In addition, SFE is also inefficient and therefore not conducive to high throughputs, as well as environmentally damaging ( e.g ., producing large amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as a by-product).

[0011] The current techniques are complex, tedious, and difficult to execute in conjunction. Further, the current techniques do not have real controls and real feedback, and thus the current techniques are inefficient. The current techniques do not provide the ability to provide control of the quality of the final product. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system that may be efficient, simple, and robust.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention provide to an apparatus for extracting active cannabinoids from a cannabinoid biomass. Further embodiments include apparatuses for extracting the active cannabinoids from the cannabinoid biomass using a microwave-assisted extractor.

[0013] The exemplary apparatus may include a controller for receiving a biomass recipe, sensors for collecting data at stages, and an actuator to assist an extractor. A biomass hopper may receive a prepared biomass, a removable solvent canister may store solvent, a microwave generator may generate microwaves for extracting the active cannabinoid. A slurry mixer may mix the prepared biomass with the solvent to form a slurry. A slurry pump may transport the slurry into an extractor tube having a microwave transparent portion that allows the microwaves to pass and heat the slurry. A removable filter may separate an extraction solution from a spent biomass. A solvent evaporation chamber may evaporate the solvent. A removable extract collector may collect the extract, and a removable spent biomass collector may collect a spent biomass, which may be obtained after evaporation of the extraction solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of an exemplary system for extracting pharmacologically active compounds from biomass.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for extracting pharmacologically active compounds from biomass.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary tabletop extraction apparatus for extracting the active cannabinoid from the cannabinoid biomass.

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary slurry mixer for mixing prepared biomass with a solvent to form a slurry.

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary extractor tube of the tabletop extraction apparatus.

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary microwave generator of the tabletop extraction apparatus.

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary removable filter and a solvent evaporation chamber of the tabletop extraction apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus for extracting

pharmacologically active compounds from a biomass by way of preparing cannabis biomass, adding a solvent such as a carrier fluid to the prepared cannabis biomass to form a slurry where the solvent may be a carrier fluid that is suitable for inclusion in a final formulation, extracting target compounds from the slurry using a continuous flow extraction apparatus, and separating a spent biomass from the solvent by a downstream process.

[0022] An apparatus for extracting active cannabinoids from a cannabis biomass using a microwave-assisted extractor is described herein by reference to the exemplary systems 100 and 300 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, respectively, as well as the exemplary method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in different orders. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

[0023] An apparatus may be prepared with removable containers at step 202 of FIG. 2. The apparatus may be prepared by a user by adding the removable containers. The removable containers may include a removable solvent canister (i.e., a removable canister filled with solvent), a removable filter, a removable extract collector and a removable spent biomass collector. It should be noted that the user may input a recipe of biomass from a biomass recipe unit 102 into a controller 104. The controller 104 may further receive data from a plurality of sensors 106. The sensors 106 may include, but not limited to, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, volume sensor, time sensor, purity sensor, a concentration sensor, a viscosity sensor, and weight/yield sensor.

[0024] System 100 of FIG. 1 further includes a raw biomass holding chamber 108, into which a raw biomass may be provided in step 204 of FIG. 2. Such raw biomass may be present in form of dried, ground, non-decarboxylated flowers (buds) of cannabis plants. Any part of the cannabis biomass that contains cannabinoids can be used or included in the raw biomass that is provided to raw biomass holding chamber 108. In some embodiments, average particle size of the raw biomass may lie between 0.5 - 10 mm. The raw biomass may contain target compounds that need to be extracted. In one embodiment, the raw biomass may be heated to approximately 125° C for approximately 45 minutes to decarboxylate the cannabinoid carboxylic acids into neutral cannabinoid forms. The mass of decarboxylated cannabis following such treatment may get reduced ( e.g. _r 11.7% weight loss). In an embodiment, the raw biomass may be dried, non- decarboxylated cannabis biomass. In another embodiment, the raw biomass may be fresh, non- dried, non-decarboxylated cannabis biomass.

