supercritical co2 extraction - diy community?

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member

Fadedawg

Well-Known Member
hey is this post still alive 6 years later…? Lol
Looking to get into Co2 extraction what’s the cheapest way to achieve this ?
can you use these type of systems with Co2? Can’t find any info online
Thanks hopefully someone out there can help thanks
In a word, no. Super critical CO2 operates at higher pressures than sanitary fittings are capable of.

Here is how we did it:

 

Fadedawg

Well-Known Member
In a word no. If you read my article at post 43, you have seen the extent of my DIY SCFE experience and what it convinced me of is that you need a pumped system to control the temperature pressure curve so as to selectively extract.

The same guy who offered the scuba tank SCFE CO2 system also built a test sled that worked using CAT pumps, but I don't have the details and he went to work for a system manufacturer after giving up on marketing his own.
 
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vapeitgud

Member
In a word no. If you read my article at post 43, you have seen the extent of my DIY SCFE experience and what it convinced me of is that you need a pumped system to control the temperature pressure curve so as to selectively extract.

The same guy who offered the scuba tank SCFE CO2 system also built a test sled that worked using CAT pumps, but I don't have the details and he went to work for a system manufacturer after giving up on marketing his own.

I was wondering if a small scale subcritical closed loop C02 extraction could be feasible utilizing refillable life jacket 24-45g C02 cartridges. I have found some that have a port at the top and bottom, and can be taken apart in the middle. using a heater to heat up a 20lb C02 tank, then flushing liquid co2 through one cartridge with material in it. going from the bottom port to a second cartridge controlled by a solenoid to allow it to depressurize and recollect in an empty 20lb co2 that is being chilled in a freezer? this could bring the DIY price point down a bit, I want to do subcritical extraction to avoid a need for winterization afterwards.
 

vapeitgud

Member
I would like to create a C02 extractor that operates in the same manner as the Disruptor 21 from the company MedXtractor in canada. but with the large material column and collestion column replaced by much smaller 45g C02 cartridges. the one issue i have already found being that the collection vessel would ideally have two ports on the top, having the liquid C02 enter through the bottom where the extract is collecting would not be ideal. though having the ability to take apart the collection vessel in the middle would negate the need for ethanol to collect the extract.
 

vapeitgud

Member
Fully packing the material vessel would also prove a challenge, you could pack each half most of the way, screw it back together. Filling from the top would be extremely difficult though.
 

vapeitgud

Member
For sure you can't use equipment that's not rated for the pressure you need to do it. I don't know why after succeeding in extraction he would say you "need" a pump.
I see that you haven't read his article.
 

Fadedawg

Well-Known Member
I was wondering if a small scale subcritical closed loop C02 extraction could be feasible utilizing refillable life jacket 24-45g C02 cartridges. I have found some that have a port at the top and bottom, and can be taken apart in the middle. using a heater to heat up a 20lb C02 tank, then flushing liquid co2 through one cartridge with material in it. going from the bottom port to a second cartridge controlled by a solenoid to allow it to depressurize and recollect in an empty 20lb co2 that is being chilled in a freezer? this could bring the DIY price point down a bit, I want to do subcritical extraction to avoid a need for winterization afterwards.
What pressure are they rated for?
 

Fadedawg

Well-Known Member
For sure you can't use equipment that's not rated for the pressure you need to do it. I don't know why after succeeding in extraction he would say you "need" a pump.
I see that you haven't read his article.
You can do it without a pump, but you can't control the temperature pressure curve to minimize pickup of untargeted elements.
 

vapeitgud

Member
You can do it without a pump, but you can't control the temperature pressure curve to minimize pickup of untargeted elements.
I plan on pre heating the full C02 tank before starting the process. It's still not perfect, but it does work.

I am going to be running subcritical extractions, so I can really only extract terpenes and cannabiniods. As liquid C02 isn't a strong enough silent to pull out waxes, lipids, chlorophyll, etc without bringing it to supercritical levels.
 

vapeitgud

Member
What pressure are they rated for?
According to the sellers description they have been pressure tested up to 20 mpa with no leaks. Even if I run supercritical extractions I only plan on going up to 1500 psi at most, so even if I had to directly hear the material vessel I shouldn't even come close to the maximum psi (though I plan on heating the supply tank.
 

vapeitgud

Member
My bad. I posted a link and then discovered I had already previously done so.
Ahhh I see, it's a good link. Your article was incredibly helpful. Unfortunately all of your links to products are no longer serviceable. I was wondering what type of vessel you used for the vessel. That end is used to depressurize so it should need such stringent pressure ratings. The 45g C02 cartridges aren't ideal for a collection vessel, as one port is on top, and the other is on the bottom. I would want a collection vessel with two ports on top.
 
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