EP4172543A1 - Method for treating cannabis flowers - Google Patents
Method for treating cannabis flowersInfo
- Publication number
- EP4172543A1 EP4172543A1 EP21739908.8A EP21739908A EP4172543A1 EP 4172543 A1 EP4172543 A1 EP 4172543A1 EP 21739908 A EP21739908 A EP 21739908A EP 4172543 A1 EP4172543 A1 EP 4172543A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cannabis
- flower
- cannabis flower
- flowers
- oxygen
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 46
- 240000004308 marijuana Species 0.000 title 1
- 241000218236 Cannabis Species 0.000 claims abstract description 96
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 68
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 229930002875 chlorophyll Natural products 0.000 description 6
- 235000019804 chlorophyll Nutrition 0.000 description 6
- ATNHDLDRLWWWCB-AENOIHSZSA-M chlorophyll a Chemical compound C1([C@@H](C(=O)OC)C(=O)C2=C3C)=C2N2C3=CC(C(CC)=C3C)=[N+]4C3=CC3=C(C=C)C(C)=C5N3[Mg-2]42[N+]2=C1[C@@H](CCC(=O)OC\C=C(/C)CCC[C@H](C)CCC[C@H](C)CCCC(C)C)[C@H](C)C2=C5 ATNHDLDRLWWWCB-AENOIHSZSA-M 0.000 description 6
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 6
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004108 freeze drying Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 4
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 3
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000019640 taste Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000016623 Fragaria vesca Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000009088 Fragaria x ananassa Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000011363 Fragaria x ananassa Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000007605 air drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000004209 hair Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000003760 hair shine Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008092 positive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000859 sublimation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008022 sublimation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010257 thawing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000341 volatile oil Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- A01N3/00—Preservation of plants or parts thereof, e.g. inhibiting evaporation, improvement of the appearance of leaves or protection against physical influences such as UV radiation using chemical compositions; Grafting wax
- A01N3/02—Keeping cut flowers fresh chemically
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- A01N1/00—Preservation of bodies of humans or animals, or parts thereof
- A01N1/02—Preservation of living parts
- A01N1/0205—Chemical aspects
- A01N1/021—Preservation or perfusion media, liquids, solids or gases used in the preservation of cells, tissue, organs or bodily fluids
- A01N1/0221—Freeze-process protecting agents, i.e. substances protecting cells from effects of the physical process, e.g. cryoprotectants, osmolarity regulators like oncotic agents
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
- F26B3/02—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by convection, i.e. heat being conveyed from a heat source to the materials or objects to be dried by a gas or vapour, e.g. air
- F26B3/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by convection, i.e. heat being conveyed from a heat source to the materials or objects to be dried by a gas or vapour, e.g. air the gas or vapour circulating over or surrounding the materials or objects to be dried
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- A01N3/00—Preservation of plants or parts thereof, e.g. inhibiting evaporation, improvement of the appearance of leaves or protection against physical influences such as UV radiation using chemical compositions; Grafting wax
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B11/00—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects with movement which is non-progressive
- F26B11/02—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects with movement which is non-progressive in moving drums or other mainly-closed receptacles
- F26B11/04—Machines or apparatus for drying solid materials or objects with movement which is non-progressive in moving drums or other mainly-closed receptacles rotating about a horizontal or slightly-inclined axis
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
- F26B5/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum
- F26B5/06—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum the process involving freezing
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method for treating cannabis flowers.
- Cannabis flowers serve as the basis for various products, e.g. as a tobacco substitute.
- cannabis has several advantages over conventional tobacco.
- cannabis flowers for example as a tobacco substitute
- the flowers have to be dried after harvest.
- the drying is achieved according to the known prior art by air drying in the ambient air or also by freeze drying.
- Cannabis flowers that have been harvested and dried using conventional methods will have a brown or dark green hue after drying.
- the invention provides a method in which, in a first step, at least one cannabis flower is brought into contact with liquid nitrogen, and in a second step the at least one cannabis flower is moved relative to an oxygen-containing gas, in particular air, and / or a moving one Oxygen-containing gas is exposed and in a third step the at least one cannabis flower is freeze-dried.
- the cannabis flower is first brought into contact with liquid nitrogen, then either moved in a gas itself and / or (directly) exposed to a moving gas and finally freeze-dried.
- Several cannabis flowers are preferably subjected to the method according to the invention at the same time.
- This procedure changes the chlorophyll in the cannabis flower significantly, so that the cannabis flower is significantly lighter and in particular has a silvery sheen after the process has been completed.
- the color of the chlorophyll is changed and, in particular, the color intensity is reduced.
- the essential oils contained in the cannabis flower are better preserved and the cannabis flower tastes more intense.
- the cannabis flower is harvested, so separated from the cannabis plant. It is preferably provided that the cannabis flower is harvested immediately before the first step.
