Optimization of the Decarboxylation of Cannabis for Commercial Applications

Design of Experiment software (Stat-Ease, Design Expert) was used to optimize the decarboxylation methods for THC and CBD dominant cannabis flowers. When time is the critical input variable, higher decarboxylation temperatures are preferred for CBD (149 °C, 41 min) than for THC (137 °C, 57 min). However, when time was of minimal importance, the same temperature (131 °C) was preferred for both strains, and methods differed by time (CBD, 102 min; THC, 65 min). Kinetic studies were used to determine what factors may be significant when developing commercial decarboxylation methods under Current Good Manufacturing Practices. Sample mass had a greater effect on the decarboxylation kinetics of CBD and THC at higher temperatures. No difference was observed for the decarboxylation kinetics of CBDA in a strain containing both CBDA and THCA compared to the CBD dominant strain. However, THCA decarboxylation kinetics differed between the hybrid and THC dominant strain.