WO2021162710A1 - Raffineur de cannabis - Google Patents

Raffineur de cannabis Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021162710A1
WO2021162710A1 PCT/US2020/018469 US2020018469W WO2021162710A1 WO 2021162710 A1 WO2021162710 A1 WO 2021162710A1 US 2020018469 W US2020018469 W US 2020018469W WO 2021162710 A1 WO2021162710 A1 WO 2021162710A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
container
lid
temperature
thermal conductivity
cannabis
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2020/018469
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mark Alan Lemkin
Original Assignee
Mark Alan Lemkin
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mark Alan Lemkin filed Critical Mark Alan Lemkin
Priority to PCT/US2020/018469 priority Critical patent/WO2021162710A1/fr
Publication of WO2021162710A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021162710A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227—Applications
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D1/00—Evaporating
    • B01D1/0011—Heating features
    • B01D1/0017—Use of electrical or wave energy
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D5/00—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation
    • B01D5/0057—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation in combination with other processes
    • B01D5/006—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation in combination with other processes with evaporation or distillation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/0098—Plants or trees
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/15—Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility

Definitions

  • This disclosure generally relates to refining of plant materials, and more particularly to the refinement of plant materials containing a cannabinoid or terpene.
  • Cannabis and hemp flowers e.g. Cannabis sativa, Cannabis sativa forma indica
  • other plant parts collectively hereby termed cannabis
  • Cannabis and hemp flowers contain various chemical components having medicinal, recreational, or otherwise desirable properties. These chemical components are often preferred in their isolated form, free from the other portions of the plant material.
  • Various methods are presently available to purify the desired materials from plant material including solvent extraction with a solvent such as ethanol, iso-propanol, or liquified butane; carbon dioxide extraction techniques including liquid- or supercritical- carbon dioxide extraction; and, vacuum distillation.
  • a device for refining cannabis includes a container comprising a first surface and a heater coupled to the container.
  • the heater causes the container to rise to a first temperature.
  • a second surface is maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature of the first surface.
  • the second surface comprises a lid.
  • a path is included for air, water, or carbon dioxide to leave or enter the container.
  • the lid temperature may be maintained through passive thermal dissipation to the ambient; or, via forced convection through use of a fan. Furthermore, the lid temperature may be regulated towards a constant temperature or the lid temperature may be unregulated.
  • a material having a thermal conductivity lower than the container is coupled to the container or the lid.
  • the material includes one or more of a plastic, cork, wood, silicone, or fiber.
  • a casing surrounding a portion of the container is included.
  • a covering is included over the lid.
  • the lid includes a non-stick coating.
  • a timer is coupled to the heater to control the duration of heating by de-energizing the heater after a period of time has elapsed.
  • a detector is included, the detector being responsive to at least one of the following: deposited material; or, a rate of deposition of material.
  • the detector output is processed to provide an indication of amount of refined material, or whether refinement is completed to beyond a threshold of completion.
  • the detector output may be further coupled to the heater to de-energize the heater after refinement has completed to beyond a threshold.
  • Refinable materials include cannabidiolic acid; cannabigerolic acid; cannabichromenic acid; tetrahydrocannabinolic acid; cannabidiol; cannabigerol; cannabichromene; tetrahydrocannabinol; myrcene; limonene; linalool; caryophyllene; pinene; alpha-bisabolol; eucalyptol; trans-nerolidol; humulene; delta 3 carene; camphene; borneol; terpineol; valencene; geraniol; a cannabinoid; a cannabinoid acid; or, a terpene.
  • a method for refining cannabis includes loading a quantity of cannabis into a container; applying an elevated temperature to the container; and, providing a surface having a lower temperature than the container, wherein the surface having a lower temperature than the container is exposed to gasses or vapors released by the cannabis.
  • the step of providing a surface having a lower temperature than the container includes passively dissipating heat to the ambient environment; or, actively dissipating heat to the ambient environment using forced convection.
  • An additional step of detecting deposited material or, a rate of deposition of material on a lid may be included.
  • the step of exposing the lower-temperature surface to gasses or vapors released by the cannabis includes gasses or vapors comprising a cannabinoid, a cannabinoid acid, or a terpene.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a refiner.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a refiner with a casing.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a refiner with a protective covering.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a refiner comprising forced convection.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of a refiner comprising passive heat removal.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sixth embodiment of a refiner comprising an alternate mechanical connection.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a seventh embodiment of a refiner comprising an area of increased thermal resistance.
