Botanical Oil Extraction Using a Reciprocating Compressor/Vapor Recovery Pump

As a leading manufacturer of industrial pump and gas compression solutions for the LPG, petrochemical, chemical, and gas processing industries, Corken specializes in liquefied gas transfer and vapor recovery.

One of Corken’s more recent vapor recovery applications involves botanical oil extraction. Plant compounds/substances have provided nutritional and medicinal benefits since the beginning of time. As scientists learned more about the healing properties of various plant materials, they began using botanical oil extraction to separate the desired components on a large scale.

More recently, cannabis is a growing opportunity for botanical oil extraction. Desirable compounds such as cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and terpenes are separated from the rest of the plant using hydrocarbon extraction. Other forms of extraction include ethanol and carbon dioxide (CO2); however, hydrocarbon is a more widely used since it’s more efficient and cost effective.

Regulatory Compliance

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), European Union ATEX Directive, European Union Machinery Directive, ISO 9001 Standard on Quality Management Systems, and ISO 14001 Standard on Environmental Management Systems.

Application Bulletin (Botanical Oil Extraction)

Technical Specifications (Model T91 Oil-Free Gas Compressor/Vapor Recovery Pump)

Service Bulletin (Oil Recommendations for Food Grade Applications)

Hydrocarbon Extraction Has Four Primary Steps:

Step One (Washing): A cold solvent made of propane or butane-washes over the plant material (biomass) at a low temperature and pressure. This process removes the cannabinoids and terpenes from the biomass and dissolves them into the liquid solvent.

Step Two (Removing the Impurities): This step removes any waxes and lipids left in the solution. Unlike ethanol extraction that requires a day-long winterization process, hydrocarbon extraction has fewer waxes and lipids so the removal process is easier and does not take as much time. In most closed loop systems, a de-waxing column filters out any of the remaining waxes and lipids.

Step Three (Collection): The filtered solvent solution is collected into a new or separate container and the hydrocarbon solvent (propane, butane, or propane butane mix) is purged. Corken’s gas compressors (also known as recovery pump) remove the vapor formed by the solvent solution within the collection tank and returns it to the supply tank so it can be re-circulated.

Step Four (Purification): Depending on the desired final state of the product, a purification process may be necessary. Various methods such as a vacuum purge, centrifugal, and co-solvent separation are used to further refine the product.

The process map below illustrates each step mentioned above.

Process Map for Botanical Oil Extraction

Botancial Oil Extraction Using a Reciprocating Compressor/Vapor Recovery Pump

The Corken T-Style reciprocating gas compressor is oil free so there is no contamination of the process gas stream. A T-Style compressor has three sets of packing between the crankcase and compression chamber. Listed below are some of the features and benefits:

And, send all inquiries to cocsalesdept@idexcorp.com.