A method for extraction of Chinese herbal medicines using a small molecule micro-shear technology, including: pretreating, jet milling, grinding, pulverizing, cell-wall breaking, and extraction of Chinese herbal medicines, so that the raw material can be fully utilized. Herbs are cut into small molecule substances, which is easy to be absorbed by the means of a superfine grinding technology and a cell-wall breaking technology. By means of a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology, active ingredients in Chinese herbal medicines can be efficiently and singly extracted, and organic solvent residues in the raw herbs can be removed.

An extracting apparatus includes: a first phase transition section that causes a phase transition of an extraction solvent from a gas to a liquid; a second phase transition section that causes a phase transition of the extraction solvent from a liquid to a gas; a treatment tank that stores a treated material, and receives an inflow of the extraction solvent that has been liquefied in the first phase transition section; a first valve that is provided between the second phase transition section and the treatment tank; and a second valve that is provided between the first phase transition section and the treatment tank. The second phase transition section is connected with a recovery valve.

The present disclosure provides fluorinated crown ethers. The fluorinated crown ethers have one or more pendant fluorinated groups (e.g., thioether groups with a terminal fluorinated group). The fluorinated crown ethers have desirable solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. Also provided are methods and systems for removal of lithium (e.g., lithium ions) from aqueous samples using the fluorinated crown ethers coupled with lipophilic cation exchangers.

Provided is an extraction system which can be used to recover light oils and other organic materials during a supercritical or subcritical fluid extraction. The extraction system utilizes dual-purpose gas-liquid extraction pump for pumping the extracting material (e.g., CO.sub.2) in either the vapor phase or the liquid phase within the extractor. The extractor is a pressure vessel which functions as an independent, full spectrum extractor. Organic material is inserted within a compartment within the extractor and liquefied and compressed gases are passed through the organic material to obtain the extractant. The extraction system also includes a separator to separate the extracting fluid from the extracted material.

A supercritical fluid producing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a gas supply line, a cooler, a pump, a buffer tank, a heating device, and a supercritical fluid supply line. An inlet port into which a processing fluid from the pump flows is formed at a predetermined position on the buffer tank, and an outlet port through which the processing fluid flows out is formed at a different position from the inlet port. The buffer tank includes a buffer tank body that stores the processing fluid from the pump, and a heater that heats the processing fluid sent into the buffer tank body.

A method for extraction of Chinese herbal medicines using a small molecule micro-shear technology, including: pretreating, jet milling, grinding, pulverizing, cell-wall breaking, and extraction of Chinese herbal medicines, so that the raw material can be fully utilized. Herbs are cut into small molecule substances, which is easy to be absorbed by the means of a superfine grinding technology and a cell-wall breaking technology. By means of a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology, active ingredients in Chinese herbal medicines can be efficiently and singly extracted, and organic solvent residues in the raw herbs can be removed.

The present invention provides for methods of obtaining an extract of Cannabis plant material as well as subsequent processing of the extract to provide a concentrate of Cannabis. The present invention also provides for pharmaceutical dosage forms (e.g., oral thin films and transdermal patches) that include the concentrate (or extract) of Cannabis, as well as methods of medical treatment that include administering the pharmaceutical dosage forms.

A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock using a supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes introducing the petroleum feedstock, water and an auxiliary feedstock. The method includes operating the system to combine the petroleum feedstock and the water to form a mixed petroleum feedstock and introducing separately and simultaneously into a lower portion of an upflowing supercritical water reactor. The auxiliary feedstock is introduced such that a portion of a fluid contained within the upflowing reactor located proximate to the bottom does not lack fluid momentum. An embodiment of the method includes operating the supercritical water petroleum upgrading system such that the upflowing reactor product fluid is introduced into an upper portion of a downflowing supercritical water reactor. The supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes the upflowing supercritical water reactor and optionally a downflowing supercritical water reactor.

The present invention provides for methods of obtaining an extract of Cannabis plant material as well as subsequent processing of the extract to provide a concentrate of Cannabis. The present invention also provides for pharmaceutical dosage forms (e.g., oral thin films and transdermal patches) that include the concentrate (or extract) of Cannabis, as well as methods of medical treatment that include administering the pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to methods and systems for performing online quantitative supercritical fluid extraction. An extraction cell having a known or characterized volume is loaded with a sample matrix including an analyte of interest. The extraction cell is pressurized with extraction conditions to dissolve the analyte from the sample matrix. The dissolved solution is directed from the extraction cell to a sample loop which also has a characterized volume. The dissolved solution is then directed from the sample loop to a chromatography column and subsequently to a detector. The detector output is compared against a calibration curve to determine an amount of the analyte within the sample matrix based on the known volumes of the sample loop and the extraction cell.