The present invention relates to a bio-based polyol comprising a thiol-epoxy reaction product of an epoxidized nut or seed oil derivative, and a thiol-containing reactant. The bio-based polyol of the present invention can then be combined with a diisocyanate or a polymeric isocyanate to create a polyurethane material.

The present invention provides improved solvents, methods, and systems for isolating purified cannabinoids from various sources. It has been found that C.sub.9 to C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and especially n-decane, work surprisingly well for crystallization of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol. Some variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature, to generate a mixture; cooling the mixture to precipitate cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids. Other variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature below the solvent boiling point, to generate a mixture; subjecting the mixture to a second temperature that causes vaporization of the solvent, to precipitate at least some of the cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids.

The present invention provides improved solvents, methods, and systems for isolating purified cannabinoids from various sources. It has been found that C.sub.9 to C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and especially n-decane, work surprisingly well for crystallization of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol. Some variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature, to generate a mixture; cooling the mixture to precipitate cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids. Other variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature below the solvent boiling point, to generate a mixture; subjecting the mixture to a second temperature that causes vaporization of the solvent, to precipitate at least some of the cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids.

Method and system for the extraction of oils from a biomass with a liquid carbon dioxide using cosolvent. The system and method can be used to extract cannabinoids from Cannabis biomass by cryogenically freezing the biomass and exposing the Cannabis biomass to sub-cooled liquid carbon dioxide and capturing a first high-terpene extract fraction, and then exposing the Cannabis biomass with a mixture of superfluid carbon dioxide and a cosolvent to capture a high cannabinoid second fraction.

Method and system for the extraction of oils from a biomass with a liquid carbon dioxide using cosolvent. The system and method can be used to extract cannabinoids from Cannabis biomass by cryogenically freezing the biomass and exposing the Cannabis biomass to sub-cooled liquid carbon dioxide and capturing a first high-terpene extract fraction, and then exposing the Cannabis biomass with a mixture of superfluid carbon dioxide and a cosolvent to capture a high cannabinoid second fraction.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods of depolymerizing a lignin component of a lignin-containing material. The method comprising contacting the lignin-containing material with a solvent and optionally a catalyst at a temperature in the range of 180-300° C. and at a maximum operating pressure of less than 10 barG during the depolymerization of the lignin component of the material and collecting at least one volatile stream comprising one or more depolymerized lignin products. In an embodiment, the step of contacting is carried out in a reactive distillation reactor, and the step of collecting comprises concurrently collecting at least one volatile stream via distillation apparatus connected to the reactive distillation reactor, at least one of the one or more depolymerized lignin products comprises a substituted phenol having the following general formula: (I) wherein R.sub.1 is H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, propenyl, or allyl, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from H or methoxy group.

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Disclosed herein are systems and methods of depolymerizing a lignin component of a lignin-containing material. The method comprising contacting the lignin-containing material with a solvent and optionally a catalyst at a temperature in the range of 180-300° C. and at a maximum operating pressure of less than 10 barG during the depolymerization of the lignin component of the material and collecting at least one volatile stream comprising one or more depolymerized lignin products. In an embodiment, the step of contacting is carried out in a reactive distillation reactor, and the step of collecting comprises concurrently collecting at least one volatile stream via distillation apparatus connected to the reactive distillation reactor, at least one of the one or more depolymerized lignin products comprises a substituted phenol having the following general formula: (I) wherein R.sub.1 is H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, propenyl, or allyl, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from H or methoxy group.

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Some variations provide a system for extracting a product from biomass, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume; one or more mechanical elements configured to controllably and reversibly mechanically seal the process chamber and reduce the internal volume to mechanically compress the biomass; a fluid port in flow communication with the process chamber; and a collection sub-system in flow communication with the fluid port. Other variations provide a method of extracting a product from biomass, the method comprising: introducing biomass into a process chamber; mechanically sealing the process chamber; mechanically compressing the biomass to release a first fluid material; mechanically decompressing the biomass; introducing an extraction solvent into the process chamber; maintaining process-chamber pressure from about 1 bar to about 1000 bar, wherein the extraction solvent extracts a second fluid material; and recovering the second fluid material from the process chamber. High processing throughput is enabled with this invention.

Some variations provide a system for extracting a product from biomass, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume; one or more mechanical elements configured to controllably and reversibly mechanically seal the process chamber and reduce the internal volume to mechanically compress the biomass; a fluid port in flow communication with the process chamber; and a collection sub-system in flow communication with the fluid port. Other variations provide a method of extracting a product from biomass, the method comprising: introducing biomass into a process chamber; mechanically sealing the process chamber; mechanically compressing the biomass to release a first fluid material; mechanically decompressing the biomass; introducing an extraction solvent into the process chamber; maintaining process-chamber pressure from about 1 bar to about 1000 bar, wherein the extraction solvent extracts a second fluid material; and recovering the second fluid material from the process chamber. High processing throughput is enabled with this invention.

Cannabis plant material is extracted with a solvent matrix consisting of one or more organic solvents and optionally water. The cannabis plant material is agitated in the solvent matrix and then removed by filtration or centrifugation. Following extraction, the plant material is separated from the solvent matrix by centrifugation. The resulting extract is clarified by membrane filtration which also removes most of the water and water-soluble impurities. The resulting extract is dewaxed using membrane filtration and/or liquid-liquid extraction. Excess solvent and terpenoids are removed by means of molecular weight cutoff membrane filtration and the resulting cannabinoid solution is decarboxylated catalytically. Seed crystals are added to crystallize the cannabinoids.