  • FIG. 8a illustrates a schematic diagram of a circuit suitable for capacitor detection.
  • FIG. 8b illustrates a schematic diagram of a sensing capacitor.
  • a refinable material is hereby defined as any cannabinoid, cannabinoid acid, terpene or other compound that may be volatilized (i.e. made into a vapor or gas) by applying heat to attain a temperature in a range between 80C and 300C.
  • volatilization comprises reaching a partial pressure of greater than 1 Pa. In some embodiments, volatilization comprises reaching a partial pressure of greater than 1 kPa.
  • refinable materials include: CBDA (Cannabidiolic Acid), CBGA (Cannabigerolic Acid), CBCA (cannabichromenic acid), THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBD (Cannabidiol), CBG (Cannabigerol), CBC (cannabichromene), THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), Myrcene, Limonene, Linalool, Caryophyllene, Pinene, Alpha- bisabolol, Eucalyptol, Trans-nerolidol, Humulene, Delta 3 Carene, Camphene, Borneol, Terpineol, Valencene, and Geraniol.
  • Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional schematic view of a generally-cylindrical container 100 coupled to a heater 102.
  • Container 100 is made of a metal, such as aluminum, copper, or steel.
  • container 100 is shaped in a rectangular, cuboid, hexagonal or any other appropriate shape or geometry.
  • a thermal sensor e.g. a thermocouple or a thermistor
  • a controller e.g. a microcontroller or a circuit
  • a positive-temperature-coefficient (PTC) heater is used, thereby providing automatic regulation of the temperature without a separate thermal sensor.
  • Plant material comprising refinable material is placed into container 100, and in contact with the interior surface of container 100.
  • Removable lid 106 which also comprises metal, is then placed over the chamber opening thereby forming a closed space 104, or chamber.
  • Region 108, on which removable lid 106 rests is made of a material having a lower thermal-conductivity than container 100, such as plastic (e.g. PEEK, PPS, PPSU, etc.).
  • High performance plastics such as PEEK, PPS, or PPSU have a high service temperature allowing container 100 to be operated at a higher temperature than were a low service-temperature plastic (e.g. PET, PLA) to be used.
  • material other than a plastic is used to form region 108; for example, compressed fiber material of a type similar to that used for gaskets, cork, wood, or silicone.
  • heater 102 is energized causing the temperature of container 100 to increase.
  • air in chamber 104 starts to expand and escape through a path to ambient between the removable lid 106 and region 108, and / or between container 100 region 108.
  • the temperature of lid 106 also starts to rise due to thermal conduction through region 108 as well as contact with the chamber gasses.
  • a small groove is cut in the lid, chamber, or region 108, the groove extending between the chamber volume 104 and the exterior facing portion of the lid or region 108; the groove provides a path for gas to leave or enter the chamber.
  • surface roughness, surface texture, or other manufacturing imperfections e.g.
  • imperfections of the type specified by Ra) in the lid, container, or region 108 provide a sufficient path for gas or vapor to leave the chamber (e.g. when the container is being heated or remains at temperature) or enter the chamber (e.g. when the container is cooled after refinement completes).
  • Providing a path to ambient allows chamber oxygen to be purged as the chamber is heated, as well as maintains a low pressure differential as the container is cooled; were the ambient gasses unable to enter the chamber during cooling the chamber pressure would drop as it was cooled and make it difficult if not impossible to manually remove the lid.
  • Extremely flat surfaces can impede gas or vapor transport between the chamber and ambient.
  • a path to ambient provides sufficient flow to prevent more than 10kPa pressure differential to exist between the chamber and ambient for a period of longer than 1 minute.
  • a hole is formed in either the lid or the chamber to provide a path to ambient.
  • CBD or THC releasing carbon dioxide in the process; the carbon dioxide also mixes with the gasses in the chamber and escapes.
  • Water vapor and carbon dioxide from decarboxylation of cannabinoid acids help purge the chamber of oxygen.
  • additional water, beyond what naturally is present in the plant material, is added before heat is applied to provide additional purging of oxygen. Purging of oxygen minimizes oxidation of desired refinable material at higher temperatures.
  • the vapor pressure of refinable materials become appreciable (e.g. greater than 1 Pa, or in some embodiments greater than 1kPa), from refinable material leaving the plant matter and turning into a vapor or gas.
