Algae Oil

"When microalgae is grown the way that Mother Nature intended in sunlight then they represent the most efficient photosynthetic machines on Planet Earth – hence the process of extracting the lipids desired for conversion to fuels, or for formulation into nutraceuticals etc., – also extracts enormous levels of chlorophyll and other undesirable components. Indeed, with very few exceptions, the “oil” extracted from photosynthetic algae ranges from black tar-like viscous materials to black solids once all the extraction solvent has been removed. The level of viscosity of the product depends largely on the choice of algae strain and solvent chosen for the extraction."

"In this regard cannabis and hemp resemble photosynthetic (autotrophic) algae, and both families deliver viscous black crude oils which have proven extremely difficult (and in some cases impossible) to efficiently obtain as light colored, low viscosity oils in many cases. Unlike algae, which often require energy intensive cell lysis to open the cells and free the oil, the oil in hemp and cannabis is trivial to extract since the oil resides on the surface of the plant (including the leaves or trim) in the form of trichomes. Simply immersing the plant, bud or leaves (even with short residence times and at low temperatures) in a variety of solvents (e.g. hexane, ethanol, acetone) results in fairly efficient extraction and recovery of the oil. The challenges come in the downstream refining of the crude oil – distillation is expensive, time consuming and causes substantial loss of the desired components (as much as 20%), and can cause partial or even total degradation of some."

"There are much more viable technologies (originating from the algae world) in existence that enable the desired end result (in algae, hemp, cannabis and likely all similar oils), the commercialization of which is in the early stages of development and commercialization. These new products and formulations are starting to emerge at medical marijuana dispensaries in many of the states where it has been legalized."

 (Dr. Brian Goodall, First Garden City Consulting )