The present invention describes a method which outlines a process for conversion of CBD to a Δ.sup.9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ.sup.9-THC) compound or derivative thereof involving treating a naturally produced CBD intermediate compound with an organoaluminum-based Lewis acid catalyst, under conditions effective to produce the Δ.sup.9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof at a relatively high concentration. The source of the CBD is from industrial hemp having less than 0.3% Δ.sup.9-THC and extracting and purifying a CBD distillate or isolate or a combination thereof. This procedure will produce Δ.sup.9-THC that is essentially free from any other cannabinoids other than some trace amounts of the initial CBD starting material, or about 95% Δ.sup.9-THC and 2-4% CBD. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for further purification and enrichment of the Δ.sup.9-THC using distillation and collecting an essentially pure fraction of Δ.sup.9-THC using additional distillation or enrichment form of purification. Included are methods and processes to scale the reaction from the lab to large scale manufacturing. Included are methods for adding a molecule marker to authenticate high purity Δ.sup.9-THC products. Formulations and uses for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food products, and topicals are also provided.

An herbal distillation device includes a herb chamber with perforated holes for holding herbs and a closed heated boiling chamber with openings at the side for a steam outlet. The herbal distillation device further includes an electric air-cooled condensation chamber which connects to the boiling chamber.

This invention relates to the extraction of psychoactive compounds from organisms for use in medicine. Extraction is carried out with a strong acid or strong base to either promote or inhibit dephosphorylation. The extract in the slurry form is standardized with added excipient so that when it is dried the powdered composition has a specified total psychoactive alkaloid concentration, with a known ratio of phosphorylated to dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids.

The present invention discloses a mangosteen pericarp extract and process for its preparation thereof. The mangosteen pericarp extract containing α-mangostin and γ-mangostin which obtains from preparation steps comprising fragmentation, organic solvent soaking, aqueous solution, or acidic solution soaking, concentration, spray drying and grinding steps from the rind of the mangosteen. The present invention has advantages of simple preparation process to address efficiency issue, no need to have heating under reflux in extraction steps and the solvents which used are friendly to human body and environment. The mangosteen pericarp extract (α-Xones Prime) can significantly decrease insulin resistance, and bodyweight gain induced by daily high fat diet intake. In addition, administration of the mangosteen pericarp ethanolic extract can reduce fat accumulation in the adipose and muscle tissue of rats with daily high fat diet intake. The α-Xones Prime could be used as a nutraceutical ingredient for weight control or weight loss, or even prevention of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and developed into a candidate drug composition.

A hydrometallurgical method for simultaneously extracting zinc, lead, silver, iron and calcium from electric arc furnace dust (hazardous waste) produced by the steelmaking industry (steelworks), in the form of industrial products: zinc as zinc sulphate or zinc cathodes; lead and silver as a concentrate of lead and silver; iron as reduced elemental iron for return to the electric arc furnace; and, lastly, calcium as gypsum, without solid waste or liquid effluents being generated relates to the chemical nature of the electric arc furnace dust (complex oxides) changes to a sulfide complex, and eliminating the hazards associated with the generation of fugitive heavy-metal salts. In addition, the hydrometallurgical problem of low recovery of zinc and iron is solved. Consequently, hydrometallurgy is made easier and more environmentally friendly, as condensed water is used as a leachate, the condensed water being continuously regenerated by vacuum evaporation systems without generating effluents.

Provided is a method for extracting and refining alkaloids from ipecac, comprising: (1) grinding ipecac, adding acidic methanol/ethanol solution for extraction, obtaining an extraction solution A, concentrating under a reduced pressure, and obtaining a concentrated solution B; (2) using reversed-phase polymer filler J for adsorption, and performing desorption by washing with water, collecting a washing solution C, eluting with an alcoholic solution E and collecting a desorption solution D; (3) injecting the washing solution C and the desorption solution D into a preparative high performance liquid chromatograph for separation and purification respectively, to collect a solution G, and a solution H and a solution I respectively; and (4) concentrating the solutions G, H and I, which are then subjected to reversed-phase polymer filler K for adsorption respectively; eluting them respectively after adsorption with an alcoholic solution F; concentrating obtained eluates to dryness; and then performing vacuum drying.

An improved method for preparing persimmon leaf extract. Dried persimmon leaves are obtained and are crushed. Ethanol is added to the dried crushed persimmon leaves and ethanol extraction is used to produce a persimmon leaf extraction solution. The persimmon leaf extraction solution is introduced into a concentrator and a first concentrated solution is produced while the ethanol is recycled. The first concentrated solution is filtered to produce a filtrate. The filtrate is introduced into the concentrator to produce a second concentrated solution. The second concentrated solution is repeatedly extracted with ethyl acetate to produce a second persimmon leaf extraction solution. The second persimmon leaf extraction solution is introduced into a concentrator to produce a third concentrated solution while recycling the ethyl acetate. Vacuum drying is used to dry the third concentrated solution to produce a dried persimmon leaf extract.

A method and system of managing a chain of custody for cannabis is provided that includes depositing one or more identification tags onto the surface of one or more cannabis seeds at a first custodian location, and depositing the identification tags onto the surface of one or more cannabis, wherein the cannabis plants are grown and matured from the cannabis seeds. The method and system further includes receiving the tagged cannabis plants at a second custodian location and extracting cannabinoids from the tagged cannabis plants, wherein the extracted cannabinoids include the one or more identification tags. In addition, the method and system further includes receiving the extracted cannabinoids at a third custodian location, wherein the extracted cannabinoids include the one or more identification tags which may be accumulated from all the prior custodians.

Disclosed is a method and a device for retrieving, from an object A, elements G present in a matrix M, the method including at least the following steps: bringing said abject A into contact with a dense fluid Fd with a molar mass greater than 2 g mol.sup.−1 under temperature T.sub.1 and pressure P.sub.1 conditions suitable for transforming the intergranular phase and for releasing the elements G, modifying the temperature T.sub.2 and/or pressure P.sub.2 values to stop the reaction transforming the intergranular phase, and recovering the elements G separated front the matrix M.

Botanical materials are treated by processes utilizing a solvent system that includes the use of acetone solvent with or without a CO.sub.2 co-solvent wherein the solvent system is allowed to process the botanical material under certain conditions to obtain extracts (including Whole Plant Extracts) of the botanical materials that are substantially free of pigments, waxes, fats, lipids, and the like.