  • the lid remains at a sufficiently low temperature, which is dependent upon at least the particular terpene, cannabinoid, or compound of interest, vaporized or gaseous molecules will impinge upon and stick to inner-surface 110 due to the lower temperature; this is as opposed to the carbon dioxide or heated air which are released to the atmosphere since the lid is far above the temperature at which air or carbon dioxide liquify.
  • the lid at a sufficiently low temperature causes the vapor pressure of the terpenes or cannabinoids immediately at the inner lid surface 110 to become lower than the vapor pressure in the chamber at large thereby causing deposition of the terpene or cannabinoid on the inner surface 110, and inducing a diffusion process from portions of the chamber with a higher vapor pressure to this region of lowered vapor pressure.
  • the lid remains at a temperature between 80C to 150C. The vapor pressure of the refinable material within the chamber will increase as the plant material and chamber temperature increase thereby increasing the rate of deposition on the interior portion of the lid were the lid held at constant temperature.
  • preferential deposition of one or more terpenes or cannabinoids may be attained by selecting a chamber temperature and duration. For example, suppose that at a particular temperature THC were to have a vapor pressure of p1 and CBD were to have a vapor pressure of p2 where p2 ⁇ p1 ; then, the THC would more rapidly move from the plant material to the lid since the chamber vapor pressure is higher. However, eventually the CBD would also transfer from the plant material to the lid. By removing the heat before the CBD has had a chance to more fully transfer to the lid the refined material will have a higher THC concentration than the starting material.
  • the refined material which is richer in THC may be removed from the lid by, e.g. scraping with a straight-edge, and the plant material re-processed at a higher temperature or for a longer time; this material is now richer in CBD in comparison to THC than the original starting material because the THC was preferentially removed before the CBD was more fully refined.
  • the rate at which refinement occurs will depend on the temperature of the lid, the temperature of the chamber and plant material, the particular terpene or cannabinoid vapor pressure versus temperature curve(s), and the distance from the lid to the plant material.
  • Optimal values of various design parameters may be determined through a design of experiments (e.g. running experiments at different temperatures and measuring the deposition rate of refinable material on the lid); or calculations based upon chemistry and thermodynamics, which are well known to those skilled in the art, in conjunction with vapor pressure versus temperature data of one or more refinable materials.
  • the lid is maintained at a higher temperature to preferentially select a cannabinoid or terpene with a lower vapor pressure at temperature.
  • the undesired vaporized cannabinoid or terpene does not condense on the lid, held at a higher temperature, but is expelled through the path to ambient.
  • Figure 2 shows an embodiment having a container 200 coupled to casing 212. Casing 212 prevents personal injury caused by contact with the container when at an elevated temperature as well as reduces heat transfer from the container to ambient.
  • Container 200 is screwed to region of lower thermal-conductivity 208 with metal screws 214 countersunk below the surface of region 208 to prevent physical contact of the screws to the lid.
  • Region 208 in this embodiment is part of casing 212 and is fabricated as a single piece of plastic through a process such as injection molding or 3D-printing.
  • Casing 212 is made from a plastic having a high service temperature such as PPS, PEEK, PPSU, Nylon or other suitable plastic. In some embodiments casing 212 is made from wood.
  • the region 220 between casing 212 and container 200 is filled with an insulating material such as fiberglass or vermiculite. In various embodiments the region between the container and the casing is left unfilled; or, comprises a vacuum.
  • Casing bottom 224 is screwed to casing 212 via screws 226.
  • screws 214 are not countersunk to keep from physical contact with the lid 206, thereby aiding in heat transfer from the container to the lid.
  • a thermal fuse is thermally coupled to container 200 and electrically coupled to heater 202 (e.g. in series with heater 202) and provides protection against fire or overheating by removing power from heater 202 in the event of an overtemperature condition, thereby de-energizing heater 202.
  • a protective covering 330 made of plastic is placed over lid 306 to prevent injury from direct contact with the lid surface.
  • protective covering 330 is made of wood.
  • Protective covering 330 has holes 332 for allowing air circulation to cool lid 306 to the desired temperature.
  • the lid inner-surface 336 is flat.
  • the lid surface that faces the container includes a portion 338 that protrudes into the container when the lid is placed over the container thereby preventing lateral movement of the lid and reducing the amount of refinable material deposited on the portion of the region of lower thermal conductivity that faces the chamber.
