Short for Cannabidiol, CBD is one of several cannabinoids in the hemp plant.

Lately, CBD has found a home in different products – from gummy bears to body lotions and everything between.

The widespread popularity comes with increasing CBD misconceptions. There's, indeed, a whole lot more to know about the all-natural compound.

For instance, do you know how CBD is extracted from the hemp plant? Most likely, NO.  No worries, though – you're not alone. At one point, we all didn't.

But, reading on, you'd find the different CBD extraction processes and how that should influence your purchase decision. Quickly, let's discuss some;

CBD Extraction Methods

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

CO2 is arguably the most preferred method among CBD extractors. This approach exploits CO2's unique nature, being functional in liquid, gaseous and solid states of matter. Most times, a closed-loop extractor is preferred for this purpose.

CO2 extraction begins with the pumping of CO2, in its solid state, into a chamber packed with hemp materials. A certain pressure is maintained in the chamber to ensure the CO2 remains in a liquid form while extracting the hemp oils and flavors.

The CO2-hemp extract is pumped into another chamber, where the CO2 is allowed to evaporate, leaving behind the hemp extracts – CBD oil and flavors.

• Liquid Solvents

This method involves using substances like butane, isopropyl alcohol, hexane, and ethanol. The process mimics the CO2 extraction method.

Although liquid solvent extraction is relatively cheaper and quicker, it has its shortcomings. One, some solvents may retain chlorophyll and other impurities from the hemp plant. The result is a greenish tinge and a harsh taste.

However, some manufacturers adjust the extraction process to reduce these unwanted bodies.

• Oil Infusion

Here's one of the oldest and straightforward extraction method. Before oil infusion, the hemp material is decarboxylated or heated to a defined temperature to activate the chemicals.

The compound is then infused into a carrier oil, like olive oil, and heated at 100 C for about an hour.

This method is said to offer less CBD concentration since olive oil cannot evaporate. As a result, you'd need more oil to achieve notable effects.

After Extraction – Next?

After extracting CBD oil from hemp, the procedure goes through the winterization process. Here, chlorophyll, solvents, lipids, and waxes are filtered out. The result is quality 70-90% CBD concentrated oil, terpenes, and other minor cannabinoids.

Wrap Up

As CBD oil demand increases, it's ideal you know what goes into the product you wish to consume.

Before you buy, find out what the makers use in extracting the compound and the purification process.

While the different come with their downsides, the CO2 method is touted most quality and, hence, widely preferred.