In a system and process for selectively purifying various pharmacologically-relevant components of a source plant such as cannabis, an initial step provides a low-temperature, robust essential oil/terpene capture that also dehydrates and decarboxylates the starting productfresh raw cannabisby means of a vacuum-assisted microwave distillation process. By doing the terpene capture under vacuum distillation temperature may be kept low. The low distillation temperature maximizes yields of thermally-sensitive components such as terpenes and cannabinoids. The system includes an oil/water separator configured to prevent leakage of ambient air into the system.

A distillation head with fraction collector is disclosed. In embodiments thereof, the fraction collector has a bottom portal which is raised up from the floor or bottom thereof. Fractions which condense fall to the floor and a lip of the bottom portal, raised from the floor of the fraction collector, prevents condensed fractions from falling downwards through a path of entry. Rather, condensed fractions exit in liquid form out a side portal. The fraction collector further has side walls which are, in embodiments, partially vertical and/or partially curvilinear and/or partially bulbous. The distillation head also can have a top portal through which a vacuum can be applied.

A distillation head with fraction collector is disclosed. In embodiments thereof, the fraction collector has a bottom portal which is raised up from the floor or bottom thereof. Fractions which condense fall to the floor and a lip of the bottom portal, raised from the floor of the fraction collector, prevents condensed fractions from falling downwards through a path of entry. Rather, condensed fractions exit in liquid form out a side portal. The fraction collector further has side walls which are, in embodiments, partially vertical and/or partially curvilinear and/or partially bulbous. The distillation head also can have a top portal through which a vacuum can be applied.

The invention relates to a rotary evaporator (1) which is designed for the automatic execution of decompression steps during an overall process, in particular during distillation. With the decompression steps (III) to (VI), a complete removal of residual portions of condensed distillate at the inlet connection (71) of the intermediate valve (7) and in the condenser (5) of the rotary evaporator (1) can be accomplished. The rotary evaporator (1) has an electronic control module (9) which is designed and programmed to automatically carry out the decompression steps and other process steps with the rotary evaporator (1).

In a system and process for selectively purifying various pharmacologically-relevant components of a source plant such as cannabis, an initial step provides a low-temperature, robust essential oil/terpene capture that also dehydrates and decarboxylates the starting productfresh raw cannabisby means of a vacuum-assisted microwave distillation process. By doing the terpene capture under vacuum distillation temperature may be kept low. The low distillation temperature maximizes yields of thermally-sensitive components such as terpenes and cannabinoids. The system includes an oil/water separator configured to prevent leakage of ambient air into the system.