- the time span between the separation of the flower from the stem of the flower and the beginning of the first step, that is to say the contact with liquid nitrogen, is preferably a maximum of 5 minutes, particularly preferably a maximum of 3 minutes.
- the cannabis flower is directly subjected to the first process step without any intermediate treatment.
- the cannabis flower is preferably not manicured before the first step. Such treatments of the flower are not necessary and would only degrade the quality of the end product.
- the method is carried out with several flowers of the same size.
- the cannabis flowers are sorted by size before they come into contact with the liquid nitrogen. This is advantageous because some parameters for optimal implementation of the method according to the invention depend on the size of the treated cannabis flower.
- the leaves of the cannabis flower are not removed from the flower before the first process step, so that the cannabis flower together with the leaves comes into contact with liquid nitrogen in the first process step.
- the cannabis flowers are preferred a temperature of approx. 15 ° to 30 ° Celsius, for example normal room temperature.
- the at least one cannabis flower is moistened with a liquid, in particular with water, before the first step.
- a liquid in particular with water
- the at least one cannabis flower is harvested, dried and then moistened before the first process step.
- the time interval between the moistening and the first step of the method is a maximum of 30 seconds and preferably between 20 and 30 seconds.
- the at least one cannabis flower is preferably (in particular completely) immersed in a bath of liquid or sprayed with a liquid. It is particularly preferred that the cannabis flower is moistened essentially on all sides in order to produce a uniform effect over the entire surface of the flower.
- the at least one cannabis flower is brought into contact with liquid nitrogen, whereby the cannabis flower (s) is or will be shock frozen.
- This process step can be carried out in various ways.
- the at least one cannabis flower is completely covered with nitrogen at least for a portion of the first step. This means that the entire surface of the flower comes with it in contact with the nitrogen, which has an even effect on the entire flower.
- the at least one cannabis flower is immersed in a bath with liquid nitrogen in the first step.
- the cannabis flower is immersed in nitrogen. This is a simple and safe way to ensure that all flowers are adequately exposed to the liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, with this procedure it is possible to precisely determine the length of time the cannabis flower is in contact with the nitrogen and therefore to carry out an exactly defined process. It is preferably provided that the cannabis flower (s) are placed in a bowl or on a tray, on which they go directly into the nitrogen bath provided for this purpose and can then be removed again from the nitrogen bath.
- the cannabis flower (s) is guided through a nitrogen bath on a conveyor belt in the first step.
- the cannabis flowers are placed through a funnel on a conveyor belt which is arranged in sections in a nitrogen bath and which guides the cannabis flowers through the nitrogen bath and then out of it.
- the flowers preferably fall into the nitrogen bath and onto the conveyor belt, which then transports the flowers out of the nitrogen bath again.
- the nitrogen bath is preferably carried out in a shock freezer specially provided for this purpose, which is explicitly intended for liquid nitrogen.
- a shock freezer specially provided for this purpose, which is explicitly intended for liquid nitrogen.
- the Cannabis flowers through an opening in the top center directly into the liquid nitrogen bath and are fed directly to the next processing step after shock freezing by means of a conveyor belt, the speed of which can be used to determine the exact length of time the flowers remain in the liquid nitrogen bath.
- the liquid nitrogen within the shock freezer has a sufficiently high fill level to achieve complete coverage of all cannabis flowers with the liquid nitrogen.
- the optimal duration of the first step depends in particular on the size and type of the flowers (due to the different density) and is therefore determined separately in each case. Basically, dense, large flowers take more time than airy, small flowers. Furthermore, the duration of the first step can also influence the end result, in particular the color design of the flowers.
- the duration of the first step is preferably 60-120 seconds, particularly preferably 80-100 seconds.
- the at least one cannabis flower is moved relative to an oxygen-containing gas, in particular air, or the oxygen-containing gas is moved relative to the cannabis flower, so that a relative speed is created between the cannabis flower and the gas due to the movement of the gas and / or the cannabis flower.
- the cannabis flower is surrounded by the gas and the at least one cannabis flower is moved and / or the gas is moved.
- a fan can be used to ventilate the cannabis flower (s) accordingly or the cannabis flower is manually or mechanically pivoted, e.g. rotated, in the gas. Combinations of these are also possible.
- the relative speed between the cannabis flower and the oxygen-containing gas in the second step of the process is, for example, 1 to 4 m / s, preferably 2 to 3 m / s, particularly preferably approx. 2 m / s. It has been found that the method works particularly well at these relative speeds.
- the gas used in the second step can be ordinary ambient air, which consists essentially of nitrogen and oxygen.
- the gas preferably has an air humidity of 40-80%, preferably 50-70%, and / or a temperature of 15 ° -25 ° Celsius.
- the gas coming into contact with the cannabis flower during the second step has a maximum temperature of 20 ° Celsius.
