An extraction system may include a primary extractor that is configured to process a main feedstock undergoing extraction and a secondary extractor configured to process particulate matter separated from miscella produced on the primary extractor. In some configurations, the secondary extractor is an immersion extractor that has a solvent stream flowing in a counter current direction to a direction which the particulate matter flows through the extractor. In operation, the primary extractor can generate a miscella stream containing solvent and components extracted from the feedstock being processed by the extractor. Following separation in which the miscella stream is processed to remove particulate matter, the particulate matter may be charged to the secondary extractor as a feedstock for the secondary extractor. In some examples, the miscella from the primary and secondary extractors are combined and/or the discharged feedstock from the primary and secondary extractors are combined for subsequent processing.

A shallow bed solvent extractor comprises at least one moving bed having upstream and downstream ends and a feed inlet positioned adjacent to the upstream end, wherein a first batch of wet cannabinoid and terpene containing material is introducible to the at least one moving bed through the feed inlet. An outlet is positioned adjacent to the downstream end, wherein the first batch of wet cannabinoid and terpene containing material is carried on the at least one moving bed and exits the extractor through the outlet. A drive system is operatively connected to the at least one moving bed. The shallow bed solvent extractor further comprises a plurality of sprayers disposed above the upstream and downstream ends of the at least one moving bed and a non-polar solvent. The plurality of sprayers spray the first batch of wet cannabinoid and terpene containing material with the non-polar solvent.

Various aspects of this patent document relate to a method to extract an oil from a plant material using an apparatus by first exposing the plant material to a heated gas stream at a temperature sufficient to volatilize the oil from the plant material, and then rapidly cooling the gas stream to liquefy the oil.

An extractor suitable for using a solvent to separate a compound from a solid or semisolid substance containing the compound. The extractor includes a conveying assembly having an inclined conveyor for receiving the substance from a substance inlet and moving the substance through the solvent, an inclined upper surface associated with the first conveyor and an inclined lower surface associated with the first conveyor. The conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the upper surface toward a lower end of the conveyor and upward through the solvent along the lower surface toward an upper end of the conveyor.

A shallow bed solvent extractor comprises at least one moving bed having upstream and downstream ends and a feed inlet positioned adjacent to the upstream end, wherein a first batch of wet cannabinoid and terpene containing material is introducible to the at least one moving bed through the feed inlet. An outlet is positioned adjacent to the downstream end, wherein the first batch of wet cannabinoid and terpene containing material is carried on the at least one moving bed and exits the extractor through the outlet. A drive system is operatively connected to the at least one moving bed. The shallow bed solvent extractor further comprises a plurality of sprayers disposed above the upstream and downstream ends of the at least one moving bed and a non-polar solvent. The plurality of sprayers spray the first batch of wet cannabinoid and terpene containing material with the non-polar solvent.

Methods and systems are disclosed for concentrating a compound found in plant material from one or more species of the Cannabis genus. A system includes a capture/heating station having at least one heating element to heat a mass of material held within the capture/heating station; at least one release station in series with and liquidly isolated from the capture/heating station, each release station defining a volume at least partially filed by a release reagent formulated to release a target product from a substrate; and a conveyor configured to carry a belt through the capture/heating station and then the at least one release station.

An immersion extractor may have a housing that maintains a solvent pool in which solids material being processed is immersed during operation. One or more bed decks can be positioned inside of the housing to provide multiple extraction stages. In some examples, a final bed deck extends from below a solvent level maintained in the housing to above the solvent level such that solids material is conveyed out of the solvent pool and toward a feed outlet at the end of extraction. The bed deck may include a drainage section positioned between the top of the solvent level in the extractor and the feed outlet, allowing solvent to drain out of the solids material before being discharged through the feed outlet, thereby increasing the efficiency of the extraction process.

An apparatus for extracting an oil from plant material includes an extraction chamber for plant material. The plant material is exposed to a heated gas stream with a temperature sufficient to volatilize on oil from the plant material. The gas stream is rapidly cooled to liquefy the oil into entrained droplets. The oil is collected with a collection solvent.

An extractor suitable for using a solvent to separate a compound from a solid or semisolid substance containing the compound. The extractor includes a conveying assembly having an inclined conveyor for receiving the substance from a substance inlet and moving the substance through the solvent, an inclined upper surface associated with the first conveyor and an inclined lower surface associated with the first conveyor. The conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the upper surface toward a lower end of the conveyor and upward through the solvent along the lower surface toward an upper end of the conveyor.

Described herein are essential oils, extracts, apparatus and methods for the extraction of the essential oils and extracts from plant biomass using microwaves.