IEC H.E.M.P. SYSTEMS PROVING GENTLE ON TERPENES

It’s no secret that terpenes play an important role in cannabis and hemp. Terpenes give cannabis its flavor and smell and work together in “profiles” to provide a balanced and therapeutic effect. Terpenes can be used in conjunction with cannabinoids, or by themselves to provide a number of health benefits. The importance of terpenes is slowly becoming the popular narrative.  

While the value of terpenes is undeniable, the question remains on how best to stabilize and extract terpenes. Fresh hemp has the highest quality terpenes. However, almost immediately after harvest, hemp biomass begins to breakdown until it is stabilized by drying. Terpenes, on the other hand, are easily damaged by extended periods of high heat, meaning most terpenes can burn off during the drying process, if not carefully monitored. Even during hang drying, there is some degradation of terpenes. While it is impossible to collect every molecule of terpenes, IEC Thermo, a US-based hemp dryer manufacturer, has made some very exciting steps in this direction. 

There is existing equipment in the marketplace that is designed specifically for the extraction of terpenes; however, this is an added expense and an extra step that not every farmer or processor can afford to make. Luckily, you no longer have to choose between quickly stabilizing your crop and preserving your terpenes.  

IEC Thermo is known for their CBD-friendly hemp dryers, with 90 second dry times and low temperature operations. Their patent-pending process is recognized to be gentle on hemp and cannabinoids. New studies have shown that IEC H.E.M.P. Dryers also help preserve terpenes too! 

IEC conducted a study, in conjunction with @Iron Laboratories, using 4 different samples of shredded, hemp biomass. These samples included 1 raw wet sample at 78% moisture, 1 sample dried by Iron Laboratory using their drying technology, 1 sample dried through an IEC Model 3000 Dryer to 24% moisture (IEC Sample 1), and 1 sample dried through an IEC Model 3000 Dryer to 10% moisture (IEC Sample 2). 

A summary of total terpene content by sample: 

What they found was in all samples, there was an increase in total terpenes, which was to be expected as the water is removed during the drying process. In many cases, laboratory drying technology is considered the “ideal”, however in this study, the IEC H.E.M.P. Dryer outclassed the lab dryer. There is a notable difference in the amount of terpenes in the IEC sample 2 as compared to the lab dried sample, with IEC capturing almost 0.5% more terpenes, particularly common terpenes including Myrcene, Pinene, and Limonene. Overall, these results show a positive correlation with how efficient the IEC H.E.M.P. Dryer operates and the preservation of terpene molecules. While more research is needed, these initial results are very promising. IEC Thermo is committed to the scientific advancement of the hemp and cannabis industry; with that they welcome additional testing and peer-review based dialogue.

This is an incredible development as the industry progresses, and companies and businesses are looking for ways to differentiate their products in this saturated market. By leaving more terpenes preserved in dry biomass, that means more terpenes are able to be extracted and processed, creating a higher quality final product or even multiple final products. As the industry shifts away from the cannabinoid tunnel vision, more and more of this plant’s potential will be utilized and monetized. CBD is just 1 molecule, of hundreds, whose benefits have been studied. As we explore more parts of the hemp plant and its applications, the opportunities are endless!

See Full Terpene Reports below

WET RAW FEED:

LAB DRIED:

LAB DRIED:

IEC THERMO DRIED: