Extracting substances from botanical matter

Abstract

A useful substance is extracted from botanical feedstock by mechanically compressing the feedstock and pumping a solvent through the compressed feedstock at high pressure while applying compressive mechanical force against the feedstock. Movement of pressurized solvent through the compressed feedstock may increase the volume of solvent in contact with the feedstock. Flow of solvent under pressure may also present a shearing force that facilitates dissociation of the useful substance from the feedstock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first solvent reservoir;   a second solvent reservoir;   a high-pressure pump having an inlet port that is connected to the first solvent reservoir;   a ram that mechanically compresses a botanical feedstock into compressed botanical feedstock by application of a compressive force of 500 to 10,000 pound-force per square inch; and   a hydraulic extraction device that is connected to the high-pressure pump and the second solvent reservoir, the hydraulic extraction device drawing solvent from the first solvent reservoir via the high-pressure pump and passing the solvent through the compressed botanical feedstock to the second solvent reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a valve via which that selectably connects the first solvent reservoir and the second solvent reservoir to the inlet port of the high-pressure pump. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a valve that variably restricts the exit flow from the hydraulic extraction device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic extraction device applies compressive mechanical force in a range of 500 to 50000 pound-force per square inch against the compressed botanical feedstock while the solvent is pumped through the compressed botanical feedstock. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the solvent is pressurized by the pump at a pressure in a range of 5000 to 100000 pound-force per square inch. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic extraction device comprises a press mounted in a frame. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ram comprises a channel through which the solvent is introduced to or removed from the compressed botanical feedstock. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the hydraulic extraction device comprises a base with a channel through which the solvent is introduced to or removed from the compressed botanical feedstock. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the hydraulic extraction device comprises a porous sintered metal frit. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a base having a cylindrical post section; the base having a channel formed there through via which a fluid can traverse the post; and   a cylindrical bore adapted to be temporarily mounted to the cylindrical post section of the base; and   a cylindrical ram adapted to move slidably into the cylindrical bore to compress a botanical feedstock into compressed botanical feedstock by application of a compressive force of 500 to 10,000 pound-force per square inch, the ram having a channel formed there through via which a fluid can traverse the ram.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the filter comprises a porous sintered metal frit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  comprising a gasket mounted in a groove in the ram. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  comprising a gasket mounted in a groove in the cylindrical section of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  comprising a channel formed through an exterior surface of the base to the filter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  comprising a channel formed through an exterior surface of the ram to the filter.