[0025] Successively in step 206, the raw biomass may be sampled and analyzed in sampling chamber 126. The raw biomass may be sampled and analyzed using several sampling techniques. In a preferred embodiment, the raw biomass may be analyzed to determine cannabinoid content and to generate a cannabinoid profile (of the specific cannabinoids and concentrations thereof) of the sampled raw biomass. The analysis may be performed using an Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS) detection technique.

Further, a terpene profile of the raw biomass may be determined using a Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry Detection (GC-MS). The sampling techniques may help in determining the cannabinoid content and the cannabinoid profile for the raw biomass i.e., total cannabinoids, THCA+THC, and total THC equivalents. In some embodiments, analysis of the raw biomass may occur prior to the use of an extraction device receiving the raw biomass for extraction. In a preferred embodiment, raw biomass is delivered to the user with the results of an analytical process.

[0026] Further in step 208, the raw biomass may subject to decarboxylation by heating to obtain prepared biomass in a biomass preparation chamber 110. The heating may be performed in a conventional oven at 125 °C for 45 minutes. It should be noted that mass of decarboxylated cannabis may be reduced by approximately 11.7% during the preparation of the biomass. The prepared biomass may be stored in a prepared biomass holding chamber 112.

[0027] The prepared biomass may be used to form a slurry in step 210. The slurry may be formed in a slurry formation chamber 114, where one or more solvents may be added to the prepared biomass from a solvent holding chamber 116. The solvent added to the prepared biomass may be selected with different dielectric and solvent parameter properties. The solvent may be stored in a solvent holding chamber 116. The solvent may be selected from an alcohol group (i.e., ethanol, isopropanol), alkane group (i.e., pentane), and ketone group (i.e., acetone, butanone). Further, the solvent may be a carrier fluid such as a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), com oil, safflower oil, borage oil, flax oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, palm oil, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, medium chain triglycerides (MCT), long chain tryglycerides, lecithin, limonene, essential oils of spices, herbs, or other plants, fish oil, glycerol, glycols, or mixtures thereof. The solvent-to-raw biomass ratio may be maintained at lOl/kg to ease pumping operation of the slurry.

[0028] Successively, the slurry may be transferred to an extraction chamber 118 at step 212. In one embodiment, the extractor 118 may be a skid mounted extractor that may be transported easily. In another embodiment, the extractor 118 may be a micro-extraction system for home and/or laboratory use. The slurry may be transported using a set of mechanical conveyors ( e.g ., slurry pump or worm gear). The slurry may be subjected to a thermal process, for example, microwave heating by a microwave generator 120.

[0029] In one embodiment, the slurry may be transported through a chamber (e.g., a tube or pipe). It should be noted that at least one portion of such transport chamber may be microwave transparent. The slurry may be heated to a certain temperature by exposing the slurry to the microwave to a predefined time with a predefined microwave energy range. In a preferred embodiment, the slurry may be heated to a temperature range of 20 - 75° C with a contact time of 1 - 30 minutes, and microwave energy density range of 0.1 - 10 kW/kg. Such heating may facilitate the extraction of various (pharmacologically active) compounds from the prepared biomass into the solvent. In an alternative embodiment, such microwave generator may be a solid state microwave generator, which includes coaxial microwave applicators and associated dipole antennae radiating in the slurry medium contained inside the extraction chamber.

[0030] Post heating the slurry and extraction of compounds from the biomass, the now-spent biomass and solvent(s) may be transferred to separation chamber 122, where the slurry is subject to filtration and separation at step 214. Such filtration and separation within filtration unit 122 may result in isolating the slurry components from each other: the spent biomass and the solvent(s) containing the extracted compounds. Once isolated, the spent biomass and the solvent(s) containing the extracted compounds may be transferred into spent biomass storage unit 124 and solvent recovery chamber 128, respectively. The separation process may be performed using one or more of several methods, such as filtration, centrifugation, and other similar processes. In a preferred embodiment, the separation process may include use of a filter press.

