Cannabis Extraction Filtration
Cannabis Extraction Filtration Solutions
The right filtration. At the right process stage. Explore how filtration fits your extraction method, your production scale, and your quality targets. Start with an application, follow its process map, then review suitable PARSWOOD™ product families.
Note: Selection starts with the process. These representative routes support an application discussion. Final grades, operating limits, chemical compatibility, retention claims, and process validation require the exact filter documentation and a validated process for your solvent, temperature, viscosity, and biomass. They are not customer case studies or a complete quality or compliance plan.
Ethanol Extraction
Build the filtration train around the crude extract condition after solvent contact and winterization. Ethanol typically extracts more chlorophyll and polar compounds than hydrocarbon methods. Clarify solids and precipitated waxes first, then address color and odor, then polish before solvent recovery or distillation.
Process map
- Extraction — Contact milled biomass with chilled or room-temperature ethanol; manage residence time to control chlorophyll pickup.
- Coarse solids removal — Capture plant fines and debris immediately after extraction (bag, screen, or coarse depth).
- Winterization — Chill (typically ≤ −20 °C) to precipitate waxes, lipids, and fats.
- Clarification / dewaxing — Depth filtration to remove precipitated waxes and particulates while the extract remains cold or controlled.
- Color remediation — Activated-carbon depth media to reduce chlorophyll, pigments, and related color/odor compounds.
- Polishing — Finer depth or absolute pleated media to protect downstream equipment and improve clarity before solvent recovery or molecular distillation.
- Solvent recovery / formulation — Recover ethanol; optional final filtration of diluted or formulated product.
Legend: Teal top border: filtration stage · Gold top border: verification or process decision. Maps show treatment logic, not piping or installation drawings.
Conceptual ethanol route. Actual temperatures, chill times, solvent ratios, and biomass quality strongly influence solids load and filter selection. Cold filtration improves wax removal but requires compatible seals, housings, and media.
Filtration stages and selection
| Stage | Purpose | PARSWOOD™ approach to evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse solids | Remove plant fines and debris after extraction. | Filter bags, high-flow or melt-blown PP cartridges, or coarser lenticular grades. Select by particle load and flow. |
| Clarification / dewaxing | Capture precipitated waxes, lipids, and residual particulates post-winterization. | Lenticular depth filters (cellulose + filter-aid matrix). Choose coarser-to-mid grades by trial; measure throughput and ΔP. |
| Membrane / fine protection | Intercept remaining particles before tighter stages or equipment. | Absolute pleated PP cartridges (e.g., 1–5 µm candidates). |
| Color remediation | Reduce chlorophyll, pigments, and odor compounds. | Lenticular activated-carbon depth-stack modules. Evaluate loading, contact, and cannabinoid retention by trial. |
| Final polish (if required) | Further clarity or particle control before distillation or formulation. | Finer lenticular or absolute PP; membrane candidates only after chemical-compatibility and extractability review. |
Process information to review
Record extraction solvent (ethanol strength and temperature), biomass type and mill size, winterization temperature and hold time, turbidity or solids load, batch volume, viscosity, flow rate target, and downstream equipment. Note any residual solvent, desired final color, and cannabinoid/terpene recovery targets. Review chemical compatibility of all wetted materials with ethanol and the extract, seal materials at operating temperature, integrity or performance verification methods, and cleaning/sanitization limits.
Relevant PARSWOOD™ products
- Lenticular Depth Filter Cartridges for Wine, Beer, Spirit, Edible Oil Clarification — Closest PARSWOOD™ format for sheet-based clarification and polishing of oils and extracts. Multiple nominal ratings available (coarser grades often evaluated for wax load).
- Activated Carbon Filter Cartridge in Lenticular Depth-Stack format for Spirit, Oil Extraction, Color Remediation and Odor Removal — Candidate for chlorophyll and pigment reduction.
- Absolute pleated PP cartridges — Candidate for particle removal and protection of finer stages. Published range typically 0.1–50 µm.
- Filter bags and high-flow cartridges — Coarse particle control.
- Lenticular sanitary filter housings — Closed-system options for depth-stack modules.
- PES or Nylon 66 membrane cartridges — Evaluate only for solvent filtration, diluted products, or qualified final stages after compatibility confirmation.
Documents for this application
Confirm exact grade and complete materials of construction, food- or process-contact declarations for the intended use, retention or performance evidence for the claimed duty (a pore-size label alone is insufficient), temperature/differential-pressure/cleaning limits, and trial results for capacity, yield, and sensory or potency impact. Reference a printable process worksheet where available.
CO₂ Extraction
CO₂ extracts generally contain fewer chlorophyll bodies than warm ethanol extracts but still require winterization and clarification to remove waxes and residual solids. Filtration focuses on pre-filtration of intermediates, wax removal after winterization, and polishing ahead of distillation.
Process map
- Extraction — Supercritical or subcritical CO₂ contact with biomass.
- Winterization — Dissolve in ethanol (or similar) and chill to precipitate waxes and lipids.
