Ultrasound increases the yield and speed of cannabinoid extractions

In a study published in The Journal of Food Science In a study conducted at Sopron University in Hungary, scientists examined the effects of ultrasound on the’cannabis extraction.

Sonication, a term that refers to the use of sound waves. The main advantage is that the extraction process does not rely on any chemical solvents and takes much less time, resulting in significant cost savings. Depending on the desired final product, ultrasound-based extraction methods can be used with ethanol, CO2, water, olive oil, coconut oil, and many others. Furthermore, ultrasonic extraction does not generate heat, which destroys the active compounds in cannabis even at low temperatures.

The team of Hungarian researchers used alcohol as a solvent and low-frequency ultrasound to improve the extraction of chemical compounds from cannabis, comparing the results with an extraction process that did not use ultrasound. They measured the differences in terms of time, power required, and methanol concentration for the extraction of phenols, flavonoids and overall performance.

Study conclusions

One of the main advantages researchers have identified in using ultrasound for extraction is yield.

«Cannabinoid extraction was significantly improved through sonication compared to the control group,» the report states of the study.

Regarding extraction speed, the optimal ultrasonic extraction time was determined to be 15 minutes. «When comparing the ultrasonic process with the other method, significantly higher values were obtained for each of the parameters.».

Differences in time and solvent also significantly affected the extraction. The study also indicates that the use of ultrasound with solvents other than alcohol could make the extraction more efficient, but further studies are needed on this topic.