[0031] In an embodiment, the spent biomass may be sampled at step 216. The sampling of the spent biomass may be performed in the sampling chamber 126. In an embodiment, the spent biomass may be sampled and analyzed to determine cannabinoid content and cannabinoid profile. The spent biomass may be sampled and analyzed using several techniques. The analysis may be performed using an Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass

Spectrometry detection (UPLC-MSS). Further, terpene profile of the raw biomass may be determined using a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Detection (GC-MS). The sampling techniques may help in determining the cannabinoid content and the cannabinoid profile for the spent biomass (i.e. total cannabinoids, THCA+THC, and total THC equivalents).

[0032] Post-sampling and analysis of the spent biomass, the waste spent biomass may be incinerated or mixed with a deactivating agent for disposal in a disposal system 134. In one case, the deactivating agent may be clay. Post-sampling and disposing of the spent biomass, the solvent may be recovered back into the slurry formulation at step 218 and a desolvenized extract may be obtained. The desolvenized extract may be recovered by a solvent recovery chamber 128. The solvent may be recovered from the desolvenized extract by distillation process ( e.g ., vacuum distillation). It should be noted that the solvent may be used in another extraction process.

[0033] Successively, a final formulation may be prepared at step 220. The desolvenized extract may be processed to prepare an active cannabinoid extract fluid. The desolvenized extract is then formulated into a final formulated extract using at least one of a plurality of formulation methods in a formulation chamber 130. The final formulated extract may be stored in a product holding chamber 132.

[0034] Thereafter, the final formulated extract product may be sampled at step 222. The sampling of the formulated extract may be performed in the sampling chamber 126. The formulated extract may be sampled and analyzed using several techniques. In a preferred embodiment, analysis of the final formulated extract may be performed to detect cannabinoid content and cannabinoid profile. The analysis may be performed using an Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry detection (UPLC-MS). Terpene profile of the raw biomass may be determined using a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Detection (GC-MS). The sampling techniques may help determine the content and profile of the final formulated extract (i.e. total cannabinoids, THCA+THC, and total THC equivalents). In some embodiments, a small portion of the final formulated extract may be sent to a remote laboratory for analysis. The analysis may then be sent to the user.

[0035] Thereafter, the extraction apparatus may be closed with the removable containers at step 224. It should be noted that the user may remove the removable containers such as the removable solvent canister (i.e., a removable canister filled with solvent), the removable filter, the removable extract collector, and the removable spent biomass collector.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary extraction apparatus 300 for extracting the active cannabinoid from the cannabinoid biomass. FIG. 3 is described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a biomass hopper 302 may be filled with biomass (for example, cannabis) with a known biomass recipe. The biomass recipe may be received from the biomass redpe unit 102. A removable solvent canister 304 may be filled with solvent. Further, the solvent and prepared biomass may enter a slurry mixer 306. The slurry mixer 306 may mix the prepared biomass with the solvent to form a slurry. Thereafter, the slurry may be transported into an extractor tube 308 using a slurry pump (i.e., the slurry mixer/pump) 306. Further, a power supply 312 may supply power to a microwave generator 314. The microwave generator 314 may generate microwaves for extracting active cannabinoid. The microwaves may be guided by a tunable waveguide 316 into a microwave transparent portion 310 of the extractor tube 308. The slurry may then be exposed to the microwaves for heating in the extractor tube 308 and may be filtered by a removable filter 318. Thereafter, the extract may be stored into a removable extract collector 322 and spent biomass may be stored in a removable spent biomass chamber 324. It should be noted that the controller 104 and the sensors/actuators 106 may control the extraction process. The detailed description of various components of the extraction apparatus 300 is described later in conjunction with FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7. [0037] In one embodiment, the extraction apparatus 300 may be scaled to a consumer-grade, table-top size (for example, less than 30 kg total weight, less than 5 cubic meters), and may be used in an industrial setting for lab-sized or "test" batches. It should be noted that tabletop extraction apparatus 300 may be simple to assemble, and may be transported or shipped easily. In some embodiments, the tabletop extraction apparatus 300 may be scaled to multiple sizes to target various market segments and user types. Users may select a size based on their budget, extraction yield needed, or available workspace. In an alternative embodiment, the microwave generator may be a solid state microwave generator including coaxial microwave applicators and associated insulated dipole antennae.

