Process Equipment Engineering and Manufacturing

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Extraction Chillers

Processing and Filtration Equipment

Processing and Filtration Equipment

  • Ultra low temperatures
  • Class I, Division 2
  • Direct chilling of Ethanol

Chillers
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Processing and Filtration Equipment

Processing and Filtration Equipment

Processing and Filtration Equipment

  • Sub-zero temperature control
  • Pressure filtration
  • Pump and filter skids

winterization systems
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Solvent Recovery

Processing and Filtration Equipment

Solvent Recovery

  • Rising film evaporators
  • Ethanol dehydration units
  • Chillers
  • Steam and hot water utilites

Evaporation Systems

CUSTOM-BUILT SYSTEMS

DESCRIPTIO

Modulab supplies custom-built high capacity extraction and processing systems that are designed to meet the client's specifications, standards and guidelines. Our engineers provide support throughout the entire project, including process design, engineering, procurement, installation supervision, and start-up assistance, as well as turnkey delivery. 

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Ethanol Extraction Process

Several methods and solvents have proven to be effective for extracting cannabinoids:

  • Supercritical carbon dioxide
  • Hydrocarbons, such as butane and/or propane
  • Ethanol

Waxes and fatty acids from the plant material are also soluble in many of these solvents, and these materials must be removed during the refinement process. This is achieved through a process called winterization, which takes advantage of the different solubility of waxes and cannabinoids in a solvent.


Ethanol extractions have a solid and growing presence among the three most popular solvent-based cannabis extraction methods today. But because of its polarity, ethanol is notoriously capable of dragging water-soluble particles out of the cannabis plant during the extraction process.


Ethanol not only pulls out the desirable cannabinoids and terpenes, but also extracts the cell’s chlorophyll and plant waxes unless the ethanol is chilled to sub-zero temperatures. That is because the solubility of polar, water-based molecules in ethanol is directly correlated to the temperature of the solution.


We believe sub-zero ethanol extraction is a viable method for cannabis extraction which can be used to eliminate the winterization step. Experimental results show a 10-minute wash time at -40C with 190 proof ethanol extracts the majority of cannabinoids and few enough lipids to not require winterization.

Use Supercooled Ethanol to Minimize Post-Processing

Modulab high capacity extraction systems utilize custom-built cascade refrigeration cycles to rapidly chill ethanol for production of high quality extracts.

EXTRACTION CHILLERS

Winterization

Secondary Processing

The winterization process frequently represents the slowest part of the refinement process. Extracted crude oil is mixed with warm ethanol then placed in a ultra-low temperature freezer for 24-48 hours to crystallize the waxes so they may be separated in a subsequent filtration step. The standard protocol uses a funnel and filter paper in concert with a vacuum. Depending on volume, this filtration process can take between four and eight hours. Furthermore, it must be repeated multiple times to account for the dissolution of waxes back into the ethanol during the protracted filtering process. However, the redundancy and length of this process can be circumvented through the use of low-pressure cartridge filter techniques that can process large quantities of winterized material in an expeditious manner while controlling temperature.


The Modulab packaged systems can be used to improve winterization process efficiency by providing:

  • Precise sub-zero temperature control
  • Pressure filtration

Improve Process Efficiency and Quality Control

The Modulab winterization system can reduce the redundancy and length of time to winterize large volumes of crude oil extracted from botanicals using solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide or ethanol

Find out more

Contact Us

Specifications and Pricing

Please feel free to contact a member of our staff directly with any questions, comments, or inquiries you may have. 


sales@modulabtech.com

Modulab Technologies

26297 US 127, Dunlap, Tennessee 37327, United States

(423) 693-0971

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STANDARD WARRANTIES

 Modulab equipment is guaranteed against any manufacturing defect, parts only, during 24 months from startup. The guarantee includes the replacement or the factory repair of any part admittedly defective. The parts replaced become our property. Repair and replacements caused by a lack of handling, installation, lubrication, maintenance or supervision due to an improper use of the material or its normal wear and tear are not included in our guarantee.