Recently on this site, the phenomenon of selective “heads” extraction of terpenes in the cold alkane extraction of biomass has been reported.
There is some very interesting results form 2014 where using specially modified anti stokes Raman spectroscopy where researchers were able to identify crystalline forms of THCA in trichomes by a microscopic technique. They suggest that a microcrystalline state may already exist in the trichome. Something to consider at least hypothetically is that the synthase exists in a polar-protic hydration shell.
THCA anion is released (read the pertinent literature) from the active site, and falls is into the aqueous shell environment….doing so it would immediately rob the hydration shell of a Hydronium and become R-COOH acid to the dictates of pKa equilibrium forms, but the acid form of the equilibrium is NOT soluble in protic polar and immediately would be forced into a nano crystalline suspension state. It is possibly this state that is measured by the spectroscopic method mentioned above.
The alkane may then preferentially extract the terpenes in a time dependent manner (fast) only to “become” a modified terp-alkane to better extact R-COOH nanocrystalline state as a solute in a “slow-step” manner.
So when you find mcirocrystalline THCA at the bottom of the column, could it just be nanocrystalline R-COOH cannabinoic acids (chalk) that just “”settle” there? As opposed to tyring to think up a scenario for a solution state, solute-to crystalline state-” dynamic process.?
Of course one has to account for non soluble Anion locked in hydrate shell-water phase. Someone needs to take a close look at what is left behind in the hydrated biomass phase, by re-drying biomass, extract with 15 % Aqueous Alcohol…acidify to pH 2 with excess 0.01 HCl in water, LLE to pentane, and quantitiative assay for R-COOH THCA as a method to quantify residual Anion.
If the spectroscopic ID of Crystalline state THCA (H) in situ trichome capitate storage area is correct, then we have to consider that cannabinoids are distributed in 3 distinct compartments, 1. Nanocrystalline dispersion in aqueous; 2. anion solution in aqueous; 3 partition solvated equilibrium “forms” in Terpene sub volumes.
Like “fast crash” , in column solid Cannabinoid Acid seems like a feature to exploit , not a problem. Such exploitation actually requires a modicum of understanding of the Butane or Butane/Propane extraction process.
Alcohol (95%) and waterNaOH base seem like they effectively reach all cannabinoic acids in 30 sec to a minute?
this is mostly about the phenomenon of “chalk” in the bottom of the column, it does not mean that it is not possible to “fast crash” your “solvated” cannabinoic acids in the column as well.
@cyclopath …I just happened to press reply to your last post, but the blurb is in no way directed at any comment you made.