Why Processors and Manufacturers Are So High on CBD Isolate

We have had the pleasure of being part of the CBD extraction space as the broader CBD market has matured. Over the years, we have seen trends come and go. One of the hottest trends right now is that of creating CBD isolate from hemp plant material. Processors and manufacturers are especially high on isolate.

 

As we discussed in a previous blog post, CBD isolate is one of the most concentrated forms of the popular cannabinoid. It is manufactured through a combination of standard CBD extraction and specialized refining. A high-quality isolate has a lot of potential on both the wholesale and retail markets.

 

Basics of CBD Isolate

 

You may already know that CBD is one of more than a hundred cannabinoids naturally produced by cannabis plants. Along with THC, CBD enjoys heavy penetration in the retail market. People rely on it as a supplement that offers the promise of better health.

 

The term ‘isolate’ should tell you everything you need to know about this form of CBD. CBD isolate is usually sold as a crystalline powder or a solid product. Some isolates are sold to manufacturers to be used as ingredient in retail products. Some isolates are aimed directly at retail to consumers who want to use it straight up, add it to their favorite recipes, or combine it with other health supplements.

 

Demand is the chief reason processors and manufacturers are so high on CBD isolate. Being able to sell on both the wholesale and retail markets is big. For the processor who focuses mainly on CBD extraction, selling at wholesale is the way to make money. For the manufacturer, the retail market is more attractive.

 

Extraction Plays a Key Role

 

Producing CBD isolate starts with extraction. As such, extraction plays a key role in both the quality and volume produced. Processors ideally want as much CBD as possible without reducing the quality of the crude oil. Different CBD extraction methods can be utilized depending on the processor’s needs.

 

Solvent extraction is one of the more common methods for getting crude oil from hemp plant material. It is rivaled only by supercritical CO2 extraction. Both processes produce higher volumes and consistent quality.

 

The idea is to extract CBD crude oil that includes cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and all the other substances plant material has to offer. The more oil one can extract from plant material, the more CBD isolate one can produce during refining. At least this is the theory.

Isolating the CBD

 

As the name suggests, refining crude oil to create isolate is about isolating the CBD. Processors utilize a variety of targeted strategies to remove THC along with the rest of the cannabinoids, terpenes, etc. Removing THC is especially important to producers who want to sell their products as legitimate CBD products.

 

Reducing crude oil to isolated CBD is that which produces the powder or solid substance. However, it is not unheard of for processors and manufacturers to leave certain terpenes intact. They might do so in order to modify the flavor of the final isolate product.

 

Plenty of Applications

 

The market for CBD isolate is robust because there are tons of applications. For instance, CBD extractors sell their isolate to beverage and food manufacturers. The isolate is infused into everything from energy drinks to snack foods.

 

At home, consumers can add CBD powder to their own recipes. They can also consume it straight up through ingestion, inhalation, or as a sublingual. Simply put, there is lots of ways to use CBD isolate, which is why manufacturers and processors are so high on it.