[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates the slurry mixer 306 for mixing prepared biomass with a solvent to form a slurry. As shown in FIG. 4, the biomass may enter the slurry mixer 306 via the biomass hopper 302. The solvent may be added to the slurry mixer 306 via the removable solvent canister 304 that may be connected to an outside of the slurry mixer 306. In one embodiment, the raw biomass may be subjected to decarboxylation (i.e., prior to being placed into the biomass hopper 302) by heating the biomass in an oven at 125 °C for 45 minutes. It should be noted that mass of decarboxylated cannabis may be reduced by approximately 11.7% during the preparation of the biomass. In another embodiment, the biomass hopper 302 may include a heating source to heat the biomass to provide the decarboxylation.

[0039] It should be noted that the slurry mixer 306 in FIG. 4 may mix the biomass and the solvent via a motor 402, which may rotate prongs or paddles 404 located inside the slurry mixer 306. In another embodiment, the slurry mixer 306 may use a magnetized mixer in which magnet may be placed on the outside of the slurry mixer 306. The magnetized metal may mix the biomass and the solvent together and thus may result in an easier maintenance.

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates an extractor tube 308 of the tabletop extraction apparatus 300. As shown in FIG. 5, the slurry may be transported through the extractor tube 308. The extractor tube 308 having a microwave transparent portion for allowing microwaves 502 to pass through the extractor tube 308 and heat the slurry. It should be noted that the slurry may be transported using a set of mechanical conveyors (for example, worm gear), through a use of a pump or gravity, when the extractor tube 308 may be positioned at an angle to allow the slurry to pass through while still receiving a proper amount of heat or any other method. In one embodiment, the extractor tube 308 may allow transport of the slurry through a chamber (i.e. a tube). It should be noted that at least one portion of the chamber may be microwave transparent. The slurry may be subjected to a thermal process, for example, microwave heating by the microwave generator 314. Further, the microwaves 502 may be guided using the tunable waveguide 316. Thereafter, the slurry may be transferred to the removable filter 318.

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates the microwave generator 314 of the extraction apparatus 300. The microwave generator 314 (i.e., magnetron) may receive power from the power supply 312 in which the microwave generator 314 may convert DC pulses into MW power. Further, an isolator 602 may protect the MW power from traveling back into the microwave generator 314 by feeding into a dummy load ( e.g ., water load). The tunable waveguide 316 may guide the microwaves, which may be used to heat the slurry located within the extractor tube 308. Further, the tunable waveguide 316 having one or more tuners 604 and one or more couplers 606. The one or more tuners 604 may be used to adjust the frequency of the MW power to achieve the desired load, and the one or more couplers 606 may take the MW power and feed into an accelerator. It should be noted that the one or more tuners 604 may be adjusted by actuators, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In an alternative embodiment, the microwave generator may be a solid state microwave generator including coaxial microwave applicators and associated insulated dipole antennae.

[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates a removable filter 318 and a solvent evaporation chamber 320, of the tabletop extraction apparatus 300. The removable filter 318 and the solvent evaporation chamber may be used to separate the spent biomass from the solvent and an extract mixture (i.e., miscella) using one or more separation techniques. For example, a removable filter 318, such as a Buchner funnel filter, with replaceable paper filters may separate the solvent and the extract mixture. The solvent may be evaporated out of the extract mixture using a distillation process. Further, the extract mixture may be transferred to an evaporator 702 that may heat the extract mixture and may recover die extract mixture by sending the solvent vapors from the evaporator 702 to a condenser 704. The condenser 704 may cool the vapors back to the liquid form and may be collected in the removable solvent canister 304 (shown in FIG. 3) for use in another extraction. Thereafter, final formulated extract (i.e., distilled miscella) may be collected in the removable extract collector 322 positioned below the evaporator 702.

[0043] The foregoing detailed description of the technology has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology, its practical application, and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claim.