Methods to Reduce Chlorophyll Co-Extraction Through Extraction of Select Essential Oils and Aromatic Isolates

Abstract

A system, machine, and methods for selectively extracting chemicals from plant material without co-extracting chlorophyll, lipids and other undesirable constituents from plants, is described here. Extraction uses super-cooled solvents, such as 100% ethanol. The system and method provides plant extracts that are enriched in active compounds, and depleted in chlorophyll.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising a solvent tank ( 1 .A), an extraction tank ( 1 .H), a collection tank ( 1 .I), and a plurality of fluid lines, wherein the system is capable of extracting plant matter with a solvent at an ultra-cold temperature, wherein this solvent is a fluid that does not contain chemicals extracted from the plant matter of the system, and wherein a solution is a solvent that comprises chemicals extracted from the plant matter of the system, wherein the system comprises:
 (i) An environment box ( 1 .L) that is capable of maintaining an ultra-cold temperature of structures, solvents, and solutions that reside inside the environment box,   wherein the environment box surrounds and envelops the solvent tank ( 1 .A), the extraction tank ( 1 .H), and the collection tank ( 1 .I), wherein the environment box comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, and an interior region;   (ii) Wherein the solvent tank ( 1 .A) is operably linked to the extraction tank ( 1 .H) with a fluid line;   (iii) Wherein the system comprises a solvent flooding valve ( 1 .C) that resides in a fluid line that is operably linked with the solvent tank ( 1 .A) and the extraction tank ( 1 .H), wherein opening solvent flooding valve permits transfer of solvent from the solvent tank ( 1 .A) to the extraction tank ( 1 .H);   (iv) Wherein the extraction tank ( 1 .H) comprises an interior, an extraction tank inlet ( 1 .V), an extraction tank outlet ( 1 .W), an extraction tank upper region ( 1 .BB), wherein opening of solvent flooding valve ( 1 .C) allows solvent from solvent tank ( 1 .A) to pass through solvent flooding valve ( 1 .C) and through extraction tank inlet and into extraction tank;   (v) Wherein the extraction tank ( 1 .H) comprises a lid, door, or aperture that is capable of allowing transfer of plant matter to interior of extraction tank;   (vi) Wherein a first fluid line leads from solvent tank to extraction tank branching point ( 1 .AA), and wherein a second fluid line leads from extraction tank outlet ( 1 .W) to said extraction tank branching point, wherein the extraction tank branching point ( 1 .AA) is operably linked to extraction tank inlet ( 1 .V),   wherein the extraction tank branching point is capable of directing solvent obtained from solvent tank into extraction tank for extracting plant matter with solvent, and   wherein the extraction tank branching point is capable of directing solution obtained from collection tank outlet into extraction tank for extracting plant matter by recirculating the solution obtained from collection tank ( 1 .I);   (vii) Wherein the collection tank ( 1 .I) comprising a collection tank inlet ( 1 .Y) and a collection tank outlet ( 1 .Z), wherein extraction tank outlet is operably linked to collection tank inlet by a fluid line, wherein flow of solution from extraction tank outlet to collection tank inlet is controllable by in-line valve ( 1 .E),   wherein the collection tank outlet is operably linked with a collection tank branching point that comprises a first branch and a second branch, wherein first branch of collection tank brandling point is operably linked by a fluid line that is capable of transmitting solution from collection tank to extraction tank, wherein flow of solution from extraction tank outlet to collection tank inlet is controllable by a solution return valve ( 1 .D),   wherein the second branch of collection tank branching point is operably linked by a fluid line that is capable of transmitting solution from collection tank ( 1 .I) to evacuation line ( 1 .P), wherein flow of solution from extraction tank outlet to evacuation line ( 1 .P) is controllable by in-line valve ( 1 .K) and,   wherein flow of solution from extraction tank outlet to evacuation line ( 1 .P) is configured for removing solution from environment box and configured for transmitting solution to the evacuation tank ( 1 .R);   (viii) Wherein regarding the solution return valve ( 1 .D) and the evacuation valve ( 1 .K), the opening of solution return valve ( 1 .D) and closing evacuation valve ( 1 .K) promotes or allows recirculating of solution from collection tank to extraction tank for the purpose of further extracting chemicals from plant matter; and wherein closing solution return valve ( 1 .D) and opening evacuation valve ( 1 .K) promotes or allows removal of solution from all tanks and fluid lines in said environment box;   (ix) Wherein the system is capable of a first extraction of plant matter with solvent to produce a first extract, followed by one or more extractions of plant matter with solution that is recirculated from collection tank to produce at least a second extract, which is followed by a final extraction of plant matter with solvent to produce a final extract, and wherein the collection tank ( 1 .I) is capable of receiving all of the first extract, the at least a second extract, and the final extract, and wherein the collection tank is capable of storing a mixture of the first extract, the second extract, and the final extract.