A new method developed by Colombian researchers could mark a turning point for companies making hemp-derived cannabinoid products, offering a faster, scalable way to eliminate THC while preserving CBD and other valuable compounds.
The recently published work introduces a practical path to one of the hemp industry’s holy grails – and toughest technical challenges.
The researchers, from the National University of Colombia, used centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) to separate cannabinoids without the heat or harsh solvents that often damage extract quality. Using a special mix of heptane, ethanol and water, the team developed a process that removes nearly all THC – down to 0.02% – from full-spectrum hemp extracts, while maintaining as much as 85% CBD and other cannabinoids.
Better margins ahead?
The study was published in the Journal of Chromatography A, a leading peer-reviewed journal focused on separation and purification science published by Elsevier, the Netherlands-based global science and health publisher.
In trials scaled up to near-industrial levels, the research team processed 800 grams of extract in under ten hours and recovered more than 600 grams of purified material. For hemp businesses, that kind of yield – combined with legal compliance – could translate into better margins, new market access, and more reliable supply chains.
What sets the method apart is its versatility, according to the researchers. It can be used to clean up byproducts like the “mother liquor” – the leftover solution after CBD is crystallized from an extract. It can also be used to purify highly potent, highly pure THC concentrates for the pharmaceutical market. The system also supports better quality control, especially in formulations that must meet tight tolerances for THC content in stricter global markets, the report observes.
Saving CBC, CBG
Importantly, the research also found that the CPC process does not degrade minor cannabinoids, meaning it could also help preserve compounds like CBC, CBG and others gaining traction for wellness and clinical uses.
CBC (cannabichromene) and CBG (cannabigerol) are non-intoxicating cannabinoids that have drawn increasing interest for their potential anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and neuroprotective properties. Though still under early-stage study, both are being explored for applications ranging from mood regulation to skin health to pain relief, making their preservation in extracts an added advantage for companies developing next-generation wellness and therapeutic products.
While the technique explored in Colombia requires relatively high solvent use, the researchers say this can be mitigated through recovery systems in industrial setups.
Colombia’s evolution
Colombia is rapidly evolving into more than just a low-cost cannabis exporter—it’s emerging as a global hub of innovation in hemp and cannabis purification. In 2024, Bogotá launched a major government-backed initiative with an investment of 5 billion pesos (~US $1.3 million) to develop the cannabis and hemp industries, focusing on applied research, specialized training for 3,000 workers, and co-funding for at least 30 pilot projects spanning everything from cosmetics and nutraceuticals to medicinal products and industrial bio-inputs.
That aligns with private sector moves: biotech firms like Biointropic and FCM Global are partnering with universities and employing cutting-edge chromatography and emulsion technologies—such as CPC and water-soluble SōRSE emulsions—to build commercial-scale infrastructure for advanced extraction, remediation, and formulation.
On the regulatory front, Colombia adopted a forward-looking, two-tier THC limit for hemp: 0.3% for fiber and seed uses, and up to 1.0% for flower. CBD rises in hemp plants in proportion to THC, so the 1.0% ceiling for flowers means more efficient CBD production in Colombia than in most of the rest of the world, where a 0.3% THC barrier for all forms of hemp is observed.
Emerging
The Colombian Ministry of Justice estimated last year that more than 57,000 hectares are under legal cannabis crops in the country, and more than 3,000 licensees are active for farming and production. The Ministry of Commerce has said that the cannabis industries could generate up to 44,000 jobs in Colombia by 2030.
While the country faces challenges – including adapting genetics to local climates and navigating global price competition – it has attracted as much as $500 million in foreign investment in hemp and cannabis, according to 2024 estimates.