HEMP EXTRACTION SERVICES

Decarboxylation

Decarboxylation, the process of removing carboxyl from a molecule, is a fundamental step in the chemistry of hemp processing. Raw hemp contains mostly cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). Decarboxylation converts CBDA into bioavailable CBD.

Applying heat to milled hemp causes this crucial chemical reaction. Curing and drying floral hemp biomass converts some of this substance, but best results are achieved using specific temperatures in a controlled environment as part of the hemp plant extraction process.

Testing & Analysis Assure Quality & Transparency

Working with a toll processing partner should mean easy access to all laboratory capabilities needed to validate and report on what’s in a botanical extract. This is more important than ever, given the health-conscious target consumer of many herbal and botanical personal care and nutraceutical products. 

A trusted toll processor can provide certificates of analysis for botanical extracts, batch by batch, enabling manufacturers to easily provide transparent product and quality information to customers and end users.

While processes like ethanol-modified CO₂ extraction kill bacteria and exclude mold from final products, testing can determine the potency of desirable constituents like cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as identify and quantify contaminants and their concentrations.

Essential testing and analytical capabilities to look for in a trusted toll manufacturer include:

• High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separates, identifies, and quantifies constituent components. It’s used to test and report product potency. It can also be used to identify residual pesticides or other potential adulterants. 
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is also used to identify compounds and quantify their concentrations in a mixture. It’s important for analyzing and reporting on terpenes present in CBD products. 
• Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) provides elemental analysis and is indispensable for heavy metals testing. This test helps manufacturers offer greater transparency about what’s in their formulations. 
• Microtesting identifies and quantifies microbes present in biomass. Microtesting can identify salmonella, yeasts, molds, E. coli, Streptococcus, and other potential pathogens.
• Particle size analysis can help manufacturers improve emulsion stability, CBD bioavailability, and product characteristics like smoothness and richness to command premium pricing and improve product margins.

Learn more:
How can Particle Size Analysis Be Useful for Hemp and CBD Products? →

Certifications & Accreditations Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Certifications are one of the most important ways a toll processor can demonstrate trustworthiness and their ability to meet quality standards. Be sure to partner with a toll manufacturer that can assure compliance with Food Safety System Certification FSSC 22000 and Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). 

Working with a GMP-certified toll manufacturer ensures that all processes and protocols are documented and followed. That means straightforward product traceability, quality assurance, cleaning and hygiene standards that prevent cross contamination, and confidence that the final product is exactly what it should be. 

Producers who invest the time and capital to achieve organic certification should consult in advance with their tolling partner to be sure organic labeling is possible. This goes for other specialty certifications as well, including kosher and halal. 

Hemp and CBD manufacturers may need to look for a partner that holds specialty hemp GMP certification, as well as testing and analytical validation by an industry standards body such as Emerald Test.

Toll Processor Certifications — Everything You Need to Know →
How a Toll Processor Can Help You Launch Your GMP-Regulated Brand →

A toll processor’s extraction expertise and capabilities are clearly the most important factor in achieving the highest possible yield from botanical biomass, as well as the highest quality products and the best turnaround time. 

But it’s possible to get even more value from a tolling partnership. A custom processor with capabilities both upstream and downstream from extraction can streamline the process from biomass to bottled extract. 

Pre-processing services can include drying, milling, and reconditioning nonconforming biomass. In-depth analysis and reporting can help predict processing times, expected yields, and any remediation that may be needed down the line. But even more value, efficiency, and cost-savings can be achieved by exploring downstream contract services, such as:

• Research and development with an expert team of material scientists and engineers
• Product formulation and scaling up for production environments
• Wet milling
• Blending, dispersing, and emulsifying
• Custom contract GMP liquid bottling
• Packaging, shipping and logistics

Partnering with the right processor can make the difference between producing an in-demand product at a healthy margin and leaving the best opportunities to competitors.

It’s not enough to produce a high-quality, pure botanical extract. Consumers look for ways to easily incorporate herbal extracts into their lives. The growing demand for branded, packaged herbal formulations creates immediate opportunities for manufacturers. 

A contract processor that offers custom liquid filling services incorporated into its cGMP processing facilities and FSSC 22000-certified quality system can enable manufacturers to take advantage of this demand.

How Liquid Bottle Filling Services Add Supply Chain Value →

Start with high-value botanical biomass and take it through every processing step needed to create complete, packaged products, ready for the shelf, for a wide range of industries:

• Food and beverage
• Essential oils
• Pharmaceutical
• Nutraceutical
• Supplement
• Cosmetics
• Home care
• Health care
• Personal care
• Skincare products
• Industrial chemical
• Laboratory
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medication
• And more

Producers of high quality herbs, botanicals, and hemp need a custom hemp processing partner they can trust to extract top value from their plant biomass and deliver pure, potent extracts. A partner that can help formulate, produce, and bottle value-added formulations ready for the shelf? That’s even better.

When you work with CPS, you have experts in material science, chemistry, and engineering on your team, and access to advanced equipment and technologies to extract, formulate, blend, and bottle.

Like what you see here? Take all this information with you in our free download, From Biomass to Bottled Extracts. Just click the link to get your copy.