Ultrasonic topic: "Ultrasonic Terpene Extraction from Botanicals"

Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers, and by some insects. Terpenes exhibit unique flavours, aroma, and smells, but they have many other specific characteristics, which make them a valuable substance used in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals as well as in biotechnology or as natural agricultural pesticides. Most terpenes exhibit antimicrobial properties, which enable them to combat potentially harmful bacteria and viruses. Many terpenes, e.g. beta-caryophyllene, are also known as anti-inflammatory and pain relieving, which makes them an analgesic alternative.
Ultrasonic extraction is the preferred technique to release terpenes from the cell matrix of botanicals (e.g. cannabis, hops, neem, menthol etc.). Ultrasonic extraction is based on the principle of acoustic cavitation, which breaks the plant cell and increase the mass transfer between the cell interior and the surrounding solvent. The main advantages of ultrasonic extraction are a more complete extraction, and the rapid, mild, non-thermal process.

The Large Variety of Terpenes
Currently, there are more than 20,000 identified terpenes .
Very prominent and well known terpenes are caryophyllene, limonene, pinene, linalool, humulene, and myrcene.
Caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene that is widely present in many essential oils, especially the essential oil of Cannabis sativa, clove, rosemary, and hops. It is responsible for the spicy or peppery aroma and is mostly used for its digestive, analgesic and antibacterial effects.
Humulene is a terpene found in hops, cloves, and basil, which used for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
Limonene is a cyclic monoterpene, and the major component in the oil of citrus fruit peels. It is widely used as fragrance ingredient, dietary supplement and solvent in cleaning agents.
Pinene, found e.g. in the resins of many other conifers, is used as compound for perfumery as well as in the chemical industry.
Linalool, found e.g. in mint, laurel, birch trees, is a widely used fragrance and scent ingredient.
Myrcene is a monoterpene, which can be found e.g. in cannabis and hops. Due to its pleasant odor, it is an important intermediate used in the perfumery industry.