A closed loop extraction system for extracting desired components from raw plant matter and method of use is disclosed. The closed loop extraction system features a solvent source, a chill tank, a wash tank, a rinse tank, a centrifuge, and a feed tank all in fluid communication via a series of interconnected pump systems. The method of extracting the desired products from raw plant matter uses this system to perform the extraction with a reduced amount of solvent in an energy-efficient manner.

A system, machines and methods for extracting select moieties, flavonoids, and essential oils from plant material without co-extracting chlorophyll, lipids and other undesirable constituents from plants. Super-cooled extraction techniques are taught. Likewise, according to embodiments methods provides 100% grain ethyl alcohol extract with a concentration of chlorophyll that is below 1%.

An extraction device that can include a first solvent chamber, an extraction chamber, a collection chamber and a second solvent chamber. The various chambers of the extraction device are connected in fluid communication with one or more chambers of the device through one or more connectors. A connector can include one or more flow control elements that control flow of fluid from one chamber to one or more other connected chambers. Additionally, the various chambers of the extraction device can be arranged in multiple configurations and connections between the chambers.

A carbon dioxide extraction system which recirculates CO.sub.2 and/or other gases in a continuous loop for maximum extraction efficiency and which recovers substantially all gases at the end of the extraction cycle for cost savings and greater workplace safety. The extractor utilizes a dual pumping system which can incorporate high vapor pressure CO.sub.2 and/or lower vapor pressure gases such as propane, butane, chemical refrigerants such as R134a, and other lower vapor pressure gases. The system allows the operators to work with supercritical CO.sub.2 alone with high pressure liquid pump(s), lower vapor pressure gases alone with modified refrigerant recovery pump(s), or a mixture of CO.sub.2 and lower vapor pressure gases using a combination of high pressure liquid pump(s) for extraction and modified refrigerant recovery pump(s) for full recovery of gases at the end of an extraction cycle.

The present invention is a process for producing various types of cannabis extract from harvested cannabis. A quantity of harvested cannabis, which typically includes the inflorescence, floral leaves, and small stems of a flowering cannabis plants, is pre-frozen. The harvested cannabis is first subjected to cryogenic grinding to produce pulverized cannabis. The pulverized cannabis is then subjected to alcohol extraction to produce an initial cannabis extract, which can be subjected to one of several forms of further processing according to the desired chemical profile of the final product. The initial cannabis extract may then be subjected to chemical processing that promote the conversion of THCA to Δ9 THC; the conversion of THCVA to THCV; the conversion of THCA to cannabinol (“CBN”); or the conversion of THCA to Δ8-THC.

The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for removing and recovering residual solvent from a solvent-bearing mass.

An apparatus and a method for plant extraction are disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention comprises an extraction module, a separating module and a reservoir. The method essentially includes plant material preparing, decarboxylating, active components extracting and separating. By using liquid tetrafluoroethane as the solvent in the apparatus of the present invention, the active components of the plant material are efficiently extracted under low pressure extraction and high pressure extraction conditions.

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) apparatus is provided that is capable of being operated in a continuous and/or steady-state fashion. The SFE apparatus may include an extraction assembly. The extraction assembly may include a first extraction chamber (FEC) to contain a first amount of source material from which a compound is to be extracted, and a second extraction chamber (SEC) to contain a second amount of the source material. The extraction assembly may include a valve to control a flow of a solvent into the FEC or the SEC. The SFE apparatus may include a collection chamber that is mounted substantially perpendicular to the extraction assembly. Other embodiments are described.

A method for preparing a Hovenia dulcis Thunb extract rich in dihydromyricetin includes the following steps: (1) crushing Hovenia dulcis Thunb seeds to obtain a Hovenia dulcis Thunb powder; (2) adding a 10-95% ethanol solution in an amount of 3-15 times of an amount of the Hovenia dulcis Thunb powder, stirring and extracting at 20° C-80° C. twice; (3) filtering to obtain an extract solution; (4) concentrating the extract solution by evaporating ethanol under reduced pressure to obtain a crude extract, the crude extract having a solid content of 10%-40%; (5) placing the crude extract at −20° C. to 8° C. for 0.5 to 12 hours; (6) centrifuging the crude extract to obtain a supernatant; and (7) spray-drying the supernatant to obtain the Hovenia dulcis Thunb extract.

A method of preparing a Senna obtusifolia seed extract rich in anthraquinones and a galactomannan extract includes the following steps: (1) crushing Senna obtusifolia seeds into a Senna obtusifolia seed powder; (2) extracting the Senna obtusifolia seed powder with 40-85% ethanol, filtering to obtain an extract solution and a residue; (3) concentrating the extract solution under vacuum to obtain a concentrated extract solution, spray-drying the concentrated extract solution to obtain the Senna obtusifolia seed extract; (4) extracting the residue with membrane filtered water, conducting a centrifugation to obtain a supernatant; (5) adding ammonium sulfate and ethanol to the supernatant to form a two-phase aqueous system, collecting a bottom layer of the two-phase aqueous system; and (6) conducting an ultrafiltration of the bottom layer with a cut-off molecular weight of 50 k-200 k to obtain a galactomannan extract solution, drying the galactomannan extract solution under vacuum to obtain the galactomannan extract.