A new method developed by Colombian researchers could mark a turning point for companies making hemp-derived cannabinoid products, offering a faster, scalable way to eliminate THC while preserving CBD and other valuable compounds.
The recently published work introduces a practical path to one of the hemp industry’s holy grails – and toughest technical challenges.
The researchers, from the National University of Colombia, used centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) to separate cannabinoids without the heat or harsh solvents that often damage extract quality. Using a special mix of heptane, ethanol and water, the team developed a process that removes nearly all THC – down to 0.02% – from full-spectrum hemp extracts, while maintaining as much as 85% CBD and other cannabinoids.
Better margins ahead?
The study was published in the Journal of Chromatography A, a leading peer-reviewed journal focused on separation and purification science published by Elsevier, the Netherlands-based global science and health publisher.
In trials scaled up to near-industrial levels, the research team processed 800 grams of extract in under ten hours and recovered more than 600 grams of purified material. For hemp businesses, that kind of yield – combined with legal compliance – could translate into better margins, new market access, and more reliable supply chains.
What sets the method apart is its versatility, according to the researchers. It can be used to clean up byproducts like the “mother liquor” – the leftover solution after CBD is crystallized from an extract. It can also be used to purify highly potent, highly pure THC concentrates for the pharmaceutical market. The system also supports better quality control, especially in formulations that must meet tight tolerances for THC content in stricter global markets, the report observes.
Read more at Hemp Todhttps://hemptoday.net/thc-free-extraction-breakthrough-could-spur-product-development-in-hemp-cannabinoids/ay