As the CBD market matures and competition intensifies, the focus on efficiency, product quality, and compliance has never been greater. Among the most critical steps in the cannabinoid production process is ethanol chilling, an essential phase in both extraction and winterization. For producers aiming to streamline their workflow while maintaining the highest standards of purity, Cryometrix’s ethanol chilling solutions, the L-80 Lite and L-80 Max, are setting a new benchmark.
These innovative systems use advanced liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling technology to deliver ultra-fast chill times, reduced energy costs, and minimal maintenance, all within compact, modular footprints. Whether you’re operating a boutique CBD extraction lab or a large-scale cannabinoid production facility, Cryometrix’s chillers provide a cutting-edge advantage.
Why Ethanol Chilling Is Critical in CBD Extraction
Ethanol is one of the most commonly used solvents in the extraction of cannabinoids such as CBD and THC due to its efficiency, accessibility, and safety profile. However, temperature plays a pivotal role in how effective and selective the ethanol extraction process is.
Key Considerations:
- Warm ethanol can extract not only cannabinoids but also unwanted plant components like chlorophyll, fats, and waxes.
- Cold ethanol (typically between -40°C and -80°C) extracts cannabinoids while leaving behind impurities, yielding cleaner, more potent extracts.
- Consistent, repeatable chilling is crucial for batch uniformity, downstream process reliability, and regulatory compliance.
This is where Cryometrix chillers shine. They offer highly controlled, automated ethanol chilling to ultra-low temperatures for improved extraction precision.
The Cryometrix Difference: Revolutionizing Ethanol Chilling with LN2
Traditional compressor-based ethanol chillers have numerous limitations. They are energy-intensive, noisy, require refrigerants, demand HVAC support, and entail frequent maintenance due to mechanical complexity.
In contrast, Cryometrix chillers use proprietary liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling, offering:
- No refrigerant chemicals or oils
- No moving compressor parts
- No exhaust heat
- Dramatically lower energy consumption
- Silent operation
- Exceptional chilling performance even in high-humidity or variable ambient temperature environments
The result is more uptime, lower operating costs, and cleaner, greener production, all of which directly support profitability and sustainability goals.
L-80 Lite: Powerful Performance in a Compact Package
The L-80 Lite is a modular, scalable chilling solution engineered for small to medium-sized CBD producers, research labs, or craft extraction facilities.
Core Features:
- 30-gallon chilling capacity
- Reaches -40°C in 8 minutes, -80°C in 19 minutes
- Plug and play operation using standard 110V or 240V outlets
- LN2-powered chilling with minimal electrical draw
- No HVAC system required
- Peer-reviewed for C1D2 environments
- Fully enclosed system with no operator contact with LN2
The L-80 Lite includes integrated cryogenic pumps, sanitary Triclamp connections, and a food-grade stainless steel containment chamber that ensures purity, safety, and cleanliness.
Real-World Applications:
- CBD Extraction: Improve cannabinoid purity by chilling ethanol before it contacts biomass.
- Winterization: Remove fats, waxes, and lipids from crude oil using cryogenically chilled ethanol.
- Cannabinoid Research: Allows research facilities to operate chillers without expensive infrastructure.
- Small-Scale Production: Offers a cost-effective solution for growing operations without sacrificing performance.
Because of its small 33” x 33” footprint, multiple L-80 Lite units can be deployed side by side or back to back, making them ideal for facilities with limited space.
L-80 Max: Industrial-Scale Chilling for High-Volume Producers
For larger producers that require rapid processing of large ethanol volumes, the L-80 Max offers massive chilling power in a similarly compact footprint.
Key Capabilities:
- 120-gallon chilling capacity
- Reaches -40°C in 25 minutes, -80°C in 50 minutes
- Touchscreen control with datalogging, alarm tracking, and user-based access management
- Multi-level fill system (30, 60, or 120 gallons)
- Food-grade 304 stainless steel containment
- Peer-reviewed and CE certified for hazardous locations
Despite its performance, the L-80 Max maintains a modest 33” x 38” base, taking up only 16 square feet of floor space. It can be integrated seamlessly into most industrial extraction layouts.
Ideal Use Cases:
- High-volume cannabinoid extraction labs
- Vertically integrated hemp or CBD processors
- Centralized winterization operations
- Manufacturing lines requiring repeatable temperature control
The L-80 Max also supports USB data downloads, remote alarms, and battery backup options, adding critical process transparency and continuity in regulated production environments.
LN2 vs. Compressor-Based Chilling Systems: A Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Cryometrix LN2 Chillers | Traditional Compressor Chillers |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Usage | 7x less | High electricity consumption |
| Noise Level | Silent | Loud mechanical noise |
| Cooling Speed | Ultra-fast | Moderate |
| Refrigerant | None | Freon, CFCs, oils |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Frequent and costly |
| HVAC Requirements | None | Mandatory |
| Environmental Impact | Clean nitrogen exhaust | Chemical refrigerants |
The operating cost and environmental advantages alone make LN2 systems highly compelling for modern CBD manufacturers aiming to scale profitably and responsibly.
Built-In Safety and Compliance
Cryometrix chillers are designed with operator safety and regulatory compliance at the core. Both the L-80 Lite and L-80 Max include:
- Closed nitrogen systems with no exposure risk
- Automatic fill and drain stops
- Internal datalogging for batch tracking
- C1D2 compliance
- Sanitary Triclamp connections for easy CIP or SIP integration
This makes Cryometrix equipment suitable for GMP-compliant environments, a growing concern for CBD brands selling into pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets.
Expandability and ROI
Another advantage of Cryometrix’s approach is scalability. Facilities can start with one or two units and expand their chilling capacity by simply adding more chillers without major retrofitting or electrical upgrades. This makes the total cost of ownership lower and helps maintain production uptime.
Moreover, by chilling ethanol faster and more precisely, Cryometrix chillers enable higher daily throughput, better extract purity, and lower labor hours per batch, translating directly into greater margins and faster return on investment.
Elevate Your CBD Extraction Process
If you’re looking to modernize or scale your CBD extraction workflow, Cryometrix offers the most advanced, efficient, and scalable ethanol chilling technology available today. Whether you choose the space-saving L-80 Lite or the high-capacity L-80 Max, you’re investing in:
- Superior chilling speeds
- Dramatic energy savings
- Minimal maintenance
- Cleaner, greener operations
- Regulatory-ready equipment
Say goodbye to outdated compressor chillers and embrace the future of cryogenic chilling. With Cryometrix, you’re not just chilling ethanol. You’re unlocking higher yields, cleaner extracts, and bigger profits.