A STEM-Based Methodology for Designing and Validating a Cannabinoid Extraction Device: Integrating Drying Kinetics and Quality Function Deployment

Projects integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are essential to interdisciplinary research. This study presents a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) methodology with the primary objective of designing, constructing, and validating a functional cannabinoid extraction device. To inform the device’s drying parameters, the dehydration kinetics of female hemp buds or flowering buds (FHB) were first analyzed using infrared drying at 100 °C for different durations. The plants were cultivated and harvested in accordance with good agricultural practices using Dinamed CBD Autoflowering seeds. The FHB were harvested and prepared by manually separating them from the stems and leaves. Six 5 g samples were prepared, each with a slab geometry of varying surface area and thickness. Two of these samples were ground: one into a fine powder and the other into a coarse powder. Mathematical fits were obtained for each resulting curve using either an exponential decay model or the logarithmic equation yt=Ae−kt+y0 calculate the equilibrium moisture (mE). The Moisture Rate (MR) was calculated, and by modelling with the logarithmic equation, the constant k and the effective diffusivity (Deff) were determined with the analytical solution of Fick’s second law. The Deff values (ranging from 10−7 to 10−5) were higher than previously reported. The coarsely ground powder sample yielded the highest k and Deff values and was selected for oil extraction. The device was then designed using Quality Function Deployment (QFD), specifically the House of Quality (HoQ) matrix, to systematically translate user requirements into technical specifications. A 200 g sample of coarsely ground, dehydrated FHB was prepared for ethanol extraction. Chemical results obtained by Liquid Chromatography coupled with Photodiode Array Detection (LC-PDA) revealed the presence of THC, CBN, CBC, and CBG. The extraction device design was validated using previous results showing the presence of CBD and CBDA. The constructed device successfully extracted cannabinoids, including Δ9-THC, CBG, CBC, and CBN, from coarsely ground FHB, validating the integrated STEM approach. This work demonstrates a practical framework for developing accessible agro-technical devices through interdisciplinary collaboration.