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the temperature in the environment box is maintainable to be in a temperature anywhere in the range of −60 degrees C. to −30 degrees C. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a vacuum pump ( 1 .O) and a plurality of vacuum lines, wherein flow of solvent from solvent tank ( 1 .A) to extraction tank ( 1 .H), flow of solution from extraction tank outlet to collection tank ( 1 .I), and flow of solution from collection tank outlet to evacuation line ( 1 .P), are each driven by vacuum from said vacuum pump. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a vacuum pump and a plurality of vacuum lines, wherein flow of solvent from solvent tank ( 1 .A) to extraction tank ( 1 .H), flow of solution from extraction tank outlet to collection tank ( 1 .I), and flow of solution from collection tank outlet to evacuation line ( 1 .P), are each driven by vacuum from said vacuum pump, and
 wherein system further comprises: 
 (i) Vacuum valve ( 1 .M) that controls suction of vacuum from vacuum pump to upper region ( 1 .BB) of extraction tank ( 1 .H); 
 (ii) Vacuum valve ( 1 .N) that controls suction of vacuum from vacuum pump to upper region ( 1 .CC) of collection tank ( 1 .I); and 
 (iii) Vacuum valve ( 1 .Q) that control suction of vacuum from vacuum pump to evacuation tank ( 1 .R). 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a vacuum pump ( 1 .O) and a plurality of vacuum lines, wherein flow of solvent from solvent tank ( 1 .A) to extraction tank ( 1 .H), flow of solution from extraction tank outlet to collection tank ( 1 .I), and flow of solution from collection tank outlet to evacuation line ( 1 .P), are each driven by vacuum front said vacuum pump, and
 wherein flow of solvent and flow of solution are not driven by any device other than a vacuum pump, and 
 wherein flow of solvent and flow of solution are not driven by direct contact of solvent or solution with any rotor, propellor, or hose subjected to peristaltic forces. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction tank ( 1 .H) comprises a tank liner and a false bottom, wherein the tank liner is configured to receive and secure plant matter, wherein the tank liner comprises a plurality of filtering apertures, optionally, apertures of about 10 micrometers in diameter, and wherein the false bottom is configured to secure the tank liner inside of extraction tank and to facilitate extraction of plant matter. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein exterior surface of one or more of solvent tank ( 1 .A), extraction tank ( 1 .H), and collection tank ( 1 .I) are covered at least in part by a cooling jacket, wherein the cooling jacket is capable of receiving cold air or cold fluid from a freezer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an evacuation tank ( 1 .R), wherein the evacuation tank is outside of environment box ( 1 .L), and wherein evacuation line ( 1 .P) is operably linked with collection tank outlet and with evacuation tank ( 1 .R), and wherein evacuation tank is capable of receiving solution that is transmitted from collection tank ( 1 .I) via evacuation line ( 1 .P) to evacuation tank ( 1 .R), and wherein evacuation line passes from interior of environment box ( 1 .L) to exterior of environment box. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction tank ( 1 .H) comprises an inverted cone structure (narrow side up, wide side down), wherein the inverted cone structure is capable of supporting a false bottom, and wherein the false bottom is configured for supporting a tank liner, and wherein the inverted cone structure is configured to receive and collect solution generated by extracting plant matter with solvent, where solution falls from false bottom, and is capable of funneling the solution to extraction tank outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter housing ( 1 .J), wherein the filter housing resides in the evacuation line ( 1 .P), wherein the evacuation line leads from collection tank outlet ( 1 .Z) to evacuation tank ( 1 .R), wherein the filter housing comprises a filter that is capable of removing particulate matter from the solution. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction tank comprises:
 (i) Plant matter;   (ii) Plant matter derived from a cannabis plant;   (iii) Plant matter derived from a cannabis plant and not any plant matter derived from any other type of plant.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent tank contains ethanol that is at least 95% ethanol, ethanol that is at least 98% ethanol, or 100% ethanol. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cold air intake rube ( 1 .T) and a cold air intake valve ( 1 .B), wherein the cold air intake tube is substantially or completely located inside of the environment box, and
