Freeze dryers in cannabis industry

by Ajda | Aug 29, 2024 | Freeze drying

Freeze dryers are invaluable tools in the cannabis industry due to their ability to preserve the quality, potency, and overall integrity of cannabis products. Here’s how freeze dryers are commonly used:

1. Preserving Flower Quality

Retention of Cannabinoids and Terpenes: Freeze drying cannabis flowers helps retain a higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes, which are responsible for the plant’s effects, aroma, and flavor. The process prevents the degradation of these compounds, which can occur with traditional drying methods.
Maintaining Structural Integrity: Freeze drying helps maintain the structure and appearance of the cannabis flower, preventing shrinkage and preserving its aesthetic qualities. This is particularly important for high-end flower products sold to discerning consumers.

2. Improving Shelf Life

Prevention of Mold and Bacteria Growth: By removing almost all moisture from the cannabis flower, freeze drying significantly reduces the risk of mold and bacteria growth, which are common issues in cannabis storage.
Extended Storage: Cannabis that has been freeze-dried can be stored for longer periods without losing potency or quality, making it an ideal method for both small-scale and large-scale producers.

3. Preparation for Extraction

Pre-extraction Processing: Freeze drying is often used as a pre-treatment step before the extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes. By freeze-drying the plant material first, producers can ensure that the extraction process is more efficient, yielding higher concentrations of desired compounds.
Maintaining Purity: The lack of moisture in freeze-dried cannabis reduces the likelihood of contaminants entering the extraction process, leading to purer extracts.

4. Producing Concentrates

Preparation for Concentrate Production: Freeze-dried cannabis is ideal for producing various concentrates, such as shatter, wax, and oils. The process helps in maintaining the potency and purity of the final product.
Improved Texture: For products like live resin, which relies on capturing the essence of the fresh plant, freeze drying can preserve the plant’s live profile, resulting in a more flavorful and aromatic concentrate.

5. Edibles and Infusions

Cannabis Edibles: Freeze-dried cannabis can be used to make edibles. The absence of moisture makes it easier to infuse the active compounds into oils, butter, and other edible mediums without compromising the texture or flavor of the final product.
Long-Lasting Infusions: Infusions made with freeze-dried cannabis tend to have a longer shelf life due to the stability of the freeze-dried material.

6. Cost Efficiency

Reduced Waste: The precision of freeze drying ensures that more of the plant material is preserved and utilized, reducing waste and increasing overall yield.
Energy Efficiency: While the initial investment in freeze-drying equipment can be high, the process can be more energy-efficient over time compared to other drying methods, particularly when scaled up.

7. Custom Applications

Custom Formulations: Freeze dryers allow for the production of customized cannabis products, where specific moisture levels or cannabinoid profiles are required, making it a versatile tool in product development.

Cannabis freeze drying

by Ajda | Aug 9, 2024 | Freeze drying

The Guide to Cannabis Freeze Drying with Exeat Freeze Dryers

What is Cannabis Freeze Drying?

Freeze-drying happens when the solvent (usually water) and/or suspension medium is crystallized at a low temperature and removed by sublimation (the direct transition from a solid state to gaseous state without melting). Technical term for this process is Lyophilization but the process itself is more known as Freeze drying.

Three Stages of Freeze Drying Cannabis

Freeze drying process can be divided to three stages: freezing, sublimation drying, and desorption drying.
The freezing phase is the most important part of the freeze-drying process. Rapid freezing is critical and eliminates the formation of large ice crystals, which could deteriorate product quality.

Deep-freeze: cannabis buds freeze down to – 5°C or lower.
Sublimation: during this process solid ice turns straight to water vapor, skipping the liquid phase. A vacuum pump at this phase sucks out the water vapor.
Desoprtion drying: product is returned to room temp (21-26°C), taking the last bit of water content out of the buds.

freeze dried cannabis flower buds on a tray

Benefits of Freeze Drying Cannabis

The most important benefits of freeze drying cannabis are:

Retention of cannabinoids and terpenes (preserves up to 97% of cannabinoids, ensuring that the THC, CBD, and other beneficial compounds remain intact)
Increase in terpene content and colors (freeze drying maintains the rich aroma and flavor profiles of the cannabis)
Production speed/efficiency
Less facility space for drying
No size loss in freeze dried product
Limiting and reducing microbial content (process prevents the growth of mold and bacteria)
Freeze dried product can be stored for 3-6 months (without losing its potency).

Traditional drying and curing processes typically takes 2-6 weeks or more and it does have excellents results, although the time it takes is very long.
One of the most important benefits of freeze-dried cannabis is the increase in terpenes and cannabinoids.

