Delta 8 THC Isolation

Delta 8 THC isolation from hemp extracts is performed using distillation and chromatography under special conditions to maximise the recovery of delta 8 THC.

Delta 8 THC isolate requires 95-99% pure D8THC and negligible (<1%) content of other cannabinoids, active components or unknowns.

Challenges include the very close boiling points of most cannabinoids, which are a large family of closely related compounds, often varying by only one or two atoms.

For example CBD and Delta 9 THC have the same chemical formula (21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms), but the atoms are arranged slightly differently. This slight difference gives CBD and THC different physical and chemical properties, but they are still very similar and difficult to separate.

For this reason isolating Delta 8 THC from CBD and especially from delta 9 THC is challenging. Because of the close boiling points, distillation of delta 8 THC will not get you to very high levels of purity. Some Delta 9 THC will always remain after distillation, often 1% to 5% or more, which would make the delta 8 distillate non-compliant.

Therefore chromatography is used to separate Delta 8 THC from the more psychoactive and restricted Delta 9 THC.

Delta 8 THC Isolate Purity

Delta 8 THC isolate purity should be at least 95% and ideally 99%, with extensive laboratory testing to identify not only CBD, D9 THC and other commonly tested cannabinoids, but also other isomers and non-cannabinoids still present after Delta 8 THC extraction

 

 

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