| abstract |
Disclosed are methods for separating, recovering, and purifying tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) salts from an organic solvent solution comprising a mixture of cannabinoids. The methods comprise solubilizing the mixture of cannabinoids in a selected C5-C7 hydrocarbon solvent, adding thereto a selected amine to thereby precipitate a THCA-amine salt therefrom, dissolving the recovered THCA-amine salt in a selected solvent and then adding thereto a selected antisolvent to thereby recrystallize a purified THCA-amine salt therefrom. The recrystallized THCA-amine salt may be decarboxylated to form a mixture of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and amine. The Δ9-THC amine mixture may be acidified to separate the amine from Δ9-THC. The recovered Δ9-THC may be concentrated to produce a highly purified Δ9-THC. Also disclosed are THCA-amine salts produced with amines selected from groups of diamines, amino alcohols, and tertiary amines. |