CBD Purification and Formulation

A growing consumer product preference

Cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical found in cannabis, is increasingly found in consumer products including lotions, beverages, dietary supplements, and pet foods. The majority of CBD in these products is derived from hemp. Hemp is a strain of cannabis that contains a fraction of a percent of the psychoactive component, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

A new high-performance solution for purification

Producing the highest purity CBD from extracted hemp oil involves a specialized two-step process using silica.

First, winterized hemp oil passes through DAVISIL^® silica. This filtration decolorizes the oil and removes potential toxins, including residual pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, and heavy metals accumulated by hemp plants from the soil.

The second step separates THC from CBD. These two compounds can be difficult to separate because they have similar structures and polarities. Grace’s chromatography experts have developed a reliable separation process using DAVISIL^® silica. Precision analysis ensures no psychoactive components are present in the final product and help formulators comply with federal laws, which mandate CBD hemp oil must contain ≤ 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration on a dry weight basis.

Patented technology for CBD formulation

With SYLOID^® XDP silicas, formulators can convert liquid CBD into solid dosage forms such as hard tablets, chewable/sublingual tablets, powders, and capsules. These forms can be optimized for delivery in medical research or consumer products. Particles of SYLOID^® XDP silicas have been uniquely engineered by size to enable the material to quickly absorb residual oils. Pure CBD recovered after this filtration easily crystallizes into a solid.