PITTSBURGH – Anyone assessing the cannabis industry at the end of 2020 understands one thing right away. The industry is in a much better position than expected given the economic, social and political upheavals that have occurred in the previous 10 months. However, a closer look at the industry reveals another critical indicator of its success this year: The popularity of extracts is a key driver of the industry’s success.
“It’s no secret that a number of forces have aligned to propel cannabis extraction forward,” said Wes Reynolds, CEO of Green Mill Supercritical. “The growing adoption of CBD by consumers across the country, combined with the consistency, variety and perceived safety of THC extract products, have all contributed to this growth. We expect this growth to continue throughout the coming year for a variety of reasons.”
According to Reynolds, the proliferation of CBD extract products across the country will continue to generate acceptance, while the consumer comfort level with THC edibles, as well as their convenience and flavor choices will further generate growth. In addition, Green Mill Supercritical believes Industry business will be most impacted by the rise of improved technology that redefines the capabilities of precise CO₂ extraction.
Supercritical becomes super essential
2021 will be the year when technologically advanced extraction machines will break down the barrier of entry into the oil production business, and oil quality will be enhanced, allowing more consumers to discover premium products.
“The real victors in this will, of course, be artisan extract producers who will discover a newfound ability to make high-quality products that are consistent and safe, and to sell them to consumers at a price that anyone, not just hardcore cannabis connoisseurs, will be willing to pay,” said Green Mill’s Director of R&D, Jesse Turner. “This will be accomplished both through equipment improvements and novel CO₂ extraction methods.”
CO₂ advocates come out of the closet
Turner further predicts that 2021 may just be the year that “solvent agnosticism”—summed up with the mantra “there is no single best solvent”—disappears as the promise of CO₂ is realized through enhanced technology.
“We’ve been in a period where different solvents were debated on the merits of their business advantages or their capabilities in the lab,” Turner said. “But those advantages are rapidly disappearing as we push the limits of CO₂ technology, develop unique methods to produce different results and work to eliminate time constraints that kept some producers from utilizing CO₂ technology. In 2021, the advanced features of the most precise extraction systems on the market will become the bare minimum in order for a system to sell.”
Technology will drive innovative methodologies
The right technology used properly will enable improved methodologies to drive innovation, saving time and money while creating better products, according to Turner.
“The right machine matched with the right methods is a powerful combination right now,” Turner said. “The constraints of most extraction machines on the market are keeping technicians from even exploring some of the interesting peer-reviewed materials that have been published and this has kept the full extent of CO₂’s power behind a veil until now.”
As an example, Turner pointed to his recent work on a new method for extracting THC and THCa that boosts the efficiency of the extraction by orders of magnitude by increasing the target compound’s solubility without also making undesirable materials more soluble. This means operators can produce a pure, clean extract as well as delicate terpenes, very quickly.
“In short, you can have yield, purity, and flexibility, all in one run,” he said. “Upstart CO₂ extraction operations will realize huge savings in CapEx and OpEx. That, plus faster production, will allow them to get to profitability sooner so their business is sustainable from the beginning and ready to scale. 2021 will be the year when the true benefit of CO₂ as an extraction solvent is finally realized.”
Green Mill Supercritical: Experience Maximum Control
Green Mill Supercritical always aims to push CO₂ beyond known limits, promising the most control over pressure, temperature, and flow rate of any system on the market today. Our extensive background in the engineering of CO2-based extraction and chromatography equipment, plus robust, proprietary software, set us apart in the market. Together, they provide instrumentation-grade, data-driven accuracy, and totally automated system operation. Green Mill Supercritical is the choice of quality-focused operations seeking maximum control over their extraction results. In today’s leaner, smarter marketplace, Green Mill offers more value than ever. For more information, visit greenmillsupercritical.com. Watch our machines run on our demo page. Continue the conversation on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.
