A method of producing an extract of an animal-derived or plant-derived biological material includes: extracting a component in the biological material using liquefied dimethyl ether for the biological material to obtain a liquefied dimethyl ether solution including the component; separating the solution from the biological material; and volatilizing or separating the liquefied dimethyl ether from the solution.

A method of isomerizing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (“Δ9-THC”) to Δ10-tetrahydrocannabinol (“Δ10-THC”). The method includes the steps of: extracting Δ9-THC from cannabis biomass, which optionally contains one or more of the components found in fire retardant such as PHOS-CHEK®; dewaxing of crude extracts by winterization; pH-adjusting extracts by washing the extracts in heptane solution with aqueous solutions of: citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and brine; isomerizing Δ9-THC to Δ10-THC by exposure to suitable conditions and in the presence of a catalyst based on the components of fire retardant; vacuum distillation of Δ10-THC at a predetermined temperature range and vacuum level; collecting the distillate and redistilling it up to three times to acquire distillate containing less than 60% Δ10-THC; and purification of the MO-THC to a purity of 99% or greater by crystallization from n-pentane solution.

In order to reduce the contamination of scandium oxide products, the present disclosure provides a process for removing at least one metal contaminant from a scandium (Sc) concentrate. The process is based on contacting the Sc concentrate with an ion exchange resin to obtain a purified Sc eluate or raffinate. The first ion exchange resin and the second ion exchange resin are strong acid cationic resins with sulfonic acid functional groups in a potassium or sodium form. The purified Sc eluate or raffinate can be used to make scandium oxide products having a reduced amount of metal ion contaminants.

A waste treatment system for separating contaminants including per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from bulk solid waste (12). A preparation module (9) having a bulk material separator separates oversize material (14) from bulk solid waste (12). A physical separation module (13), located down-stream of the preparation module (9), separates the bulk solid waste (12) based on particle size using physical and/or hydrodynamic and/or density separation techniques. An extraction/chemical separation module (19), located downstream of the physical separation module (13), adds leachate and/or extractant to separate the contaminants from a slurry output from the physical separation module (13), into a fines output and a contaminated water solution. A water circulation system (21) supplies water to the physical separation module (13) and the extraction/chemical separation module (19), the water circulation system including at least one water treatment process, the treated water being recycled and recirculated within the waste treatment system.

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.

The invention refers to a distillation apparatus (100) for extraction of volatile components from biological material (50), especially from plants, comprising a housing (10) defining a sample chamber (S), a drum (30) arranged in the sample chamber (S), the drum (30) defining a receiving chamber (R) for receiving the biological material (50), and at least one microwave generator (70) for irradiating the biological material (50) with microwave radiation when received in the drum (30); wherein the drum (30) is rotatably arranged in the sample chamber (S) about a rotation axis (H) which is oriented substantially horizontally.

The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.

Systems and methods for use in extracting oil from solid plant-based materials are described. The systems and methods use an electrolyzed carrier fluid made from a hydroxide brine for contacting with plant-based material to thereby separate oil from solid plant particulate. The electrolyzed carrier fluid can have a reductive oxidation-reduction-potential (ORP) of −700 mV or more, such as in the range of from about −900 mV to about −1000 mV.

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.

Systems and methods for extracting a compound of interest from plant material, such as a cannabidiol (CBD) from cannabis, are provided. Particularly, the disclosed systems and methods utilize a crude oil to separate water and impurities including fats, sugars, resin glues, chlorophyll, and proteins prior to preparation of a CBD distillate. The systems and methods are operable to remove the impurities from the crude oil with a brine solution and at least one acid prior to distillation. The systems and methods are operable with conventional solvents containing between about 5 wt % and about 8 wt % water.