Freeze-dried flower is 15% more potent than traditionaly dried flower. Low temperatures of freeze dryer helps reduce the loss of volatile terpenes and prevent the cannabinoids chemically altering, while it is effectively preserving the active ingredients of the flower.
This method is ideal for preserving the delicate trichomes and cannabinoids that give cannabis its potency and flavor.

How Exeat Freeze Dryers Optimize Cannabis Preservation

Precision Control: Our machines offer precise temperature and pressure control, allowing for a customized freeze drying process tailored to the specific needs of your cannabis strains.
Efficiency and Speed: Exeat freeze dryers are engineered to process cannabis quickly while maintaining the highest quality, increasing your production efficiency.
Ease of Use: With user-friendly interfaces and automated systems, our freeze dryers simplify the freeze drying process, making it accessible even for those new to the technology.
Durability and Reliability: Built with high-quality materials and components, Exeat freeze dryers are designed for long-term use, providing consistent results batch after batch.

Why Choose Exeat for Your Cannabis Freeze Drying Needs?

Exeat’s freeze dryer units shorten the curing process to just 24-36 hours, and are affordable and aimed at both small and large scale growers. In our offer you can find three standard sizes of freeze dryers, while we also produce custom size units. These units preserve buds and terpene profiles better than standard curing because they don’t use heat.

Customer Support: Our team of experts is always available to provide support and guidance, ensuring you get the most out of your Exeat freeze dryer.

Innovation and Quality: We continuously innovate and improve our products, ensuring that you have access to the latest advancements in freeze drying technology.

Sustainability: Exeat freeze dryers are designed with energy efficiency in mind, helping you reduce your environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality production.

Conclusion

Cannabis freeze drying with Exeat freeze dryers is the ultimate solution for preserving the quality, potency, and flavor of your cannabis. By investing in our advanced freeze drying technology, you ensure that your product remains at its best, providing your customers with a superior cannabis experience.

Contact us to learn more about our freeze dryers and how they can benefit your business.

The Art of Lyophilization: A Guide to Freeze-Drying

by Ajda | Nov 15, 2023 | Freeze drying

In the realm of preservation and safeguarding delicate materials, lyophilization, commonly known as freeze drying, emerges as a transformative process with a multitude of applications.

Dive into the fascinating world of lyophilization or freeze dryng and uncover its key highlights that make it an indispensable technique across various industries.

Lyophilization, commonly known as freeze-drying, is a crucial process for preserving and safeguarding sensitive or heat-sensitive materials in various industries.
Explore the key highlights of lyophilization:

Biological Activity Preservation

Lyophilization is the go-to method for preserving the biological activity of delicate substances, such as vaccines, enzymes, and probiotics, as it mitigates heat or chemical-related damage.

Shelf Life Extension

This technique significantly prolongs the shelf life of products by eliminating water, a primary factor in microbial growth, chemical degradation, and spoilage.

Low-Temperature Approach

Lyophilization involves freezing the material and then sublimating the ice at low temperatures and reduced pressure. This process helps maintain the product’s structural integrity and minimizes heat-induced harm.

Enhanced Stability

By eliminating water, freeze-drying prevents phase separation, aggregation, and chemical reactions that can occur in the presence of moisture, thus enhancing the product’s stability.

Compact and Lightweight

Post-lyophilization, products become more lightweight and compact, reducing transportation and storage costs.

Rehydration Capability

Freeze-dried products can be effortlessly rehydrated, regaining their original properties upon exposure to moisture. This feature is advantageous for instant coffee, powdered soups, and various medical applications.

Pharmaceutical Significance

The pharmaceutical industry widely employs lyophilization to enhance the stability and shelf life of injectable drugs like antibiotics and biologics.

Food Preservation

Lyophilization is a preferred method for preserving foods, retaining their flavor, color, and nutritional value. It is frequently used for fruits, vegetables, and ready-to-eat meals.

Research and Development

In the scientific realm, lyophilization is indispensable for sample preparation in electron microscopy, creating stable reference materials, and preserving biological samples for future analysis.

Cost and Energy Considerations

It’s worth noting that the lyophilization process can be cost-intensive and energy-demanding due to the extended duration and low temperatures required for drying.

Oxidation Risk

Some materials may be susceptible to oxidation during the freeze-drying process if not adequately protected or sealed.

Quality Control

Precise monitoring and control of parameters like temperature and pressure are essential to ensure the quality and consistency of the final lyophilized product.

Regulatory Compliance

Industries such as pharmaceuticals and food must adhere to strict regulatory standards and guidelines to ensure product safety and efficacy.

Exeat produces freeze drying machine in two sizes. Check out more about the machine and its specification.
In summary, lyophilization or freeze drying is a versatile technique with a multitude of applications in preserving and stabilizing various materials.
Its capacity to remove water while safeguarding sensitive substances makes it an invaluable process across multiple industries, despite the associated challenges and costs.