High vacuum today is used commercially to gather the desirable properties of plants. This process is known as “organic extracts”. For discussion purposes we’ll use cannabis as the talking point.
Two applications where high vacuum is used in processing cannabis; Drying the plant, and extracting specific components of the plant. Commercial cannabis producers follow specific recipes using high vacuum. By doing so they achieve fast results and reap the desirable attributes of the plant, in a predictable repeatable manner.
High vacuum is used for “Freeze Drying” the plant flower. Freeze Drying is used to remove oxygen from the environment, and excess water from the plant very quickly. At vacuum, the water within the plant freezes. Once the flower is frozen, heat is introduced. Since the product is under vacuum, the boiling point of the water is much lower (the higher the level of vacuum, the lower the boiling point). The introduction of heat converts the solid (water) into a gas. This gas is then easily pumped away. Since the product is being exposed to less heat, oxidation / degradation of the product is avoided. Freeze drying preserves the beneficial attributes of the cannabis and reduces time to market.
Another example of high vacuum being used in cannabis production is distillation. Distillation is used to filter specific, desirable properties (CBD / THC) of the cannabis and can result in increased potency levels. Furthermore solvents (ethanol and alcohol) are typically used in Cannabis production. Vacuum turns these harmful solvents into a gas, this gas is easily pumped away leaving only the pure base materials.
Where Key High serves the Organic Extract market, is our Foreline Traps. Key High’s foreline traps are used to condense and trap materials which otherwise would ingested by the vacuum pump, thereby extending maintaince cylces. Additionally Key High’s line of Dry Ice Traps are also used in cannabis production. These traps use frozen carbon dioxide (dry Ice). These traps are loaded with product and dry ice. As the dry ice melts it turns into a gas. This gas absorbs and carries away the excess moisture from the cannabis. The end result is a cannabis flower which is dried but still moist.
