CBD production works in different ways. What are the processes and methods? Take a look behind the scenes of our CBD production in Switzerland. CBD oils are now available in many online shops or in stationary retail shops. However, the product on the shelf does not reveal anything about its origin. However, the CBD production of the ALPINOLS brand is worth a story, because from the seeds to the harvest and extraction to the sale in the online shop or our showroom in Berlin, every single step is in our hands. This has a very positive effect on the quality of the oils, which follows strict guidelines, meets the highest standards and is also tested by our own and an independent laboratory. Find out more about ALPINOLS quality here. 

There are two important factors in the production of CBD:

1. high quality CBD is grown organically  2. and produced as gently as possible.

For users, it can become a challenge to judge the quality of CBD. This means that finding a good CBD product is not easy, as many suppliers disclose little or nothing about the manufacturing processes and production of the oils. Although an abundance of the companies speak of the highest quality and organic cultivation. ALPINOLS can produce oils  under one roof  - cultivation also takes place outside in the field. From the hemp cuttings to the hand-picked plant to the finished oil, ALPINOLS can make the entire value chain as transparent as possible..

Even the cultivation of the plants that carry the CBD active ingredient is crucial. The hemp plants from ALPINOLS are grown in Switzerland. CBD (or cannabidiol) is extracted from hemp. The following conditions are particularly important for cultivation and harvesting:

The seed

The cultivation method: greenhouse, indoor or outdoor

The soil according to organic guidelines

The climate

The harvest by hand

The qualitative selection of the hemp leaves

The extraction process

Detailed knowledge

Everything worth knowing about the cultivation of hemp plants is discussed in the article Hemp cultivation.

CBD Production: Oil and other cannabinoids, terpenes and  phytochemicals  are now dissolved by extraction. There are different methods that separate the mentioned substances from the biomass. The process determines the degree of purity  and quality of the finished CBD oil.

We present the four different ways of CBD extraction and then explain how the oil is produced at ALPINOLS:

Oil extraction

In oil extraction, a vegetable oil is usually used to extract the cannabinoids.  Cannabinoids are fat soluble, so they can be mixed with an oil and heated to about 100°C. The cannabinoids will then dissolve in the oil, allowing it to be used further. However, vegetable oil is quickly perishable and the CBD content with this extraction also turns out to be low.

Solvent extraction

In this extraction process, the CBD is dissolved with solvents such as ethanol . The finely chopped leaves that contain the CBD are mixed with the solvent and then heated until only the CBD extract remains. However, not only CBD is extracted here, but also the chlorophyll, which can be harmful to humans in large amounts.  In addition, residues of the solvent  emay be present, which would be highly harmful to health.

Tip: When choosing a CBD product, the production should play a role. Reputable suppliers use the CO2 extraction.

CO2 extraction

As the name suggests,  carbon dioxide  is used in this process. That doesn't sound so good at first, if you associate CO2 with exhaust gases. We'll tell you why CO2 extraction is the highest-quality extraction process. 

Carbon dioxide offers an important advantage: at normal room temperature it is completely gaseous, but under high pressure it becomes
a liquid. liquid. For CO2 extraction, the CO2 therefore flows under high pressure  in liquid form over the biomass to dissolve the various components
. In this form, CO2 acts as   a solvent for the CBD..

Afterwards, it becomes completely gaseous again at normal temperature and no residues remain in the extract, as is the case with solvent extraction, for example. All that remains is the pure CBD extract with all the other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids.

However, CO2 extraction is a very expensive and complicated process. Therefore, it is not yet used for every CBD oil. Expensive
machines and expert knowledge are needed to be able to use the high-quality extraction process.

There are three different categories of this CBD extraction for CBD production: supercritical, subcritical and
medium-critical CO2 extraction.

Supercritical CO2 extraction

Supercritical extraction (also supercritical) is a form in which the CO is still in gaseous form above a critical point. However, it is as densely packed as it would be in liquid form. In simple words, the CO2 is still gaseous, but already so densely packed that it  almost becomes liquid., This short moment before the CO2 becomes liquid is called the critical point.

In order to maintain this critical point, certain pressure and temperature conditions  must be present. The pressure must be above 73.75 bar and the temperature must be above 30.980°C. This is how the supercritical carbon dioxide is produced.

This method of CBD production produces the highest yield, as larger molecules such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are also extracted. Shortcoming: This method also destroys other components that are more sensitive. Terpenes and phytocannabinoids do not survive this CO2 extraction. Medium-critical CO2 extraction

The medium-critical variant, as the name suggests, takes place in the middle of the temperature and pressure ratios of supercritical and subcritical extraction. However, supercritical CO2 extraction remains more commonly used.

Subcritical CO2 extraction

The subcritical form is also called cold extraction.  A lower temperature is used than in the supercritical method at the same pressure, so that the CO2 becomes liquid. It does not completely lose its properties as a solvent. The pressure is therefore above 73.75 bar and the temperature below 30.980°C.

The production process takes longer overall than with supercritical extraction, but it has a decisive advantage: the lower temperature preserves sensitive components of the hemp that would be lost if the temperature were too high.

Total CO2 extraction

A CO2 total extraction uses both supercritical and subcritical extraction.  Here, the sensitive components of the hemp plant, such as terpenes and plant cannabinoids, are extracted first via the subcritical variant. This is followed by the supercritical method of the same hemp mass, which filters out larger and less sensitive components. In the end, both extracts are mixed to form a common CBD extract.

The CBD extract can now be further processed into a CBD oil. It is possible to turn a full spectrum CBD oil that contains THC into a broad spectrum CBD oil without THC.

To do this, a filtration  process is needed first, which is also called winterisation. Winterisation means nothing other than that
the CBD extract is placed in a freezer together with  ethanol. The vegetable fats of the hemp dissolve. The mixture is then filtered and distilled.

Afterwards, the remaining CBD extract is sent through a flash chromatograph.  In this device, the THC is separated from the remaining hemp extract using different pressures.  Due to the different molecular size  of the different cannabinoids, the THC can be pressed out by pressure.

The ethanol is then  distilled under vacuum so that it dissolves again. The solution is not heated above 40 degrees by the vacuum and thus protects the important components of the CBD extract.

After the CBD extract has been extracted from the biomass, it has to be mixed with a carrier oil. This is how CBD oil with different concentrations  can be produced. ALPINOLS, for example, uses organic  sunflower seed oil to bring the CBD extract to the desired concentration.

After this process, each batch of production is tested in the in-house laboratory. 

In order to ensure high quality and to be as transparent as possible, it is important to have our own products tested by an independent laboratory. ALPINOLS has general tests such as the terpene profile analysed in addition to the checks of each batch  in order to ensure the high quality of our CBD oils.

The  oil is then bottled and the  vials are labelled. Then they are packed. The CBD oils are then ready for shipment. ALPINOLS ships CBD products in sustainable packaging.

The way CBD is extracted
and how it is produced determines the quality of the oil. From the soil to the harvest to the extraction method, the testing and the choice of carrier oil, every component is crucial.

The following factors play an important role:

Organic certification: an EU-certified hemp variety, which is grown according to strict organic guidelines.

Environmental protection: Environmentally friendly CO2 extraction of the ingredients as well as the other cannabinoids, terpenes
and flavonoids.

Hemp extract: Choose a Full Spectrum or Broad Spectrum CBD oil. 

: Independent laboratory tests according to ISO standards to check the CBD oil for quality and THC content.

To be sure you are dealing with a high quality CBD oil, research into cultivation and production methods is recommended.