The botanical extraction process is not complete without proper filtration. You might be asking, “Why is filtration important in botanical extraction?” Keep reading to discover more about the botanical extraction and filtration processes and why filtration is crucial to the final product.

What Is Botanical Extraction?

Botanical extraction is the process of removing soluble components from a solid plant material. It’s similar to the process of brewing coffee or tea at home. A variety of fields utilize this process, including laboratory sciences, where botanical extraction creates products we use every day. CBD products and essential oils are two examples of common items that result from botanical extractions.

Why Filtering Is Important

Because botanical extraction often involves solid plant materials meeting a solvent, some of the plant materials can make their way into the extract itself, rendering the product impure. Filtering removes plant particulates and clarifies the extract to create a pure final product. Using the tea and coffee example again, you wouldn’t just dump a spoonful of tea leaves or coffee grounds into a cup of water and drink it. Picture botanical extraction filtering as using a tea infuser or placing a coffee filter into your coffee machine. The filtering process creates a pure, high-quality product, whether it’s CBD, essential oils, or another extraction.

Filtration Methods

Filtration takes place in a few different stages. Prefiltration works to remove the larger plant particulates from the extract. The next step is clarification, which filters the extract through a depth filter to remove smaller plant particulates and to clarify the solution.

When a solution is extracted with ethanol and other solvents, discoloration can occur. This is where color remediation comes in during the filtration process. Finally, polishing extraction finishes the process to remove any fine particulates that may remain.

We hope this breakdown of the extraction and filtration processes has answered the question, “Why is filtration important in botanical extraction?” If you’re interested in practicing extraction and filtration processes in your own laboratory space, you can find Buchner funnel kits and everything else you need here at USA Lab Equipment.