An article posted on June 23, 2016 in the Wall Street Journal, (can be read here: www.wsj.com/articles/bitter-truths-1466715201) is siting some very good beers and very well known brewers that are using CO2 extracted hops including Lagunitas, Stone and Sierra Nevada.

Here at CF Tech, we have been supplying systems for small scale research of hops extractions, including fractionation of extracts to provide insight into the ideal operating conditions for the brewers best tastes, we have had the pleasure of extracting Cascade, Amarillo and Zeus, among other hops in-house over the years. The articles "technical" terms don't sound quite exact, but close enough : ) Our method of extraction uses Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SCCO2) which is CO2 above it's critical state, where it is not quite a liquid nor a gas and has superb extraction qualities. CO2 is abundant, economic, nonhazardous and nonflammable in extraction processes.

Another interest of the major hops extract suppliers is the need to recirculate and recycle the CO2 to save on operating expenses. This is another aspect of design and fabrication that CF Tech has experience in. We provide storage tanks for recirculation on bench and pilot systems as well as the larger systems. This ensures continuous experiments keep going without the need to pause and switch cylinders and tanks, saves on gas costs, and to lessens responsibilities of the operating team from venting CO2 into the atmosphere.

We are proud to announce that CF Tech had our first three pressure vessels stamped today with the CF Tech ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel certification! This is a task that has been sourced for some time, it's great to see our hard work, intense studies of the code and requirements pay off. The first three vessels will become part of a pilot scale extraction of a natural agricultural product by supercritical CO2. There is an extractor, separator and storage tank. The sizes and pressure varied from 1,500 psi to 4,500 psi and 1 liter to 40 liters.

Our next two vessels up for stamping later this month will be 10,000 and 15,000 psi, 500 ml.

Can't wait to add these 5 vessels to our current offerings. Please contact us for a quote!

We are in the midst of an important time in the history of CO2 extraction. The industry is blossoming with recognition and thought of as a mainstream technology. Medical marijuana (MMJ) started this trend into the mainstream, a safe extraction option in a field that was dominated by the dangers and carelessness of butane extraction. The legalization of MMJ, and recreational use in states like Washington, have brought the use of Supercritical Extraction to the forefront in safe extraction. Although the technology is not new, it is becoming more well known. While we are here in Seattle for opportunity, we see a state that is changing, proactively and positively through safety and health. Keep it up Seattle!

CO2 Extraction and fractionation of cannabis can be used to separate the "high" effect fraction from the medicine. Many different desirable extraction separations can be designed with adjusting operating parameters, flavors, effects, scents, colors, viscosity and clarity.

Good News! We have successfully purchased Unit 8 at the Westinghouse Plaza Complex, after being a tenant at the site for 20 years. We are cleaning out the space and putting the space up for rent ASAP. Please let us know if you are interested. There is a large open space getting cleaned up and freshly painted, 12,000 sq feet warehouse with high bay, lots of sunlight and small office and mezzanine storage space.

In my opinion, this would be a perfect location for a new craft brewery. CF Tech has experience working with hops extractions, and supplying equipment to hops extract manufacturers. We are good taste testers too! Or, after all this snow and T issues, maybe we should offer the space to the MBTA with our high ceilings, they could move in and build some new Red Line trains! Some of the past tenants of this space have been ambulance storage and mechanics; restaurant appliance and equipment sales; an artist sculptor among others.  

Check back soon for photos of the available space!

Two of our current CO2 extraction projects are for the neutracuetical and fragrance industries.  Trust me, the fragrance experiments smell much better!  Although both used our go-to bench scale R&D system, the experimental programs were night and day.  One of the experiments, we ran at high temperatures, 180C and high pressure, 15000psi; the second experimental program started off with high temps and high pressure, but as the testing matrix was expanded, we found, through sensory and visual testing that the preferred operating conditions was a liquid CO2, about 1200psi with the feedstock extraction vessel maintaining temperatures below 105F!  CO2 extraction of natural feedstocks has so much variety and potential to extract differing compounds, oils, and value items...only tests will tell!