A system for separating a solute from high pressure CO2 is provided. The system includes a flash tank receiving a medium pressure rich solvent stream of CO2. In the flash tank, droplets of the medium pressure rich solvent stream of CO2 fall downwardly and accumulate to form a solvent liquid. A heating system is submerged in the solvent liquid and causes the solvent liquid to boil, which releases gaseous CO2 and results in a solute precipitating to the bottom of the flash tank. A liquid level transmitter monitors the level of the solvent liquid and controls the heating system to keep the liquid level above the heating system. The precipitated solute is extracted from the flash tank through a solute egress located at the bottom of the flash tank and controlled by a solute valve.

Provided is an extraction system which can be used to recover light oils and other organic materials during a supercritical or subcritical fluid extraction. The extraction system utilizes dual-purpose gas-liquid extraction pump for pumping the extracting material (e.g., CO.sub.2) in either the vapor phase or the liquid phase within the extractor. The extractor is a pressure vessel which functions as an independent, full spectrum extractor. Organic material is inserted within a compartment within the extractor and liquefied and compressed gases are passed through the organic material to obtain the extractant. The extraction system also includes a separator to separate the extracting fluid from the extracted material.

Novel thermal evaporative processes for the recovery of heat-sensitive constituents, raw essential oil concentrates, and other compounds from plant biomass material are disclosed, as are systems for implementing such processes. Particularly, the processes include a solvent-less process for either batch-wise or continuous removal and recovery of refined oils, such as volatile aroma components and heavier oils, from plant material.

The present patent application relates to a compact device with a modular design, and to a method for extracting volatile oils and herbal distillates contained in organic matter, using the extraction technique of steam distillation. The device is formed by a lower cylindrical module on top of which an upper hemispherical module may be disposed, and both modules may be secured to form a single hermetic body. The lower module may contain a hot-water boiler, a heat conducting disc, a steam-heating chamber, a still of raw material, and a valve for regulating the steam flow. The upper module may contain a conical steam condenser, a hemispherical cover, a ring for collecting distilled liquid, and a tube for removing the distilled liquid. The distillation method of internal steam distillation may integrate, in a single physical body, a semi-closed steam flow circuit that may include all the functions of distillation.

Various aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and systems for extracting oil from plant material. A system may comprise a gas moving device, an extraction chamber, and a condensation surface. Oil of the plant material may be volatized in the extraction chamber and then propelled by the gas moving device to the condensation surface to be collected. In various embodiments, the systems and methods allow the extraction of oil from plant material with little or no solvent.

A method including contacting an organic stream with water and carbon dioxide, whereby sodium is extracted from the organic stream, and separating an aqueous sodium salt-containing phase from an organic phase comprising a reduced sodium content. The organic stream can be a heavy residue formed in the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene. Contacting can include combining the carbon dioxide with the water to form a CO.sub.2-saturated water stream and contacting the CO.sub.2-saturated water stream with the organic stream, and/or combining the organic stream and the water to form a mixture and injecting the carbon dioxide as a gas thereinto. The method can further include repeating the contacting and the separating one or more times on the organic phase, subjecting the organic phase to ion exchange, or both, to obtain an organic phase having a further reduced sodium content. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Methods and systems are disclosed for concentrating a compound found in plant material from one or more species of the Cannabis genus. A system includes a capture/heating station having at least one heating element to heat a mass of material held within the capture/heating station; at least one release station in series with and liquidly isolated from the capture/heating station, each release station defining a volume at least partially filed by a release reagent formulated to release a target product from a substrate; and a conveyor configured to carry a belt through the capture/heating station and then the at least one release station.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer-controlled programmable logic controller (PLC) extraction system for separating an extract from a biomass includes a PLC, a solvent reservoir comprising a solvent that is a gas when the solvent is at a temperature of 25 C. and atmospheric pressure, a plurality of extraction devices comprising the biomass, an extract collection reservoir for collecting the extract, a solvent recovery system, and a temperature controlled circulation system. The circulation system fluidly connects the solvent reservoir, the plurality of extraction devices, the extract collection reservoir, and the solvent recovery system and comprises at least one apparatus for controlling a flow of the solvent. The solvent comprises no more than 1 weight % CO.sub.2. A method of extracting an extract from a biomass using a PLC extraction system is also described.

A method, device, system, or apparatus for extracting an essential oil from a material. The device may include a material chamber, a heater, and a coil. The material chamber may include a cavity to store a material and a gas. The heater may be approximate to the material chamber and may apply heat to the material chamber to heat the material to a first threshold temperature. The material may release an essential oil in a gas state at the first threshold temperature that combines with the gas to form a gaseous mixture. The coil may be connected to the material chamber and may receive the gaseous mixture from the material chamber. The coil may cool the gaseous mixture to a second threshold temperature and the essential oil may change from the gas state to a liquid state at the second threshold temperature.

An apparatus for extracting an oil from plant material includes an extraction chamber for plant material. The plant material is exposed to a heated gas stream with a temperature sufficient to volatilize on oil from the plant material. The gas stream is rapidly cooled to liquefy the oil into entrained droplets. The oil is collected with a collection solvent.