Extraction devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

Extraction devices, methods, and systems are disclosed. Example devices have a solvent chamber, a plant material chamber, a collection chamber, and a solvent return that create a sealed, closed-cycle extraction and/or solvent purification process. Any extractable plant material can be used in the disclosed devices, methods, and systems although in some examples some form of the cannabis plant is used.

1 . A cannabinoid extraction device, comprising:
 a solvent chamber having a solvent chamber return inlet, the solvent chamber structured to store a solvent having a stored solvent volume;   a solvent chamber-cannabinoid containing plant material chamber interface having a first side and an opposing second side, the first surface attached to the solvent chamber and structured to receive solvent released from the solvent chamber;   a cannabinoid containing plant material chamber attached to the second side of the solvent chamber-cannabinoid containing plant material chamber interface, the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber in fluid communication with the solvent chamber and structured to receive the solvent released from the solvent chamber, the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber structured to house cannabinoid containing plant material and to expose the received solvent to the cannabinoid containing plant material to produce a cannabinoid containing solvent-extract solution;   a cannabinoid containing plant material chamber-collection chamber interface having a first side and an opposing second side, the first side attached to the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber and structured to receive the solvent-extract solution from the plant material chamber;   a collection chamber attached to the second side of the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber-collection chamber interface, the collection chamber in fluid communication with the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber and structured to receive the cannabinoid containing solvent-extract solution from the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber, the cannabinoid containing solvent-extract solution including at least a cannabinoid produced from the exposure of the solvent to the cannabinoid containing plant material;   a collection chamber-solvent return interface having a first side and a second side, the first side of the collection chamber-solvent return connector attached to the collection chamber and structured to receive the solvent in a gaseous form; and   a solvent return attached between the second side of the collection chamber-solvent return interface and the solvent chamber return inlet, the solvent return structured to provide fluid communication between the collection chamber and the solvent chamber and to provide a pathway for the gaseous solvent to return to the solvent chamber, wherein the solvent return comprises flow control features including at least one of a flow regulating valve, a purge valve, or a combination thereof; and   wherein the solvent chamber, the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber, the collection chamber, and the solvent return form a sealed, closed-cycle fluid pathway.   
     
     
         2 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , wherein the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber is disposed vertically below the solvent chamber and the collection chamber is disposed vertically below the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a solvent chamber housing that surrounds sidewalls of the solvent chamber and is spaced apart from the sidewalls of the solvent chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 3 , wherein the solvent chamber housing also extends across a bottom surface of the solvent chamber and is spaced apart the bottom surface of the solvent chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 3 , further comprising a cold bath housed in the solvent chamber housing, and wherein the cold bath causes the solvent chamber to become colder than the collection chamber, which creates a temperature gradient between the solvent chamber and the collection chamber, and wherein a temperature of the cold bath is below a boiling point of the solvent. 
     
     
         6 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 3 , further comprising a cold bath housed in the solvent chamber housing, and wherein the cold bath includes dry ice pellets and ethyl-alcohol. 
     
     
         7 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one drain in the solvent chamber housing. 
     
     
         8 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a solvent port providing a fluid pathway to the solvent chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cannabinoid containing plant material chamber jacket that surrounds at least a portion of the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a collection chamber housing that surrounds sidewalls of the collection chamber and is spaced apart from the sidewalls of the collection chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 10 , wherein the collection chamber housing also extends across a bottom surface of the collection chamber and spaces apart the bottom surface from the collection chamber housing. 
     
     
         12 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one drain in the collection chamber housing. 
     
     
         13 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent return is rigid or partially rigid. 
     
     
         14 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control valve positioned to regulate flow of the gaseous solvent from the collection chamber into the solvent return. 
     
     
         15 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a purge valve structured to selectively release at least one of oxygen and other fluids or gases from the solvent return at a predetermined threshold pressure. 
     
     
         16 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the solvent chamber, the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber, and the collection chamber have one or more of a view port, an internal pressure gauge, a thermometer, and a volume indicator. 
     
     
         17 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , wherein solvent chamber-cannabinoid containing plant material chamber interface includes at least one sanitary fitting, and wherein one or more of the solvent chamber, the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber, the collection chamber, and the solvent return include stainless steel. 
     
     
         18 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a condensing coil positioned between the solvent return and the solvent chamber return port, the condensing coil configured to cool the solvent as the solvent travels through the condensing coil, and further positioned to dispense the cooled solvent in the solvent chamber through the solvent chamber return port. 
     
     
         19 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent chamber stores the solvent and the solvent is one or more of butane, a hydrocarbon-based solvent other than butane, a refrigerant-based solvent, and an alcohol-based solvent. 
     
     
         20 . The cannabinoid extraction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a refinement chamber attached between the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber and the collection chamber, the refinement chamber configured to receive the cannabinoid containing solvent-extract solution from the cannabinoid containing plant material chamber, expose the cannabinoid containing solvent-extract solution to a refinement solvent to produce a refined cannabinoid containing solvent-extract solution, and dispense the refined cannabinoid containing solvent-extract solution to the collection chamber.