Abstract: Systems and methods for freeze drying botanical or herb items or products using a modular vacuum chamber configuration are provided. Such configurations can reduce or prevent the evaporative loss of volatile compounds while reducing the temperature and removing air to prevent oxidation of the product. The freeze drying systems and methods of the present invention can improve organoleptic characteristics, shelf life, and extractions.

Abstract: A leaching vessel system and method for extracting oils from plant material is provided. The leaching vessel distribution and emptying system of the present invention is configured to avoid and prevent many of the inherent problems with conventional leaching methods, including channeling, excess compaction of feed, plugging, and the like. The leaching vessel can include modular nested sections having a main stem and one or more spaced screens or like structures adapted for housing within a vessel main body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for freeze drying botanical or herb items or products using a modular vacuum chamber configuration are provided. Such configurations can reduce or prevent the evaporative loss of volatile compounds while reducing the temperature and removing air to prevent oxidation of the product. The freeze drying systems and methods of the present invention can improve organoleptic characteristics, shelf life, and extractions.

Abstract: An air sampling tube containing silica gel, Tenax, and carbon is used to sample air containing either unknown contaminants or a mixture of a wide variety of organic compounds, varying in boiling points, functionality and overall polarity. The sampling tube presented here, HAL1, is only one of several possible tube configurations utilizing a variety of adsorption materials in differing combinations, amounts, and different sampling devices or methods. HAL1 is prepared and assembled in a common configuration similar to the (EPA TO-1) configuration for thermal desorption and subsequent analysis by GC/MS. Thermal desorption eliminates solvent extractions and deposits the entire sample in the instrument for increased method sensitivity while eliminating solvent peak fronts from masking low level analytes which coelute.