 wherein the cold air intake tube has an upper-end terminus and a lower-end terminus, wherein the lower-end terminus is constitutively open to air inside of the environment box, and   wherein the lower-end terminus is positioned near interior bottom of environmental box, and   wherein the lower-end terminus is capable of receiving cold air from interior of environment box, and   (i) Wherein the upper-end terminus is secured to upper surface of environment box and is capable of directing passage of cold air from interior of environmental box to fluid lines located at exterior of environmental box, wherein cold air intake valve ( 1 .B) is located exterior of environment box, and the cold air intake tube ( 1 .T) is operably linked to a cold air intake valve ( 1 .B), and   (ii) Wherein the cold air intake valve ( 1 .B) is capable of being closed in the situation where the solvent needs to be drawn out of solvent tank ( 1 .A) and into extraction tank ( 1 .H) and when vacuum from vacuum pump ( 1 .O) is applied to top interior of extraction tank ( 1 .BB), and   (iii) Wherein the cold air intake valve ( 1 .I) is capable of being opened in the situation where vacuum from vacuum pump ( 1 .O) is applied to collection tank ( 1 .I) in order to draw solution out of extraction tank outlet and to enter collection tank inlet,   wherein in the situation when cold air intake valve ( 1 .B) is open, and vacuum from vacuum pump ( 1 .O) is applied to collection tank ( 1 .I), the open cold air intake valve ( 1 .B) is capable of acting as a vent to alleviate excess vacuum.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  that comprises a plurality of solvent tanks, wherein each of said solvent tanks is operably linked with a corresponding solvent tank valve, wherein the system is configured to draw solvent from only one at a time of the solvent tanks for use in plant matter extraction, and wherein the system is configured to switch from an initial solvent tank to a subsequent solvent tank when the first solvent tank is emptied of solvent. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  that includes at least one sight glass that is located in-line of at least one fluid line. 
     
     
         16 . A method for selectively extracting a chemical from plant matter, wherein the extracting is accomplished by a system that comprises a solvent tank, an extraction tank, a collection tank, and fluid line capable of conveying solvent from solvent tank to extraction tank for initial extraction of plant matter, a fluid line capable of conveying a solution from extraction tank to collection tank wherein “solution” is defined as a solvent that contains chemicals extracted from plant matter, a fluid line capable of recirculating solution from collection tank back to extraction tank for further extraction of plant matter, and a fluid line capable of transmitting solution from collection tank to an evacuation line,
 wherein the system further comprises an extraction tank inlet, extraction tank outlet, collection tank inlet, and collection tank outlet, 
 wherein the system further comprises fluid line valves that comprises a solvent flooding valve ( 1 .C), a solution return valve ( 1 .D), a solution collection valve ( 1 .E), and an excavation valve ( 1 .K), and 
 wherein system further comprises a vacuum pump ( 1 .O) that is operably linked to a plurality of vacuum line valves, wherein the vacuum line valves comprise an extraction tank vacuum valve ( 1 .M), a collection tank vacuum valve ( 1 .N), and an evacuation tank vacuum valve ( 1 .Q), 
 wherein said fluid line valves and vacuum line valves are capable of controlling the selective transmission of solvent from the solvent tank to the extraction tank, the selective transmission of solution from the extraction tank to the collection tank, the selective transmission of solution from the collection tank back to the extraction tank for recirculation, and the selective transmission of solution from the collection tank to the evacuation line ( 1 .P), 
 wherein the extracting is accomplished by a cold solvent that is at a temperature in the range of minus 60 degrees C. to minus 30 degrees C., wherein the temperature is measurable by probing solvent that resides in extraction tank, 
 the method comprising: 
 (i) The step of introducing plant matter into the extraction tank; 
 (ii) The step of transmitting solvent from the solvent tank into the extraction tank, resulting in a mixture of solvent and plant matter; 
 (iii) The step of allowing solvent to contact the plant matter that is in the extraction tank; 
 (iv) The step of allowing solvent to extract chemicals from the plant matter resulting in the creating of the solution; 
 (v) Wherein agitation is either applied to or is not applied to the mixture of solvent and plant matter; 
 (vi) The step of draining at least a portion of the solution in the extraction tank and transmitting said at least a portion of the solution to the collection tank to produce a solution residing in the collection tank; 
