Cannabis, like any other plant, is susceptible to pests and illnesses, which can cause significant damage to the plant. Cannabis growers must extract oil from their plants and ensure that their products are free of pesticides in order to have a more effective marketing approach. However, due to a lack of government rules, it is difficult for farmers to use the appropriate pesticide because there are no approved goods on the market. As a result, producers are forced to rely on a variety of hazardous pesticides, which might have negative consequences for consumer health. We are aware that a high concentration of pesticides has been detected in 80 percent of cannabis concentrates tested. On Cannabis Tech, we’ve discussed a variety of methods for removing toxins and pathogens from cannabis flowers. But, after the extraction process, are there any methods for removing toxins from concentrates and, therefore, potentially salvaging the product?
CANNABIS WITHOUT PESTICIDE IS ESSENTIAL.
Pesticides are a broad category of chemicals that are used to control pests and other microorganisms in cannabis crops, among other things. Even though pesticides are categorized as harmful by the California Pesticide Residue Control Board, they are required for producers to safeguard their yield from pests and other diseases that might cause crop damage. Herbicides, insecticides, repellents, and other types of pesticides are some of the most commonly used. Cannabis producers must rely on pesticide-free products in order to safely offer their products to consumers.
Cannabis growers must bring pesticide-free concentrates to the market if they are to develop lucrative and safer goods for the public. Chromatography has been hailed as the most effective approach for extraction and treatment in the environmental field. It is necessary for pesticides to be registered with the California Pesticide Residue; however, because to the differing legality regimes for cannabis, no approved pesticides for the cannabis plant exist as of right now.
The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act of California requires cannabis crops to pass microbiological testing before they can be sold. However, due to the nature of the plant and the harvesting operations, it is difficult to produce cannabis without running the danger of contamination from the environment. Either cannabis farmers should carry out remediation in-house or disinfect their harvests before submitting them for analysis.
CONCENTRATES CONTAINED WITH PESTICIDES CURRENT METHODS FOR REMOVAL
Given the growing popularity of concentrates — whether in the form of dabs or vapes — producers are truly concerned with the best approach to make their goods compliant and safe — driving them to investigate innovative methods for extracting, decontaminating, remediating and purifying their products. It is possible to remove pesticides from concentrates using a variety of processes, including, for example:
This process is carried out prior to the testing phase of the products and is based on technology that removes aspergillus species and microbial without affecting the potency of the plant. It is carried out in tandem with the production phase, resulting in purer cannabis concentrates after they have been produced.
Flash chromatography has been used for decades in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors to eliminate undesirable compounds, and it is a highly reliable method of doing so. The approach has been successful in extracting CBD and THC components from the cannabis plant, but it is a time-consuming and expensive process.
Pesticide remediation using a glass reactor is necessary since 90 percent of the pesticides are water-soluble. The process of passing cannabis crude oil through a glass reactor allows for the removal of any water-soluble pesticides from the concentrated cannabis oil.
There are several advantages to using this strategy, including:
It does not necessitate the completion of the complete chromatographic process by the producers. It is claimed that the reactor produces clean distillates.
There is a requirement for the use of a solvent in the glass-reactor method. The cannabis oil and the solvent are combined together in water, which removes terpenes, pesticides, and other contaminants from the cannabis oil.
Using the following explanation from Ai Vacuum, which specializes in botanical refinement: “I utilize the reactor to extract any water-soluble pesticides that would otherwise be present in the product.”
It not only expedites the procedure but also produces superior items as a result of the method.
THE DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGIES
Capna Labs filed a patent in 2019 for a method of removing hazardous pesticides from cannabis extracts. Because of the innovative procedure, producers will be able to extract cannabinoids and use them to manufacture superior THC oils and concentrates. The patent would be based on the use of Bentonite to remove concentrates from pesticides and other dangerous chemicals, resulting in cleaner products being produced alongside the supply chain as a result of the patent.
Edwin Sibal, Chief Development Officer at Capna Technologies, stated that typical pesticide removal procedures may be ineffective in totally removing pesticides from the environment. As Sibal stated in an interview with Green Rush Daily, “Ethanol extraction alone, butane extraction alone, and carbon dioxide extraction alone are not viable methods for removing pesticides from the environment.” According to Capna Technologies, using Bentonite yields greater outcomes than using kaolin.
A success for cannabis producers, who can now rely on an affordable, simple-to-implement new technology to make high-quality concentrates — and pass the testing necessary by some places, including as Colorado and California — while still remaining within their budget. If such a process becomes widely adopted, cannabis manufacturers will be able to assure that their products are safer and that they follow all applicable regulations — and they may even be able to design innovative new concentrates for their customers.