  • a fan 440 is used to force air circulation thereby increasing the rate of heat removal.
  • Fan 440 forces air to move through intake airholes 442 (formed in protective covering 430) past the surface of lid 406, and out the airholes 444.
  • the direction of flow is reversed.
  • baffling formed in either of the protective covering or the surface of the lid is included to provide increased heat transfer by the forced air.
  • the fan runs at a constant speed independent of lid temperature; or, the fan is controlled to regulate the temperature of the lid to a constant temperature using a temperature sensor (e.g. a thermistor; a silicon temperature sensor comprising a diode, a junction, or a transistor; or, a thermocouple and a microprocessor; or, a thermostat).
  • a temperature sensor e.g. a thermistor; a silicon temperature sensor comprising a diode, a junction, or a transistor; or, a thermocouple and a microprocessor; or, a thermostat).
  • a temperature sensor is coupled to the lid and a processor; the processor is further coupled to a fan.
  • the fan cools the lid.
  • the temperature sensor output is processed by the processor to estimate the temperature of the lid.
  • the processor uses the processed temperature sensor output to energize the fan in a manner to bring the estimated lid temperature closer to a desired temperature using feedback-control techniques.
  • a thermostat coupled to the container is used to control heater operation.
  • FIG. 5 shows a heat sink 550 similar to the type used to cool electrical components such as a microprocessor attached to lid 506.
  • Heat sink 550 passively dissipates heat from lid 506 at a rate higher than the rate without heat sink 550, and is sized to provide a temperature sufficiently low at the inner surface of lid 510.
  • lid 506 further comprises a protective covering over the heatsink wherein the protective covering includes holes allowing for air circulation and is similar to protective covering 330.
  • a fan is used in conjunction with a heat sink to further increase cooling capacity.
  • the lid includes on the inner surface a non-stick surface similar to that used in nonstick cookware (e.g. PTFE, ceramic, or similar to as described in US Patent US7093340B2).
  • a nonstick surface treatment helps aid the removal of the refined material, which can be sticky.
  • the lid is cooled (e.g. in a refrigerator or freezer), thereby hardening the refined material and easing removal from the lid after refinement is completed.
  • a membrane thermally coupled to the lid e.g. Kapton film, paper, aluminum foil
  • Kapton film, paper, aluminum foil is placed between the lid and the chamber so that the refined materials collect on the membrane, which is removed after refinement, thereby avoiding materials collecting directly on the lid.
  • the precise value of what range of lid temperatures are sufficiently low is determined through a design of experiments, experimentation, ortrial-and- error.
  • high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas- chromatography (GC) are used to identify the composition of the refined material deposited on the lid thereby allowing discrimination of refined material composition on a molecular basis.
  • the range of lid temperatures which are sufficiently low is determined by heating plant material comprising refinable material to a first temperature while maintaining the lid at a second temperature. After a fixed amount of time the lid is removed and the amount of refined material on the lid quantified. The process is repeated with new plant material with the lid maintained at a third temperature. After the same fixed amount of time the lid is removed and the amount of refined material on the lid quantified (e.g. weighed or measured volumetrically). This process is repeated for multiple lid temperatures and the results tabulated thereby allowing a temperature to be chosen that provides refined material at the rate desired; this temperature is a sufficiently low temperature. In some embodiments the decomposition-rate of refined materials, which increases with increasing temperature, is also considered in choosing a sufficiently-low lid temperature.
  • the desired chamber temperature is determined by heating plant material comprising refinable material to a first temperature while maintaining the lid at a second temperature. After a fixed amount of time the lid is removed and the amount of desired refined material on the lid quantified. The process is repeated with new plant material with the chamber maintained at a third temperature. After the same fixed amount of time the lid is removed and the amount of desired refined material on the lid quantified. This process is repeated for multiple chamber temperatures and the results tabulated thereby allowing a temperature to be chosen that provides refined material at the rate desired. In some embodiments the decomposition-rate of refined materials is considered in choosing a desired chamber temperature.
  • the lid directly contacts the metal of the container without a region having lower thermal conductivity.
  • the lid further incudes a heater distinct from the heater coupled to the container.
  • the lid is sealed to the container and gasses are prevented from escaping between the lid and the container during the refining process; sealing is accomplished using a seal (e.g. an o-ring, or gasket) and fasteners (e.g. screws, or clamps) to secure the lid to the container in the presence of pressure within the chamber.
