Dr. Nikos Xynos, from Rousselet Robatel Kromaton in France, sits down with Ellis Smith to discuss the next phase in cannabis and hemp extraction & purification processes.
Source: www.cannabistech.com
TOP 5 TAKEAWAYS WITH DR. NIKOS XYNOS
As the cannabis industry matures and becomes more sophisticated, many existing corporations are stepping into the cannabis sector to introduce new technologies and processes to improve cannabis products. With more than 250 years of combined experience, Rousselet Robatel is bringing much more than a rich history to cannabis extraction. With the introduction of their patented, fast centrifugal partition chromatography (FCPC), producing custom formulated, purified botanical extracts is attainable for any cannabis producer.
In this interview with Ellis Smith from the American Cannabis Company talks with Dr. Xynos about the innovation Kromaton brings to the cannabis industry.
Three-Steps to Purification
While cannabis extracts are not a new product, as the industry matures, producers are finding cannabis consumers are starting to demand a high-quality product. Additionally, as the science continues to provide validation for the medical uses of particular cannabinoids and other compounds in the plant, there is more and more interest in cannabinoid isolation and custom cannabinoid formulations. Rousselet Robatel has an entire line of extraction, enrichment, and purification process systems:
- Separation – Utilizing centrifugal solid-liquid separation technology, Model RC filters biomass from the solvent to create an extract and reduces disposal costs. After separation and winterization, decantation follows to separate the crude cannabinoids from waxes, lipids, water, and other byproducts.
- Enrichment – After the initial extraction, the centrifugal liquid-liquid solvent extraction and separation to recover the aqueous phase contain acidic cannabinoids, as well as, recover the solvent phase containing neutral cannabinoids.
- Purification – Finally, the Kromaton FCPC is used to isolate and recover specific cannabis compounds. This process can be customized to collect any variety of compounds including pure fractions of major and minor cannabinoids, terpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids and more. Additionally, purification eliminates contaminants like pesticides and other chemical and biological substances.
Maximum Versatility
As a turnkey solution, the Kromaton provides the versatility for scaling to any size operation. Whether the intent is to only use the process in a small lab environment for individual compound research, or a producer needs large-scale industrial production, Rousslet Robatel offers a full range of services and standard operating procedures to get their clients up and running quickly.
Dr. Xynos explained, “FCPC is effective in purifying certain cannabinoids from the mixture in its purest form, enabling THC removal for completely THC-free products.”
Applications & Advantages
The ability to isolate and/or eliminate certain cannabinoids or compounds from the plant present a multitude of possibilities for cannabis producers. “In the beginning,” Dr. Xynos explained, “[the industry] was focused more on THC isolate, either from cannabis or even synthetic THC isolate, but nowadays, THC-free, CBD extracts are in more demand, not only in hemp but also with medical cannabis.”
While chromatography technology is not new to the industry, Dr. Xynos explains the FCPC operational mode is not the same as traditional chromatography. The Kromaton offers several advantages over column, flash, and HPLC chromatography a few include:
- No solid packing material like silica or resin
- No sample loss from the irreversible adsorption
- No denaturation of sensitive compounds
- High throughput capacity
- Small footprint & easy scalability
Targeting Cannabinoids & Terpenes
Any compound can be isolated using the Kromaton FCPC. From the apolar, non-aqueous biphasic systems to polar aqueous two-phase systems and everything in between, the Kromaton separates and isolates lipids, sterols, organic and inorganic elements, alkaloids, flavonoids, and even proteins and amino acids. And of course cannabinoids.
Looking Ahead
“As the cannabis industry becomes more and more sophisticated, pharmacological, food and botanical extraction industries integrate into cannabis, there will be more need for standardized extracts or compounds with high purity and controlled quality,” Dr. Xynos stated. Anticipating a growing market for targeting specific cannabinoid ratios, Xynos believes the FCPC technology has enormous potential in the future of the legal cannabis industry.
“Geographically speaking, the present is in North America with Europe to follow,” Dr. Xynos said. “Technologically speaking,” he continued, “we expect to see more and more large-scale solutions and more and more sophisticated process development.”
To learn more about the Kromaton Fast Centrifugal Partition Chromatography or any of the other extraction equipment offered by Rousslet Robatel, visit their websites at www.kromaton.com and http://www.rousselet-robatel.com.