Method and apparatus for preparation of pharmacologically-relevant compounds from botanical sources

Abstract

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 product—fresh raw cannabis—by 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.

1 . An industrial-scale system for distilling an essential oil comprising:
 a plurality of distillation systems, each system comprising
 a distillation vessel having a gravity drain; 
 a microwave oven having a power level sufficient to heat the distillation vessel and a portion of raw  cannabis  contained therein until the  cannabis  is substantially dry and decarboxylated; 
   a condenser coupled to the distillation vessel for receiving vapor and liquid drained from the distillation vessel during heating; and   an unvented oil/water separator coupled to an outlet of the condenser, the oil/water separator including an outlet for draining accumulated distillate;   
       the industrial-scale system further comprising:
 at least one vacuum source configured to maintain at least a partial vacuum within each of said plurality of distillation systems; and 
 at least one common collection vessel coupled to each of said plurality of distillation systems such that accumulated distillate from each of the plurality of distillation systems drains into said at least one common collection vessel. 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein an unvented oil/water separator comprises a jacketed oil/water separator having a cooling jacket that surrounds and is continuous with the exterior sides of the oil/water separator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a coupler between an outlet of the condensor and an inlet 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said condensor comprises a water-chilled condenser coupled with a neck of the distillation vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the distillation vessel comprises a round-bottom flask. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the round-bottom flask is inverted during use. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the vacuum source comprises a vacuum system that maintains air pressure within the system within a range of 0.1 Pa to 266 Pa. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the microwave oven comprises an industrial-scale microwave oven. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein couplings between system components are air-tight. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the oil-water separator comprises:
 a vessel;   the vessel including an inlet capable of forming an air-tight join with an outlet from a distillation system;   an outlet controlled by an air-tight collection valve for collecting a first fluid layer; and   a drain capable of removing a second fluid layer while preventing leakage of ambient air into said vessel.