CBD can be easily converted into THC by treating extracted oil with sulfuric acid, a step in the oil trade called “isomerization”.
......as read from griever at
http://www.overgrow.com (http://www.overgrow.com)
Direct THC isomerization
Sometimes if pot is totally rank and crappy, or you're dealing with a bunch of roaches, trimmings, or some other inferior source of THC it is desirable to go well beyond what a simple volatile solvent or super critical fluid extraction can do. You want to convert all those free available cannibinoids into THC, and the only way to accomplish this is a direct isomerization of the Tetrahydracannibinoid. Since any THC isomer is approximately 40% more psychoactive than the nearest related cannabinoid, this will make your product a much stronger concentration and chemically much cleaner than the original. Basic isomerization takes place with a quick reflux of your cannabinoids in the presence of any H+ source (acid).
1. Treat your stuff as if it were a volatile solvent or critical fluid extraction.
2. With the remaining resin, dissolve it in a non-polar solvent. Be sure to use one that separates easily from water such as naphia or white gas.
3. Treat this mixture with sulphuric or hydrochloric acid until a pH around 1-2 is reached (approximately one drop of concentrated acid per gram of extract).
4. Place this in a reflux apparatus and cook it for about an hour. In case you’re not familiar this is basically just Pyrex breaker with a large looped tube plugged into the top. This will cause the solution inside to be exposed to elevated pressures as well as temperatures, as well as preserving all of the original contents. Simply simply boiling the mixture in a small strong covered vessel can mimic it.
5. Wash what’s left with water, keep the oil layer.
6. Neutralize your mix (bring it to pH 7.0) with a little Sodium Hydroxide solution (pH 9.0) or baking soda then rewash it with water. Save the oil layer again.
7. Allow your oil to evaporate and you should be left with a sticky amber liquid that contains almost pure THC.
Now supposedly if processed under more stringent conditions the delta-9-THC can be converted to delta-6-THC which because of it’s stereoscopy could be more psychedelic than the delta-9-THC. The pharmacology shows that the compounds are pretty much analogous in their effects, but if you wish to process your product with a little tolulene and sulphuric acid, followed by a longer than ordinary reflux (10 hours), give it a try. Usually when using this method, your starting solvent is anhydrous methyl or ethyl alcohol, and then the tolulene is added after the refluxing to form a third layer in the mixture, which holds the delta-6-THC. I would recommend a super-critical fluid extraction for a starting point, since if you start clean your product can only get much better. Once you’ve obtained nearly pure THC, converting it to an acetate is supposed to produce more psychedelic like effects.
....as read from fergetit at
http://www.overgrow.com (http://www.overgrow.com)
Basic isomerization takes place with a quick reflux of your cannabinoids in the presence of any H+ source (acid).
so it seems that non THC get turned to THC type cannabinoids in the presence of H+( acid), hence no damage to your THC already present in the mixture oil.
Treatment with acid, according to my understanding, does not cause isomerization of THC, but converts the cannabidiol to delta-9-THC.
Read at .....
http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Drugs/THC/isomer1.html (http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Drugs/THC/isomer1.html)