Disclosed are methods for separating, recovering, and purifying tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) salts from an organic solvent solution comprising a mixture of cannabinoids. The methods comprise solubilizing the mixture of cannabinoids in a selected C5-C7 hydrocarbon solvent, adding thereto a selected amine to thereby precipitate a THCA-amine salt therefrom, dissolving the recovered THCA-amine salt in a selected solvent and then adding thereto a selected antisolvent to thereby recrystallize a purified THCA-amine salt therefrom. The recrystallized THCA-amine salt may be decarboxylated to form a mixture of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and amine. The Δ9-THC amine mixture may be acidified to separate the amine from Δ9-THC. The recovered Δ9-THC may be concentrated to produce a highly purified Δ9-THC. Also disclosed are THCA-amine salts produced with amines selected from groups of diamines, amino alcohols, and tertiary amines.

Disclosed are methods for separating, recovering, and purifying tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) salts from an organic solvent solution comprising a mixture of cannabinoids. The methods comprise solubilizing the mixture of cannabinoids in a selected C5-C7 hydrocarbon solvent, adding thereto a selected amine to thereby precipitate a THCA-amine salt therefrom, dissolving the recovered THCA-amine salt in a selected solvent and then adding thereto a selected antisolvent to thereby recrystallize a purified THCA-amine salt therefrom. The recrystallized THCA-amine salt may be decarboxylated to form a mixture of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and amine. The Δ9-THC amine mixture may be acidified to separate the amine from Δ9-THC. The recovered Δ9-THC may be concentrated to produce a highly purified Δ9-THC. Also disclosed are THCA-amine salts produced with amines selected from groups of diamines, amino alcohols, and tertiary amines.

Disclosed is a method for crystallizing molecules having a molecular weight equal to or lower than about 500 Dalton in a gravity below about 0.01 g to about 0.000001 g as well as to crystalline molecules having a molecular weight equal to, or lower than, about 500 Dalton, prepared under microgravity conditions.

Disclosed is a method for crystallizing molecules having a molecular weight equal to or lower than about 500 Dalton in a gravity below about 0.01 g to about 0.000001 g as well as to crystalline molecules having a molecular weight equal to, or lower than, about 500 Dalton, prepared under microgravity conditions.

Disclosed is a process for purifying one or more chemical constituents from plant matter using extraction with a fluid that is not a solvent, for example, with a vegetable oil. The extracted chemical constituents may then optionally be further processed by heating in order to induce desired chemical transformations. The extracted chemical constituents are also processed by concentrating at reduced pressure, for example, by distillation.

Disclosed is a process for purifying one or more chemical constituents from plant matter using extraction with a fluid that is not a solvent, for example, with a vegetable oil. The extracted chemical constituents may then optionally be further processed by heating in order to induce desired chemical transformations. The extracted chemical constituents are also processed by concentrating at reduced pressure, for example, by distillation.

A novel sublimation purification method is provided. Moreover, a novel sublimation purification apparatus is provided. A purification method using a purification apparatus including a purification portion where a substance is purified by vaporization, a temperature adjustment means, a gas supply means, and a gas discharge means is provided. In the purification method, the inside of the purification portion is made to have a first pressure with use of the gas discharge means, a temperature gradient is generated in the purification portion with use of the temperature adjustment means such that the substance is purified, the pressure in the purification portion is then set at a second pressure with use of the gas supply means, and the purification portion is cooled with use of the temperature adjustment means. The second pressure is higher than the first pressure and the second pressure is higher than or equal to an atmospheric pressure.

A novel sublimation purification method is provided. Moreover, a novel sublimation purification apparatus is provided. A purification method using a purification apparatus including a purification portion where a substance is purified by vaporization, a temperature adjustment means, a gas supply means, and a gas discharge means is provided. In the purification method, the inside of the purification portion is made to have a first pressure with use of the gas discharge means, a temperature gradient is generated in the purification portion with use of the temperature adjustment means such that the substance is purified, the pressure in the purification portion is then set at a second pressure with use of the gas supply means, and the purification portion is cooled with use of the temperature adjustment means. The second pressure is higher than the first pressure and the second pressure is higher than or equal to an atmospheric pressure.

A method for producing p-xylene, comprising: a dimerization step of bringing a first raw material comprising isobutene into contact with a dimerization catalyst comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of Group 9 metal elements and Group 10 metal elements to generate C8 components comprising 2,5-dimethylhexene; and a cyclization step of bringing a second raw material comprising the C8 components into contact with a dehydrogenation catalyst to generate p-xylene by the cyclodehydrogenation reaction of the C8 components.

A method for producing p-xylene, comprising: a dimerization step of bringing a first raw material comprising isobutene into contact with a dimerization catalyst comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of Group 9 metal elements and Group 10 metal elements to generate C8 components comprising 2,5-dimethylhexene; and a cyclization step of bringing a second raw material comprising the C8 components into contact with a dehydrogenation catalyst to generate p-xylene by the cyclodehydrogenation reaction of the C8 components.