A system and method for crystallization and pelleting of a cannabinoid, including cannabidiol (CBD).

According to the present invention there is provided a method for enantiomeric enrichment of a mixture of two enantiomers of a chiral compound, the method comprises the application of the mixture of two enantiomers of a chiral compound onto a surface of a support material for producing a coated support, the determination a first value of an optical activity (OA.sub.0) of the coated support, the irradiation of the coated support with a light beam having an intensity at least higher than a desorption threshold of one of the enantiomers from the coated support, wherein, if the support material is achiral, the light beam is circularly polarized and, if the support material is chiral, the light beam is unpolarized, linearly polarized or circularly polarized, and the determination of a second value of the optical activity (OA.sub.e) of the coated support after said irradiation, wherein the second value of the optical activity (OA.sub.e) differs from the first value of the optical activity (OA.sub.0).

In alternative embodiments, provided are industrial processes and methods for extracting or removing cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes from plant materials such as trichomes. In alternative embodiments, the cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes are extracted or removed from the plant materials using a non-polar, organic solvent, or a mixture of non-polar, organic solvent and polar, organic solvent.

Essential oils, such as CBD oil, are extracted from biomass, such as hemp, in a continuous process. The biomass is delivered to the upper end of a vertically oriented extraction chamber, while a solvent is injected at the lower end thereof. As the solvent flows upwardly, the oil is removed from the biomass. The resulting liquor is collected and purified.

Multiple methods of synthesizing cannabigerol are presented. Combining olivetol with geraniol derivatives are provided. Cross-coupling methods of combing functionalized resorcinols are provided. Useful intermediates are formed during such cross-coupling steps.

Methods for extracting and concentrating cannabinoids using ultrasound-enhanced solvent extraction. Freshly harvested cannabis plant materials, which may be selectively chosen plant parts or the entire plant itself, are shredded to a particular particle size. The plant material is then mixed with a solvent to form a slurry, and thereafter subjected to ultrasound to release intracellular contents into the solvent. Filtering steps are then applied to remove biomass, waxes and chlorophyll. Water removal and solvent recovery steps are further applied to ultimately derive an extract having high concentrations of target cannabinoids, and in particular cannabidiol (CBD). The methods may be deployed on-site in batch or continuous flow processes, and may further be utilized to derive other types of materials from plants, such as essential oils.

Multiple methods of synthesizing cannabigerol are presented. Combining olivetol with geraniol derivatives are provided. Cross-coupling methods of combing functionalized resorcinols are provided. Useful intermediates are formed during such cross-coupling steps.

An apparatus for purifying diamond CBD oil crystals. A cylindrical glass or metal vessel is provided and supported by least one support post, the vessel having an upper portion and a lower surface having laser etched nucleation sites for initiating crystal growth. A removable head is engageable with the upper portion of the vessel, the head having an uppermost portion and a plurality of ports extending therethrough. A pressurized nitrogen tank is operatively connected to a port of the head, as is a pressure gauge. A safety valve is disposed at the uppermost portion of the head. Optionally, an inline desiccant chamber is also operatively connected to the head. The apparatus crystalizes cannabinoids in either a solventless process or a solvent process.

An apparatus for purifying diamond CBD oil crystals. A cylindrical glass or metal vessel is provided and supported by least one support post, the vessel having an upper portion and a lower surface having laser etched nucleation sites for initiating crystal growth. A removable head is engageable with the upper portion of the vessel, the head having an uppermost portion and a plurality of ports extending therethrough. A pressurized nitrogen tank is operatively connected to a port of the head, as is a pressure gauge. A safety valve is disposed at the uppermost portion of the head. Optionally, an inline desiccant chamber is also operatively connected to the head. The apparatus crystalizes cannabinoids in either a solventless process or a solvent process.

The present invention generally relates to processes for purification, recovery, and conversion of chlorophenol salts (e.g., 2,5-dichlorophenol and salts thereof). In various aspects, the present invention is related to removing one or more impurities from chlorophenol salt-containing process streams and/or recovering chlorophenol salts from process streams for use of the recovered chlorophenol elsewhere in an integrated process. Process streams that may be treated in accordance with the present invention include those incorporating one or more chlorophenol salts in a feed mixture and also those where one or more chlorophenol salts are present in a product or by-product stream of an integrated process. For example, conversion processes of the present invention are suitable as one piece of an integrated process for producing 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) or a salt or ester thereof or a process for producing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or a salt or ester thereof. The present invention further relates to processes for preparation, purification, and recovery of intermediates formed in integrated processes utilizing chlorophenol salts such as 2,5-dichlorophenol as starting material, including the intermediate 3,6-dichlorosalicylic acid (3,6-DCSA) formed during preparation of dicamba from 2,5-dichlorophenol.