 (vii) The step of delivering at least a portion of the solution residing in the collection tank back to the extraction tank via a recirculating step; 
 (viii) The step of allowing the solution delivered via the recirculating step to contact and further extract plant matter; 
 (ix) The step of draining at least a portion of the solution in the extraction tank from the immediately previous step, and transmitting said at least a portion of the solution to the collection tank; 
 (x) The step of controlling said fluid line valves and said vacuum line valves for allowing the transmission of solvent from solvent tank to extraction tank, followed by the step of controlling said fluid line valves and vacuum line valves for allowing the transmission of solution from extraction tank to collection tank, which is then followed by the step of controlling said fluid line valves and vacuum line valves for allowing the transmission and recirculation of solution from the collection tank to the extraction tank, and eventually followed by the step of controlling said fluid line valves and vacuum line valves for allowing transmission of solution from the collection tank to the evacuation line. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a final extraction step, wherein the final extraction step comprises transmitting solvent from solvent tank ( 1 .A) to extraction tank ( 1 .H) and allowing the solvent to extract any residual chemicals from the plant matter, followed by transmission of solution to the collection tank, and finally by transmission of solution from collection tank to the evacuation line. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of filling solvent tank ( 1 .A) with ethanol that is at least 90% ethanol, at least 95% ethanol, or about 100% ethanol. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , that excludes any agitation of the mixture of solvent and plant matter, and wherein agitation is not applied to the mixture of solvent and plant matter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transmissions of solvent and solution are driven by a force originating from a mechanical device, and where the only mechanical device that is used to drive transmission of solvent and solution is the vacuum pump. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  that is batchwise, wherein the batchwise method comprises introducing plant matter into the extraction tank, filling extraction tank with a volume of solvent, followed by extraction of plant matter, and then followed by draining of at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or about 100%, of the volume of solution from extraction tank to produce a drained solution, wherein the drained solution is moved from extraction tank to collection tank, which is followed by transmission of at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or about 100%, of solution from collection tank back to extraction tank. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  that is batchwise and not continuous. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  that is continuous, wherein the continuous method comprises introducing plant matter into the extraction tank, filling extraction tank with a volume of solvent, followed by extraction of plant matter, which is then followed by a period of time wherein solution from extraction tank outlet is continuously circulated to inlet of extraction tank, to produce a recirculation duration, and where volume of solvent that is recirculated is equivalent to the volume of solvent, equivalent to two times the volume of the solvent, equivalent to about three times the volume of the solvent, equivalent to about four times the volume of the solvent, equivalent to about five times the volume of the solvent, or equivalent to greater than about five times the volume of the solvent. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein solution is emptied from collection tank and transmitted into the evacuation line where one of the following conditions precedent has been satisfied:
 (i) After performing the initial solvent extraction step and one or more solution extraction steps;   (ii) After performing the initial solvent extraction step, and one or more solution extraction steps, and the final solvent extraction step;   (iii) After performing the initial solvent extraction step and one or more solution extraction steps, followed by emptying the collection tank, and then performing the final solvent extraction step.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of purging solvent out of a solution produced by the steps of initial extraction of plant matter with solvent to produce a solution, followed by one or more steps of re-extraction of plant matter with solution via one or more recirculation steps, and finally followed by extracting the previously extracted plant matter with fresh solvent to produce a final solution,
 wherein the final solution is purged to remove at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95% of solvent that is present in the final solution.   
     
     
         26 . A solution produced by the method of  claim 16 .