Disclosed are methods for pretreating a plant material prior to solvent extraction, wherein the methods comprise subjecting a comminuted dried plant material to non-ionizing radiation at an energy input of equal to or greater than about 0.02 kWh per 1 kg of dried plant material. Also disclosed are methods of extracting plant metabolites from a plant material, the methods comprising comminuting a dried plant material, subjecting the comminuted plant material to a non-ionizing radiation at an energy input of equal to or greater than about 0.02 kWh per 1 kg of dried plant material to thereby pretreat the plant material, contacting the pretreated plant material with a solvent, and recovering a solubilized extract therefrom.

The present invention discloses an apparatus for effective and efficient extraction of resin from plant materials. The apparatus includes at least an agitator and a tank. The tank is a square tank and is made of one piece of plastic that is sloped and folded (V-shaped) at the bottom. The agitator includes a single impellor or pulsator having two sides. The pulsator creates fluid currents in an upwards and downwards direction. Top portion pushes fluid up and bottom portion pushes fluid down. As a result of agitation, trichomes get separated and pass-through openings of the false bottom surface and are collected on the V-shaped bottom surface. This collection of the trichomes on the V-shaped bottom surface ensures that the trichomes do not move or go upward. The false bottom surface ensures that the trichomes are not getting hit by the agitator again post their collection on the V-shaped bottom surface.

The system and method of the present invention provides an automated washing and extraction system and method to removed trichomes from cannabis product to create hash resin. Inconsistency is removed from the hash extraction process by automating the washing and extraction cycles thereof. The system and method records the data and tracks all user functions. Manual labor is removed or significantly reduced and time to create the final product is greatly lessened. Thus, more hash can be produced in a shorter amount of time. Moreover, the present invention allows the end user a controlled and accurate and efficient way of producing large quantities of solvent-free hash in a short amount of time while doing so in a consistent, repeatable and cost-effective manner.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.

A filtration system is described that can be used to filter out plant material within a solution. One or more sieves can be disposed in series to receive a flow of solution. As the solution flows through the one or more sieves, progressively smaller particles can be filtered out. One or more transducers can apply sound waves or other agitation during the filtering process. The sound waves help in suspending solid particles in the solution and making for more efficient and quicker filtering.

A system and method for extracting liquid and solid hydrocarbons and their derivatives from natural and man-made hydrocarbon sources, including but not limited to oil sands, bitumen, asphalt, roofing shingles, and other hydrocarbon articles of manufacture. The hydrocarbon sources are prepared by dissolving, crushing and/or grinding. The prepared hydrocarbon sources are subjected to agitation where the solvent and hydrocarbon source as thoroughly mixed. The results of the agitation are then separated in one or both of a mesh screen shaker and a centrifuge. The mesh screen shaker subjects the materials to medium frequency oscillations. The centrifuge subjects the materials to high G-forces. The combined processes separate the hydrocarbons from solids and residual solids to less than 0.2% by weight.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The methods include use of a reactor vessel to degum, rinse, and dissolve the silk fibroin protein from silk inputs to obtain a food grade silk powder. The reactor vessel may include a combination of inputs and outputs for introducing and removing different components used or generated during the process. The systems may include any combination of heat exchangers, holding tanks, filtration modules, and post-treatment equipment as necessary to obtain the silk powder. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.

An oil extraction apparatus includes an ultrasonication vessel that receives raw plant material and ethanol. An ultrasonication probe ultrasonicates the raw plant material received in the ultrasonication vessel and generates a mixture including ultrasonicated raw plant material, plant oil, and ethanol. A collection vessel is in fluid communication with the ultrasonication vessel. The collection vessel receives a mixture including plant oil and ethanol from the ultrasonication vessel. A heater heats the collection vessel to separate ethanol from the mixture including plant oil and ethanol. A reclamation vessel is in fluid communication with the collection vessel. The reclamation vessel receives separated ethanol from the mixture including plant oil and ethanol. An ethanol collection tube is connected with the reclamation vessel. The ethanol collection tube is arranged to carry separated ethanol from the mixture including plant oil and ethanol to the reclamation vessel from the collection vessel.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.

An oil extraction apparatus includes an ultrasonication vessel that receives raw plant material and ethanol. An ultrasonication probe ultrasonicates the raw plant material received in the ultrasonication vessel and generates a mixture including ultrasonicated raw plant material, plant oil, and ethanol. A collection vessel is in fluid communication with the ultrasonication vessel. The collection vessel receives a mixture including plant oil and ethanol from the ultrasonication vessel. A heater heats the collection vessel to separate ethanol from the mixture including plant oil and ethanol. A reclamation vessel is in fluid communication with the collection vessel. The reclamation vessel receives separated ethanol from the mixture including plant oil and ethanol. An ethanol collection tube is connected with the reclamation vessel. The ethanol collection tube is arranged to carry separated ethanol from the mixture including plant oil and ethanol to the reclamation vessel from the collection vessel.