- leaves are additionally removed from the flower during the second step. This combines the exposure of the flower to the gas and the step of removing the leaves, which means that no separate removal of the leaves is necessary.
- the second step is a maximum of 20 seconds, preferably a maximum of 15 seconds.
- the duration of the ventilation of the flowers is therefore a maximum of 15 to 20 seconds.
- the duration of the second step is 12 to 18 seconds. This ensures, on the one hand, that the flowers come into contact with the gas for a sufficiently long time and, on the other hand, do not thaw.
- the at least one cannabis flower rotates, preferably in a drum, during the second step.
- the rotation moves the cannabis flower relative to the gas.
- the cannabis flowers are rotated in a drum which is designed to remove the leaves from the cannabis flower during the rotation.
- the drum is particularly preferably part of a dry trimmer.
- the cannabis flower is cooled between the second and the third step. This ensures that the cannabis flower does not accidentally thaw between the second and third step. Furthermore, the possible time span between the second and the third step can be made more flexible and the third method step does not have to take place directly after the second step.
- the cannabis flower (s) is / are preferably stored at an ambient temperature of approx. Minus 25 ° Celsius.
- the at least one cannabis flower is freeze-dried.
- Freeze-drying is a common process in which the products to be dried are dried as gently as possible.
- the freeze-drying should, as far as possible, preserve the current status, ie the color and volume achieved by the shock freezing. This is achieved by the fact that at underpressure the aggregate state of water stored in the flowers changes from the solid state directly to the gaseous state, i.e. without the liquid intermediate step (sublimation). As a result, the previously achieved "silver effect" is preserved and the cannabis flower is transformed into a much higher quality product.
- the invention further relates to a treated cannabis flower obtainable by a method according to the invention.
- FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention.
- Fig. 1 an embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown schematically.
- the cannabis flowers at 1 are harvested before the actual treatment process is carried out.
- the cannabis flowers are optionally sorted by size at 2.
- the flowers are not (yet) manicured or the leaves are removed.
- the first step of the procedure is carried out.
- the cannabis flowers are placed on a tray and then immersed with the tray in a shock freezer filled with liquid nitrogen, so that all cannabis flowers are completely immersed in the nitrogen.
- the cannabis flowers are then removed from the nitrogen bath again and, in a second step, placed in a rotating drum of a dry trimmer at 5.
- the Dry Trimmer rotates and moves the cannabis flowers relative to the ambient air so that they are well ventilated.
- the leaves are removed from the cannabis flowers in the Dry Trimmer.
- the cannabis flowers are optionally cooled at 6.
- the cannabis flowers are freeze-dried during the third step at 7. After freeze-drying, the cannabis flowers can be further processed or packaged.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Dentistry (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Plant Pathology (AREA)
- Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
- Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ATA50552/2020A AT523983B1 (en) | 2020-06-30 | 2020-06-30 | Method of treating a cannabis flower |
PCT/AT2021/060227 WO2022000009A1 (en) | 2020-06-30 | 2021-06-29 | Method for treating cannabis flowers |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4172543A1 true EP4172543A1 (en) | 2023-05-03 |
Family
ID=76859328
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP21739908.8A Pending EP4172543A1 (en) | 2020-06-30 | 2021-06-29 | Method for treating cannabis flowers |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20230337661A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4172543A1 (en) |
AT (1) | AT523983B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3183878A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022000009A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9739532B2 (en) * | 2015-02-04 | 2017-08-22 | Steven F. Baugh | Botanical freeze drying system and method |
US11214765B2 (en) * | 2017-09-12 | 2022-01-04 | Yakima Chief Hops, Inc | Cryogenic hop lupulin or cannabis trichome pellets |
CA3084261A1 (en) * | 2017-12-05 | 2019-06-13 | The Original Resinator, LLC | Rotary separation apparatus and process |
US20190201936A1 (en) * | 2018-01-02 | 2019-07-04 | Wce Llc | Method and apparatus for separating trichomes from cannabis plant material |
US11243028B2 (en) * | 2018-12-14 | 2022-02-08 | Fortunata, LLC | Systems and methods of cryo-curing |
-
2020
- 2020-06-30 AT ATA50552/2020A patent/AT523983B1/en active
-
2021
- 2021-06-29 US US18/012,845 patent/US20230337661A1/en active Pending
- 2021-06-29 WO PCT/AT2021/060227 patent/WO2022000009A1/en unknown
- 2021-06-29 CA CA3183878A patent/CA3183878A1/en active Pending
- 2021-06-29 EP EP21739908.8A patent/EP4172543A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20230337661A1 (en) | 2023-10-26 |
AT523983A1 (en) | 2022-01-15 |
WO2022000009A1 (en) | 2022-01-06 |
CA3183878A1 (en) | 2022-01-06 |
AT523983B1 (en) | 2023-05-15 |
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