Conversion of cannabidiol or delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinolic acid to delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol in nontoxic heterogeneous mixtures

Abstract

A method for converting delta-9 THC and or delta-9 THC-A to delta-8 THC includes adding at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A to a reaction vessel, streaming an inert gas through the reaction vessel, heating to melt at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A while stirring, converting any delta-9 THC-A into delta-9 THC upon heating to initiate decarboxylation of the delta-9 THC-A, stirring the melting delta-9 THC and adding one of concentrated HCl and diluted HCl to the liquefied delta-9 THC, increasing the temperature over time to not exceed the boiling point of reactants and products, holding the reaction vessel at a temperature less than the boiling point temperature for the reactants and products for an amount of time to allow the conversion of the delta-9 THC into delta-8 THC, and bubbling an inert gas into the reaction products to remove free ions of hydrogen and chloride.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for converting delta-9 THC and or delta-9 THC-A to delta-8 THC comprising:
 adding at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A to a reaction vessel;   streaming an inert gas through the reaction vessel;   heating at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A while stirring to melt at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A;   converting any delta-9 THC-A in the reaction vessel into delta-9 THC upon heating to initiate decarboxylation of the delta-9 THC-A;   stirring the melting delta-9 THC;   adding one of concentrated HCl and diluted HCl as a catalyst to the liquefied delta-9 THC while stirring;   increasing the temperature over time to a temperature not to exceed the boiling point of reactants and products in the reaction vessel;   holding the reaction vessel at a temperature less than the boiling point temperature for the reactants and products in the reaction vessel for an amount of time to allow the conversion of the delta-9 THC into delta-8 THC; and   bubbling an inert gas into the reaction products to remove free ions of hydrogen and chloride.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein heating at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A while stirring to melt at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A comprises heating at least one of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THC-A to between about 75° C. to about 85° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing the acid catalyst. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising separating the delta-9 THC and delta-8 THC by one of chromatographic techniques and distillation techniques. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing the products for the presence or absence of protonated ions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing the products for the presence or absence of chloride ions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the delta-9 THC is one of delta-9 THC distillate, concentrate, or delta-9 THC-A.