Process for Separating Trichomes from Non-Trichome Materials

Abstract

A process for separating trichomes from non-trichome materials, and more particularly to a process using water to wet the mixture and/or using one or more of a screen, an enzyme, a hydrocylone, and flotation to extract the trichomes from non-trichome materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for extracting trichomes from non-trichome materials, the process comprising the steps of:
 providing a mixture of trichomes and non-trichome materials by separation from a plant source;   using water to wet the mixture; and   using one or more of a screen, an enzyme, a hydrocylone, and flotation to extract the trichomes from non-trichome materials.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the process further comprises the step of adding one or more surfactants to the mixture. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of the surfactants is present in the water. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of the surfactants comprises a surfactant selected from the group consisting of: anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the surfactants comprises a surfactant selected from the group consisting of: anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of the surfactants comprises an anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6  wherein the anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl sulfate and/or an alkyl ethoxy sulfate. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein the anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl sulfonate. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of the surfactants comprises an amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9  wherein the amphoteric surfactant comprises an amine oxide. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of the surfactants comprises a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11  wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an alcohol alkoxylate. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein process comprise the step of adding two or more surfactants to a slurry comprising the mixture. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13  wherein at least one of the surfactants is an anionic surfactant and at least one of the surfactants is an amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the anionic surfactant and amphoteric surfactant are present at a weight ratio of from about 1:1 to about 8.5:1.
 providing a mixture of trichomes and non-trichome materials by separation from a plant source; 
 using water to wet the mixture; and 
 using one or more of a screen, an enzyme, a hydrocylone, and flotation to extract the trichomes from non-trichome materials. 
 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the trichomes are separated from the non-trichome materials by using a screen. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the trichomes are separated from the non-trichome materials by using an enzyme. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the trichomes are separated from the non-trichome materials by using a hydrocylone. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the addition of water to the mixture results in the formation of a slurry, and wherein the air is used to float a portion of the slurry. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein using air to float a portion of the slurry is achieved by use of a dissolved air floatation unit.