Currently, there are four primary extraction methods available on the market: alcohol extraction using a solvent such as ethanol, hydrocarbon extraction, CO2 supercritical extraction, and solvent-less extraction (commonly referred to as ice water extraction). Alcohol extraction is the most widely used method.
Each procedure has advantages and disadvantages. It is important to consider a variety of factors when selecting the optimal extraction methods for desired end-products, including the amount of material you want to process per day, the amount of space available for equipment, as well as local jurisdiction rules and compliance.
When selecting the appropriate extraction technique and equipment for your company, there are three items to assess and consider:
SECURITY AND COMPLIANCE
When choosing extraction equipment, the most crucial factor to consider should be safety and compliance with applicable regulations. The equipment should be professionally constructed, designed to be safe, and designed particularly for the purpose of extraction only. This is crucial since the equipment must be safe to operate in order to be effective.
Electrical panels and control systems should always be constructed in accordance with UL508A specifications. This should operate as a gatekeeper at the beginning of the process, assisting in determining the quality and seriousness of the manufacturer. Furthermore, all electrical components on the equipment shall be UL-listed components manufactured by a NRTL. Even more evidence for this should be provided by the equipment you’re evaluating, which should include a third-party peer assessment. Essentially, this means that the equipment has been reviewed by a third-party professional engineer, who would examine the design, building materials, seals and electronics, among other things, to ensure that they comply with all applicable NFPA codes, ASME codes, and local codes based on the state in question. A piece of equipment that does not come with a third-party technical report should be removed from consideration as soon as possible.
All pressure-rated equipment must be stamped with the ASME code, and pressure vessels with a diameter more than 6″ must be stamped with the ASME code. This is relevant when it comes to hydrocarbon and CO2 extraction equipment. The manufacture of pressure vessels must be certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which implies that the vessels must pass through rigorous and detailed design evaluations and calculations, and the manufacturing process must be closely monitored. A buyer should always inquire as to whether the vessels have an ASME stamp from a manufacturer in the United States. There have been multiple reports of pressure vessels from other countries entering the United States, primarily for use in the cannabis sector, that were falsely stamped with an ASME mark.
ADVANCED EFFICIENCY AND THROUGHPUT
In order to justify your investment in new equipment, you must examine its throughput. You want to make sure that you purchase the appropriate equipment and that you employ the most appropriate extraction method for the amount of material you intend to process every day, as this is a common oversight that causes a bottleneck in manufacturing plants.
What is the maximum amount of material that the machine can process in a single shift? Because of the importance of understanding actual real-world throughputs, it is imperative that you answer this question correctly. When it comes to equipment, there is generally a significant difference between advertised capacity and actual capacities, and it is vital to understand the actual capacities when planning equipment for your business. Because it eliminates bottlenecks in the operator-driven process, automated equipment can provide a significant boost to throughput.
In order to run different types of machinery, operators must have varying degrees of skill as well as a varying number of people on hand. In this case, automation is critical, and investing in automated extraction equipment will position your company for long-term success by allowing you to maximize the efficiency of your extraction process while freeing up the time of your best and brightest team members to devote their efforts to higher-value-adding areas of your company.
SUPPORT
Technology and extraction equipment are changing at a quick pace, so you want to be certain that you choose an equipment manufacturer that is on the cutting edge of technology and has the infrastructure to support your business both in the short and long term. A company’s ability to manage the hidden expenses of equipment ownership is vital to its long-term performance. Support from your equipment manufacturer is essential to properly controlling these costs.
It’s important to determine whether or not the extraction equipment supplier truly manufactures the equipment when evaluating how well the seller can help you after you’ve purchased it. This is important because it will be vital to your success from a support aspect. Having a partner who is vertically integrated and manufactures their equipment in-house will ensure that you receive the finest possible assistance because they will have complete control over their supply chain of components. Whenever possible, it is extremely recommended that you visit the equipment manufacturers you are considering so that you can see firsthand what kind of infrastructure and support they can provide. A well-organized and structured company with in-house engineering, production, technical and customer support will be able to effortlessly service your business both in the short and long term.