  • a seal e.g. an o-ring, or gasket
  • fasteners e.g. screws, or clamps
  • the lid is separated from the heated container by a region of lowered thermal conductivity.
  • a region of lowered thermal conductivity allows the lid to maintain a different temperature than the chamber or container without a large amount of heat flux from the heater that would otherwise need to be dissipated from the lid.
  • the heater comprises a power resistor suitable for heating applications, such as a Riedon UAL-series aluminum-housed wirewound resistor, and is affixed to the container with a fastener (e.g. a screw, a rivet).
  • a thermally-conductive compound such as heatsink grease is applied to the container or the power resistor before affixing the resistor to the container to provide for a lower thermal resistance interface between the heater and the container.
  • high-conductivity regions of exposed metal within the region of lower conductivity are included; such regions of exposed metal provides a path of a portion of the container to more rapidly transfer heat from the container to the lid than were the regions of exposed metal not present.
  • the colder portion of the chamber e.g. lid
  • the colder portion of the chamber is located lower in height than a hot portion thereby attenuating convection within the chamber.
  • the lid is kept above 100C to prevent condensation, thereby providing a dry surface for refined materials to collect upon.
  • the casing 612 extends continuously 608 above the top of the container providing a region of increased thermal resistance.
  • the container is secured to the casing from the bottom: screw 660 is screwed into boss 662, formed in casing 612, through hole 664 in container 600.
  • the screws do not protrude from the top surface allowing a region of lowered thermal conductivity to encircle the entire perimeter providing lower thermal conductivity than were the screws exposed towards the lid.
  • the region of lowered thermal conductivity includes regions of space for air pockets to form thereby reducing further the heat transfer from the container.
  • fingers 770 of casing 712 are formed in a pattern such as a honeycomb pattern or in a grid pattern. Conductivity may be tuned by adjusting the number, height, width, or spacing of the fingers. In some embodiments, fingers project towards the container, versus being projected to towards the lid as shown in 770, with a flat surface at the casing top and the fingers projecting towards the container from this surface.
  • a region of lowered conductivity is coupled (e.g. fastened, screwed) to the lid as opposed to, or in conjunction with, a region of lowered conductivity coupled to the container.
  • the temperature of the lid is lower than the temperature of the container by a temperature between 25C and 75C. In some embodiments the temperature of the lid is lower than the temperature of the container by a temperature between 75C and 150C.
  • a timer is used to control the heater.
  • the timer is started when the chamber temperature reaches a threshold.
  • the timer is started when the heater is first energized without regard to a particular temperature threshold. After a predetermined period of time after the timer is started, the timer de-energizes the heater thereby halting the refining process.
  • detection, estimation, or monitoring of deposited material at the lid inner surface using a detector is used to indicate when refinement has completed to a desired extent or to estimate an amount of material deposited on the lid.
  • refined material deposition over time may be fit to an exponential curve allowing the final amount of refined material to be estimated; the heater may be de-energized upon reaching a threshold, (e.g. 90%, 95%) of the estimated final value.
  • a threshold e.g. 90%, 95%) of the estimated final value.
  • mechanical, electrical, or optical techniques are used to detect deposited material.
  • a mechanical sensor utilizes mass loading or resonant frequency shifting for detection, estimation, or monitoring of deposited material at the lid inner surface.
  • a piezoelectric transducer similar in construction to those used for low-cost speakers, is coupled to the inner lid surface.
  • a thin layer of Kapton tape is placed over the piezoelectric transducer to prevent refined material from sticking to the transducer. As refined material deposits on the Kapton tape, the resonant frequency and frequency response of the piezoelectric transducer will change.
  • An electrical circuit is used to estimate a frequency response characteristic (i.e.
  • a gain and / or a phase at one or more frequencies) of the transducer by any of many well-known techniques including forcing a voltage across, and measuring a current through, the piezoelectric transducer at multiple frequencies; or, forcing a current through, and measuring a voltage across, the piezoelectric transducer at multiple frequencies.
  • Conversion of frequency response to an amount of deposited material is accomplished by a design of experiments comprising applying a known amount of refined material and measuring a resonant frequency response.
  • the frequency response characteristic is measured at the beginning of the refinement process to account for manufacturing variations or left-over refined material from a prior refinement cycle (e.g. to tare the sensor).
  • an electrical sensor utilizes a capacitance for detection, estimation, or monitoring of deposited material at the lid inner surface.
