CBD and Hemp Seed Oil: What Is the Difference?

CBD extraction is something we have learned a lot about in recent years. As a company that designs, manufactures, and sells extraction equipment, it is in our best interests to understand the industry our CBD-producing customers are involved in. We have had to learn many of the finer details of that industry. For instance, did you know that CBD and hemp seed oil are not the same thing?

 

The two types of oil are often confused because they come from the same plant. It is just that they come from different parts of the plant. And in many cases, hemp seed oil is derived from plants purposely grown to limit the amount of CBD and THC they contain.

 

From an extraction standpoint, there are multiple ways to get what you want out of hemp plants. We will discuss those options as we further developed the topic.

 

Hemp Is Cannabis

 

The first thing to note is that hemp is a species of cannabis. So is marijuana. Cannabis plants are bred and manipulated for the purposes of obtaining all sorts of cannabinoids and terpenes. Industrial hemp is controlled so that its THC volume does not exceed 0.3% by volume. Anything higher than that qualifies a plant as marijuana.

 

Certain types of hemp are manipulated to limit both CBD and THC. These are the plants most often used to harvest hemp seed oil. The extracted oil may contain trace amounts of CBD, but it should not have any THC.

 

The most common means of extracting hemp seed oil is through a process known as cold pressing. In a nutshell, you put the seeds through a hydraulic press and squeeze the oil out of them. The oil is then collected and further processed depending on what the manufacturer intends to do with it.

 

It is possible to extract hemp seed oil using a solvent or through CO2 extraction. But for the most part, cold pressing is fairly effective and very cheap.

 

CBD Oil and Extraction

 

CBD oil is a popular health and wellness product due to the perceived benefits of cannabinoids and terpenes. It is most often extracted from industrial hemp plants that have been bred purposely to maximize CBD. Manufacturers may be interested in other cannabinoids and terpenes as well, but CBD is where the gold is.

 

These days, solvent extraction is the way most processors do it. Processors can choose from both chemical and natural solvents. A typical chemical solvent is ethanol while a typical natural solvent is olive oil. Solvent extraction subjects plant material – including leaves, stalks, and flowers – to solvent exposure for a time. The solvent breaks down the plant material and leaves CBD oil behind.

 

The Right Equipment for the Job

 

Whether a manufacturer chooses to extract hemp seed oil or CBD oil, there is more than one way to get the job done. The secret is choosing the right equipment for the desired extraction process. Here at CedarStoneIndustry, we offer a full range of CBD extraction equipment for operations of all sizes.

 

If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at your earliest convenience. We will work with you too come up with the right equipment for making your extraction operation a success.