What would happen if one of my Hubers broke?

Root Sciences offers refurbished Huber equipment (when available) at a discounted price, as well as new Huber equipment to keep your plant operational while your original Huber equipment is being repaired.

Root Sciences offers best-in-class customer service. Contact Technical Support for more information on how to fix this problem.

Can I re-run terpenes that I distilled from a first pass?

Yes, terpenes distilled by following the first cut SOP can be redistilled to reclaim a small fraction of cannabinoids!

To do this, simply follow the first cut protocol.

Reach out to Technical Support for additional information.

My wiper motor is overloading and will not spin. What could cause this and how do I fix it?

There are three possible causes for an overload of the wiper motor: improper tension of the wiper blocks against the evaporator (SOP- Wiper Fix) corroded bearings in the transmission (SOP – Transmission) or an excessive amount of residue buildup in the evaporator (SOP – Clean). A quick phone call to Technical Support will get you started on the right path.

My transmission is leaking air when vacuum is applied to the system. What could cause this and how do I fix it?

The transmission is the metal cylinder on top of the wiper basket and creates a vacuum-tight seal between the rotor of the wiper and the rest of the system.

It is composed of two bearings and a few gaskets.

The bearings should be lubricated every 4-6 months with 0.5mL of white oil. If crude oil contains sulfur (usually from using sulfur burners in the grow to prevent powdery mildew) this sulfur can cause rapid degradation of both the gaskets and bearings in the transmission.

While the transmission can be easily rebuilt by following SOP- Transmission Fix, it is not recommended to process crude oil that contains sulfur.

Contact Technical Support for more information.

What solvents should I use to clean my Wiped Film Evaporator?

see SOP – Clean details the cleaning process, and following this will ensure proper cleaning and minimize risk of damage to the unit. Typically, pure ethanol is used to clean the machines, however, a mixture of 50:50 ethanol and distilled water can be helpful in cases of stubborn fouling.

What thermal fluids are used in each heating or chilling bath?

All Hubers, except the chiller for the cold trap, will receive Marlotherm SH.

For the cold trap chillers, we recommend a suitable thermal transfer fluid such as 99% isopropyl or ethanol.

While other fluids can be used, we recommend reaching out to Root Sciences Technical Support prior to using a different fluid.

Typically, we recommend replacing the thermal fluid in the feed, residue, and condensing baths every 24 months, and the fluid in the evaporator should be replaced every 6 months.

The fluid in the cold trap should be topped off every month so that it completely submerges the cooling coils in the bath in order to prevent water from condensing on them and contaminating the alcohol.

If water does contaminate the alcohol, it will cause it to appear discolored or hazy, in which case it can be easily drained and refilled with clean 99% isopropyl or ethanol.

What should I do if the clamp gasket between my feed pump and my feed tube is leaking product?

The clamp gasket is designed to relieve excess pressure in case of malfunction in order to prevent permanent damage to the machine. Typically, this is caused by a dirty check valve and can be easily remedied by following SOP-Check Valve to rebuild the check valve. In addition, fouling of the check valve can be minimized by proper preparation of the material. Review SOP-Prep, and feel free to contact technical support for one-on-one consultation.

What do I do if the clamp gasket between my feed pump and my feed tube keeps blowing out?

The clamp gasket is designed to relieve excess pressure in case of malfunction in order to prevent permanent damage to the machine. Typically, this is caused by a dirty check valve and can be easily remedied by following SOP-Check Valve to rebuild the check valve. In addition, the fouling of the check valve can be minimized by proper preparation of the material. Review SOP-Prep, and feel free to contact technical support for a one-on-one consultation.

What do I do if my gear pump is consuming an excessive amount of white oil?

The compression nut is a hexagonal nut behind the pump head, after the stuffing box. This compression nut provides the compression on the packing material to make a tight seal between the rotor and the gear box of the pump. If this is not properly tightened, either product can leak out on the feed pump, air can leak in on the residue or distillate pumps, or white oil can be consumed at an excessive rate. Proper tightening of the compression nut will ensure a tight seal, but take care to not overtighten the compression nut, as this can compromise the packing material.

What do I do if my gear pump is leaking product or air?

The compression nut is a hexagonal nut behind the pump head, after the stuffing box. This compression nut provides the compression on the packing material to make a tight seal between the rotor and the gear box of the pump.

If this is not properly tightened, either product can leak out on the feed pump, air can leak in on the residue or distillate pumps, or white oil can be consumed at an excessive rate.

Proper tightening of the compression nut will ensure a tight seal, but take care to not overtighten the compression nut, as this can compromise the packing material.