By definition, CBD and other cannabinoid oils are extracts of the hemp plant—concentrated substances that are separated and then removed from the plant matter. Many hemp processors use C02 extraction to separate their oil from their hemp, but in order to maintain our Organic Certificate, New York Hemp Oil uses ethanol extraction techniques.
How to be Organic—Phase 2: Processing/Extraction
Ethanol is a solvent which draws naturally-occurring oils out from their source (in this case, our hemp biomass). To maximize the utility of this common, available, and organically-produced substance, we soak several hundred pounds of hemp biomass in a large bath of Certified Organic cane sugar ethanol. (Imagine a giant tea bag of hemp being steeped in a giant vat of organic ethanol.)
The resulting liquid (an ethanol + varied hemp oil combination) is run through a piece of lab equipment over very low heat, which causes the ethanol to evaporate steadily, without burning, while the hemp oil remains intact. Then, the ethanol cools and re-condenses on coils, from which it eventually drips and aggregates again as a liquid in a separate chamber, to be collected and reused later in another extraction process. What’s left behind after the ethanol is evaporated and recaptured is a viscous, dark and oily substance—the CBD extract.
This extraction method uses simple scientific techniques to isolate and separate the desired compounds from the hemp biomass, without chemically altering any of the ingredients involved. This is important for organic certification because any production processes that chemically alter the input ingredients are ineligible for consideration as USDA Organic. Additionally, ethanol extraction requires only one other ingredient apart from the hemp itself—ethanol. And the fact that this ingredient can also be Certified Organic further clears the way for our production processes to be fully organic-compliant. With only 2 ingredients involved, neither of which is chemically altered during the process and both of which are independently organic, our extraction method is safe, effective, totally transparent—and best of all—Certified Organic!
To further corroborate the quality and organic status of our extracts, we submit a sample of each and every extraction—known as a lot or a batch—to be tested by a third party lab. Every sample undergoes “full panel testing” which includes a test for CBD potency; a test for the terpene profile (chemical compounds responsible for the unique flavors and odors of the oil); tests for the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial organisms; and a test for residual solvents (i.e., any ethanol remaining in higher-than-acceptable levels from the extraction process). Test results for each sample are compiled by the lab into a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for us to keep on file and/or share with our customers, bulk buyers, and other interested parties.
Since our hemp is grown organically, and our extracting solvent is produced organically, we already know that many of these tests will come back negative. Nevertheless, testing every lot further substantiates our extracts as high-quality and Certified Organic, and gives us a way to provide our customers with total visibility over the products they purchase from us. After all, there is nothing like the peace of mind that comes from creating, selling, or buying finished products that are entirely free of pesticides, heavy metals, and other undesirable chemicals.
That’s why New York Hemp Oil is so committed to being a Certified Organic producer from seed to bottle—as if there was any other option!