Every extraction project at Nutrapure follows the same core process. We work exclusively with Farm Bill compliant industrial hemp, source material that tests at or below 0.3% delta-9 THC before it reaches our facility. We do not use chemical distillation or chromatography to convert or remove THC after extraction. Compliance starts with the plant, not with post-processing workarounds.
Here is what happens from first conversation to finished oil.
1. Initial consultation
We start with your project goals. What are you producing: tinctures, beverages, topicals, bulk oil? What cannabinoid and terpene profile does your formulation need? Do you want full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or a specific potency target? We work out the extraction parameters before anything goes into the vessel.
At this stage we also confirm your source material. You will need a current COA showing your hemp tests at or below 0.3% delta-9 THC. If you are a farmer who has not yet had your crop tested, we can point you to accredited labs.
2. Biomass intake and pre-processing
You ship or deliver your dried hemp biomass to our facility. Our minimum order is 50 lbs. We verify the incoming COA against the physical material, log the batch into our tracking system, and mill the hemp to the particle size that works best for CO2 extraction. Each client's material is processed separately. We never commingle batches.
3. Supercritical CO2 extraction
The milled hemp is loaded into the extraction vessel. Pressurized carbon dioxide, heated and compressed past its critical point, passes through the plant material and acts as a solvent, pulling cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids into a crude extract. No butane, no propane, no ethanol.
We tune pressure and temperature based on your target profile. Higher pressure captures a broader range of compounds for full-spectrum oil. Lower, subcritical runs can isolate specific fractions like terpenes. The CO2 returns to gas when pressure is released and evaporates completely, leaving zero solvent residue in the extract.
For more detail on how this works, see our CO2 hemp extraction page.
4. Winterization
The crude extract still contains plant waxes, lipids, and chlorophyll. Winterization removes them. The oil is dissolved in food-grade ethanol and held in a sub-zero freezer at -20 to -80°C for 24 to 48 hours. The fats precipitate out of solution and are filtered away through multiple stages of vacuum filtration.
The result is a clear, golden oil that is shelf-stable, mixes cleanly into carrier oils and beverages, and has a smoother flavor profile than unprocessed crude. See our winterization and decarb page for the full technical breakdown.
5. Decarboxylation
Raw hemp contains cannabinoids in their acid form: CBDA, THCA, CBGA. These have low bioavailability. Decarboxylation is the controlled heating step that converts them into their active forms: CBD, THC, CBG.
We use lower temperatures over a longer cycle to preserve the terpene fraction. Terpenes are volatile compounds that evaporate at high heat, so aggressive decarb destroys the aromatic profile that distinguishes one cultivar from another. Our process keeps those compounds intact.
6. Third-party lab testing
Every finished batch is sent to an independent, accredited lab for a full panel test:
- Cannabinoid potency (CBD, THC, CBG, CBN, CBC and others)
- Terpene profile
- Residual solvents
- Heavy metals
- Pesticides
- Microbial contamination
We provide the Certificate of Analysis (COA) with your delivery. If you are a brand that publishes COAs for your customers (and you should be), the chain of documentation starts here.
7. Delivery
The finished oil is packaged and shipped to you, or available for pickup. Depending on your project, that can be bulk oil in sealed containers, or finished products: tincture bottles, softgels, or custom packaging for your white-label brand.
For toll processing clients, we can do a 50/50 split on the extracted oil instead of a flat processing fee. This is a common arrangement for farmers who want to convert biomass to oil without upfront processing costs.
A note on THC compliance
We process only industrial hemp that meets the federal definition under the 2018 Farm Bill: cannabis with delta-9 THC at or below 0.3% by dry weight. We verify this with your incoming COA before any material enters our extraction system.
We do not use chemical distillation, chromatography, or other post-extraction methods to strip or convert THC from hot hemp. If your source material exceeds the 0.3% threshold, it is not industrial hemp under federal law, and we cannot process it. Compliance starts at the farm, not in the lab.
Good to know before you start
- Hemp only. We process industrial hemp as defined by the 2018 Farm Bill: cannabis with delta-9 THC at or below 0.3% by dry weight. We do not process marijuana and do not provide services for state-licensed marijuana operations.
- Built for quality, not mass-market volume. Our facility is designed for small-to-medium batch runs where extract quality, terpene preservation, and customization matter. If you need industrial-scale processing of thousands of pounds per day, a large ethanol extraction facility is a better fit. If you need a cleaner, more customizable extract for a premium product, that is what we do.
- Your jurisdiction, your responsibility. Hemp and hemp-derived product regulations vary by state and municipality. Some states impose restrictions beyond the federal standard, including limits on specific cannabinoids, product types, or sales channels. It is your responsibility to confirm that the products you produce from our extract are lawful where you sell them. See our terms of use for the full regulatory disclaimer.
- COA required on intake. We need a current Certificate of Analysis showing your biomass tests at or below 0.3% delta-9 THC before we can accept it. No exceptions.
Ready to start? Contact us with details about your hemp source, volume, and what you need.