- Pre-filtration / coarse solids — Remove any residual plant material or large solids.
- Clarification — Depth filtration of the winterized mixture to remove waxes and fine particulates.
- Color / odor polishing (optional) — Activated-carbon treatment if residual color or odor remains.
- Final polish — Finer filtration before solvent recovery and molecular distillation.
- Solvent recovery and distillation — Recover solvent and refine.
Legend: Teal top border: filtration stage · Gold top border: verification or process decision. Maps show treatment logic, not piping or installation drawings.
Filtration stages and selection
| Stage | Purpose | PARSWOOD™ approach to evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse / pre-filtration | Remove residual solids after extraction or dissolution. | Bags, screens, or coarse PP/lenticular grades. |
| Clarification (post-winterization) | Remove precipitated waxes and lipids. | Lenticular depth filters. Robust formats preferred for higher-viscosity winterized material. |
| Color remediation (if needed) | Reduce residual pigments. | Lenticular activated-carbon modules. |
| Polishing | Protect distillation equipment and improve clarity. | Absolute pleated PP or finer lenticular grades. |
Process information to review
Record CO₂ conditions (supercritical vs subcritical), winterization solvent and temperature, wax load, batch size, viscosity at filtration temperature, and target clarity before distillation. Review seal and housing compatibility at cold temperatures.
Relevant PARSWOOD™ products
- Lenticular depth filters (as above) for clarification and wax removal.
- Activated-carbon lenticular modules for color/odor control.
- Absolute PP and high-flow options for particle control.
- Compatible housings for closed, sanitary operation.
Hydrocarbon Extraction (BHO / propane / butane)
Hydrocarbon processes often include inline dewaxing or CRC (color remediation column) steps. Temperature control is critical. Filtration media must be compatible with hydrocarbons; cold operation and closed systems are typical.
Process map
- Extraction — Cold hydrocarbon contact (often with pre-chilled biomass).
- Inline dewaxing / primary filtration — Capture waxes and solids while solvent is cold.
- CRC / color remediation — Adsorbent media (or carbon depth) for pigments and polar impurities.
- Secondary / polishing filtration — Remove media fines and residual particulates.
- Solvent recovery — Recover hydrocarbon.
- Further refinement — Distillation or other steps as required.
Legend: Teal top border: filtration stage · Gold top border: verification or process decision. Maps show treatment logic, not piping or installation drawings.
Filtration stages and selection
| Stage | Purpose | PARSWOOD™ approach to evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Primary solids / wax control | Remove plant material and precipitated waxes under cold conditions. | Compatible coarse depth, screens, or bag systems; verify hydrocarbon and temperature limits. |
| Color remediation | Reduce chlorophyll and color bodies. | Activated-carbon lenticular or equivalent adsorption formats (evaluate versus loose or granular CRC media). |
| Polishing | Capture adsorbent fines and residual particles. | Absolute PP or finer depth grades. |
Process information to review
Record hydrocarbon type, operating temperature (often very cold), pressure, CRC media used (if any), and closed-system requirements. Confirm all materials of construction for hydrocarbon compatibility and low-temperature seal performance.
Relevant PARSWOOD™ products
- Lenticular depth and activated-carbon lenticular modules (evaluate for process conditions).
- Absolute PP and high-flow cartridges for particle control.
- Housings rated for the application.
Note: Hydrocarbon processes frequently combine filtration with specialized CRC adsorbents (silica, clays, etc.). PARSWOOD™ depth and carbon formats can address particulate and adsorption duties; confirm fit with your specific CRC strategy.
PARSWOOD™ candidates by filtration duty
- Lenticular depth filters — Closest PARSWOOD™ format for sheet-based clarification and polishing of extracts and oils. Cellulose matrix with filter aids provides depth capacity for waxes and particulates. View specifications.
- Activated carbon filters (lenticular depth-stack) — Candidate for color remediation and odor removal in oil extraction. Combines depth filtration with carbon adsorption. View product.
- Absolute pleated PP cartridges — Particle removal and protection of downstream stages. Wide micron range.
- Filter bags and high-flow cartridges — Coarse particle control and high-flow duties.
- PES / Nylon 66 membrane cartridges — Evaluate for solvent filtration, diluted finished products, or qualified polishing after full compatibility and extractables review.
- Filter housings — Select sanitary or industrial housings matched to the cartridge or lenticular module, flow, pressure, and temperature. View housings.
Documents to confirm before selection
- Exact grade and complete materials of construction.
- Process-contact or food-contact declaration for the intended use.
- Retention or performance evidence for the claimed duty; a pore-size label alone is insufficient.
- Temperature, differential-pressure, chemical-compatibility, cleaning, and sanitization limits.
- Trial results for capacity, yield, pressure drop, and impact on cannabinoids, terpenes, color, and sensory quality.
Selection always requires process-specific trials. PARSWOOD™ products are candidates for evaluation against your solvent, temperature, solids load, and quality targets.