In this case, supercritical carbon dioxide assumes the role of the solvent. While closed-loop systems are traditionally used with solvents like liquid butane and ethanol, supercritical CO2 extraction is also gaining popularity-especially in the CBD and vape markets. Closed-Loop Extraction With Supercritical CO2 Many places, like California, even require them by law. This is why closed-loop systems are highly preferred among hydrocarbon extraction technicians. The extracted oil is collected from the tank with some residual solvent intact. In an open-loop system, no such purging is done. In a closed-loop system, the remaining solvent vapors are subsequently filtered and recycled for more complete purging. Then the resulting oil is collected in a tank and heated to remove some of the residual solvents. The initial process is the same as the closed-loop extraction process: the hydrocarbon solvent is chilled in a tank before passing through a chamber to dissolve cannabinoids and terpenes from raw plant material. Closed-Loop vs Open-Loop ExtractionĪn open-loop extraction system, or open blast system, works similarly to a closed-loop system, but it uses an open-ended tube. If terpene separation is the goal, the system may include a separate centrifuge designed for this purpose. For example, a system may also be configured for winterization, complete with fine mesh filters designed to remove excess waxes and lipids from the extracted solution. Additional steps and components may be required depending on the technician’s preferred method of refinement and purging. This is an extremely simplified breakdown of how a closed-loop extraction system works.
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