  • a capacitive sensor includes a first electrode 800 and a second electrode 802 disposed upon, and electrically isolated from, the lid inner surface 810; the first and second electrodes are interdigitated with fingers separated by a distance.
  • any other appropriate electrode configuration comprising two terminals is used, including when one of the electrodes is the lid itself.
  • the first and second electrodes form a capacitor 824 the value of which will vary as material is deposited due to the differing dielectric constant between air and the refined material.
  • the amplifier circuit includes a feedback element 820 which in this embodiment is a fixed capacitor such as a ceramic-chip capacitor with a parallel resistor to provide for dc biasing; in other embodiments a combination of capacitors and resistors is used according to well-known circuit techniques. Changes in capacitor 824 due to deposition of refined material are reflected by changes in circuit output 832 reflected in amplitude variations of waveform 834. In some embodiments the circuit output is further processed by an analog- to-digital converter coupled to a microcontroller or microprocessor.
  • a processed estimate of capacitance is used to provide an estimate of the quantity of refined material under the lid based upon a relationship between capacitance and dielectric thickness established through either experiment or application of theory.
  • an optical sensor utilizes index of refraction for detection, estimation, or monitoring of deposited material at the lid inner surface.
  • an optical sensor comprises a photodiode to detect light (e.g. visible, infra-red, or ultraviolet), and a light-emitting diode (LED) to emit light in one or more wavelengths suitable for the photodiode.
  • the photodiode is optically coupled to a first piece of clear material having an index of refraction higher than air, such as a clear plastic, silicone, or glass.
  • the LED is similarly optically coupled to a second piece of clear material. The first piece of clear material and the second piece of clear material are separated by a gap.
  • the gap is filled with refined material. Since the refined material has an index of refraction closer to that of the clear material than the air does the amount of optical energy coupled between the LED and the photodiode will increase as refined material is deposited.
  • the output of the photodiode is processed to provide an estimate of the refined material.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif de raffinage du cannabis. Le dispositif comprend un contenant et un dispositif de chauffage fonctionnant pour chauffer le contenu de la chambre. Le dispositif comprend en outre une surface ayant une température inférieure à la température du contenant. Le procédé comprend le chargement du cannabis dans un contenant et l'application d'une température élevée au contenant tout en utilisant une surface ayant une température inférieure à la température du contenant.
PCT/US2020/018469 2020-02-16 2020-02-16 Raffineur de cannabis WO2021162710A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2020/018469 WO2021162710A1 (fr) 2020-02-16 2020-02-16 Raffineur de cannabis

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2020/018469 WO2021162710A1 (fr) 2020-02-16 2020-02-16 Raffineur de cannabis

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WO2021162710A1 true WO2021162710A1 (fr) 2021-08-19

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Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4279824A (en) * 1979-11-01 1981-07-21 Mckinney Laurence O Method and apparatus for processing herbaceous plant materials including the plant cannabis
US4913865A (en) * 1985-07-15 1990-04-03 Research Development Corp Of Japan Process for preparing ultrafine particles of organic compounds
US20140054307A1 (en) * 2012-08-24 2014-02-27 Christopher B. Collins Container and Cover for a Container Holding Viscous Fluids
US20150223515A1 (en) * 2014-02-11 2015-08-13 Timothy McCullough Methods and devices using cannabis vapors
US20180243710A1 (en) * 2015-09-03 2018-08-30 Ardent Llc Waterless Decarboxylation
US20190204283A1 (en) * 2017-12-30 2019-07-04 Mark Alan Lemkin Agricultural processing system and method

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4279824A (en) * 1979-11-01 1981-07-21 Mckinney Laurence O Method and apparatus for processing herbaceous plant materials including the plant cannabis
US4913865A (en) * 1985-07-15 1990-04-03 Research Development Corp Of Japan Process for preparing ultrafine particles of organic compounds
US20140054307A1 (en) * 2012-08-24 2014-02-27 Christopher B. Collins Container and Cover for a Container Holding Viscous Fluids
US20150223515A1 (en) * 2014-02-11 2015-08-13 Timothy McCullough Methods and devices using cannabis vapors
US20180243710A1 (en) * 2015-09-03 2018-08-30 Ardent Llc Waterless Decarboxylation
US20190204283A1 (en) * 2017-12-30 2019-07-04 Mark Alan Lemkin Agricultural processing system and method

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