Guide To CRC Filtration Media

Polar Filtration Media

Polar filtration medias play a crucial role in color remediation chromatography, a practice more commonly known as CRC. Polar filtration media is commonly used at the beginning of the filtration process to help separate the extraction making undesirable compounds easier to remove.

Silica

Silica is the most common polar media used in CRC. Silica is more commonly known as silicon dioxide; silica can come in a variety of sizes and maintains a neutral PH of 7.2*. While other options are available, silica 60a is the grade commonly used in cannabis extraction. Average particle size is around 30-200 microns.

Activated Alumina

Activated alumina is also a popular choice when it comes to polar filtration media; typically, activated alumina is only available in one grade and maintains a PH of 9-10*. Despite having a higher affinity for water than silica, activated alumina seems to have less affinity for color removal than silica making it an excellent choice where lighter amount of color remediation or attention to water retention are required. Average particle size is around 28-48 microns.

Magnesium Silicate

Magnesium silicate more commonly known as Mag-Sil is a commonly used filtration media when pesticides are known to be present in the extracted material. Mag-Sil is typically available in one grade only and maintains a PH of 7. It is not advised to substitute with the food grade equivalent aptly named Magnesol. Average particle size is around 150-250 microns.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is commonly used a filter aid to assist the other filtration medias from clogging or compacting.  Diatomaceous earth is available in many different grades, it is recommended to do thorough research before selecting one for use. Typically, diatomaceous earth more commonly referred to as DE maintains a PH of 8.5. Average particle size is around 1.85 to 200 microns.

Non-Polar Filtration Media

Non-Polar filtration media plays an additionally crucial role in CRC. The non-polar filtration media is commonly used below/behind the polar media to remove any separated impurities from the extraction.

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is one of two primary base clays used in CRC. Bentonite has slower flower characteristics in comparison to its counterpart. Bentonite clay has a few names it is referred to by including T-5, smectite, Lustermax, and montmorillonite. Bentonite Clay is available in generally one grade with a varying PH, typical PH of bentonite should maintain is around 9*. Average particle size is around 60-63 microns.

Attapulgite Clay

Attapulgite clay is the second of the two primary clays used in the CRC practice. It has higher flow characteristics as well as bleaching characteristics. Attapulgite clay has several names ranging from; bleaching clay, fullers earth, palygorskite, b80, b81, and perform 5/6000. Attapulgite clay is typically available in one grade with multiple PH’s depending on the brand purchased. General PH maintained for attapulgite is 8*. Average particle size is around 44 to 74 microns.

Carbon

Carbon is a non-polar filtration media also known as activated charcoal. This helpful filtration media can pull out unwanted impurities, as well as flavor and color of the extract. Carbon has the largest surface area of any filtration media listed here; however, it is also the most difficult to handle. You will need a specialized filter to ensure the tiny carbon particles which can easily breakdown to .5 micron do not make their way into your final product. Average particle size is around 0.5 to 50 microns.

Granular / Zeolite Filtration Media

Granular or more commonly referred to as zeolite filtration media is a composition of some or all the above filtration medias in one granule. Being that this zeolite filtration media is in a granular form it has an exceptionally higher flowrate than any of the above filtration medias. Albeit these zeolite filtration medias do not have the same surface area as the refined powered filtration medias do. This will require precise control of flowrate to make maximum use of the granular filtration. Being that zeolite is a multi-composition minimally refined granule; zeolite is generally considerably cheaper than the powdered filtration medias.