The Lion Labs Institute for Cannabis Processing is adjacent to the Cannabis Center of Excellence. The LLI is a research and teaching facility for the extraction and purification of Cannabis compounds, and contains equipment for both product extraction and analytical extraction. LLI equipment can also be utilized to extract compounds of interest from other natural products and to extract environmental contaminants from biological tissues, soils, and sediments.
For Information on the LLI Contact the following:
Lion Labs Institute Facility Coordinator
Hydrocarbon extraction utilizes a hydrocarbon solvent, typically propane, butane, or a mixture, to extract target compounds from dried plant biomass. The primary advantages of hydrocarbon extraction include good yields of target compounds, low extraction of undesirable compounds, and low solvent carryover when fully processed. The primary drawback is the additional safety precautions that are required (such as locating the entire apparatus within a fume hood).
Ethanol extraction utilizes ethanol in place of hydrocarbon solvents. The primary advantages of ethanol extraction include the use of a food grade solvent, improved safety, and production of a full spectrum compound profile (greater extraction efficiency of polar molecules). The primary drawbacks are the extraction of non-target compounds such as chlorophyll and other plant pigments (necessitating additional post processing), and poor extraction of terpenes.
Wiped film distillation is a method of purifying (refining) crude extracts into multiple fractions yielding a high purity final product containing the desired compound profile.
The MPLC is used to isolate a single compound from a mixture. The Yamazen Smart Flash AKROS contains an integrated TLC reader and fraction collector, facilitating ease of use and high efficiency for automated isolation of compounds of interest.
A rotary evaporator is a vacuum distillation apparatus used for rapidly removing excess solvent from crude extracts, resulting in concentration of the extraction product. This process scale evaporator is capable of liter scale extract processing.
The USA Scientific pharmaceutical freeze dryer has a large capacity for rapid freeze drying of multiple samples.
The vacuum oven is used for residual solvent removal. By simultaneous controlled heating and reduced pressure residual solvents can be removed from the processed extract, resulting in a high purity product.
Soxhlet extractors utilize distillation and repeated solvent extraction to extract challenging compounds. These are frequently used for analytical extractions with hexane.
When smaller volumes of extract require purification, we utilize a standard capacity rotary evaporator for ease of handling.
Improperly dried Cannabis is prone to spoilage, and may harbor unsafe levels of yeast an mold. The residual moisture instrument measures water activity prior to processing to ensure properly dried biomass is being utilized.
The Blixer sample grinder is used to homogenize material and reduce particle size to improve extraction efficiency.
The Distek Grinder is a metal free sample homogenizer used to produce a finely ground homogenous material that is free of metal contamination prior to heavy metals analysis by ICP-MS.
The Wiley Mill is used to grind samples such that the final product has a uniform, controlled particle size.
This instrument can be used to test custom vape blends.
