Abattis Confirms Breakthrough Extraction Technology Capabilities

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. (the "Company" or "Abattis") (CSE:ATT) (OTC:ATTBF) is pleased to announce the successful completion of experiments confirming column chromatography extraction technology.

The experiments assessed the feasibility of applying the technology for the extraction of CBD, THC and THCA from industrial hemp and cannabis.  Throughputs, yields, purity and terpene profiles were also part of the scope of work performed at our facility, Northern Vine Labs.  Bench scale runs were carried out in conjunction with confirmatory larger scale runs of up to 75 kilograms of biomass per day.  The technology is already being used in an industrial scale capacity of up to 50,000 kilograms of biomass per day. The developer of the technology is now preparing to work with key partners to start isolating cannabinoids for the upcoming Canadian legalized market.

"The extraction method using proprietary polymers has very distinct competitive advantages over traditional methods," said Rob Abenante, President and CEO of Abattis.  "The technology is capable of extraction on an industrial scale, which delivers significant cost advantages.  It is also capable of separating cannabinoids on a molecular level which allows for the extraction of pure isolates such as CBD and THCA and even the separation pesticides from the biomass."

Proof of Concept

Abattis confirms the following results from performed by the technology owner, Frank Zhu and his team:

• The quantitative recovery measurement showed 99% recovery of all cannabinoids from the biomass material.  These yields are better than conventional methods that generally only yield up to 80%.
  
  
• Confirmed separation of THC, THCA and CBD from a series of cannabis strains.
  
  
• Confirmed separation and production of pure 98%+ THCA in crystallized form.
  
  
• The technology successfully removes all traces of any pesticides or harmful residues from the cultivation and transportation process.
  
  
• Once commercialized, a factory running at a 500 kg-per-day processing rate can process CBD at less than $0.20/gram.
  
  
• The cost of capital equipment and overall cost of operation is less than half of conventional CO₂ processes.

"We have enjoyed our collaboration with Mr. Zhu. It has been an honor to have someone of his expertise and ingenuity here to show the capabilities of his technology and methodologies. The technology has the potential to revolutionize the extraction process for most cannabis derivatives for the entire sector," stated Mr. Abenante. "His extraction method and use of his key IP is currently one of the only toll-processing technologies that can extract high purity CBD on an industrial scale. We're happy to have confirmed that it can fully separate individual compounds such as THCA."

"We believe the implementation of this extraction technology has the ability to give Abattis a competitive advantage in the extraction industry. It is our intention to position the extraction technology with the largest producers and oil manufacturers in North America to provide the market with the highest quality distillate and isolates, at the lowest cost. We feel the evolution of the industry will lead to the commoditization of marijuana and hemp, at which point downstream services such as extraction will become the primary focus of the industry as companies compete to create thousands of new products based on the numerous derivatives," added Mr. Abenante.

Validation and Demonstration of Technology

Frank Zhu, the key developer and owner of the technology, was brought in to supervise the arrival and assembly of the machines.

Mr. Zhu has installed the demonstration apparatus at Abattis' faculties, its subsidiaries, as well as several producers to confirm the technology. He setup a working model of the technology to demonstrate its capabilities to separate and isolate compounds with very little capital, consumables and operating requirements.

"I am very pleased to finally demonstrate some of the capabilities of the column chromatography technology, when applied to cannabinoid extraction," stated Frank Zhu, the key scientist behind the technology. This visit and demonstration has been two years in the making with key members of the Abattis team. My extraction technology is capable of processing industrial scale volumes of biomass and separation of individual compounds to any target purity levels. Products containing phyto-cannabinoids can become more cost-effective which would enable the production of affordable natural, functional products for consumers. I believe that by using my extraction technique, Abattis could obtain a competitive cost advantage the high growth concentrates market.  I look forward to setting up my North American program in 2018 and feel that I am in great hands working with Abattis to set up facilities in Canada and United States to start."

About Abattis Bioceuticals Corp.

Abattis is a life sciences and biotechnology company which aggregates, integrates, and invests in cannabis technologies and biotechnology services for the legal cannabis industry developing in Canada. The Company has successfully developed and licensed natural health products, medicines, extractions, and ingredients for the biologics, nutraceutical, bioceutical, and cosmetic markets. The Company is also seeking to acquire exclusive intellectual property rights to agricultural technologies to be employed in extraction and processing of botanical ingredients and compounds. The Company follows strict standard operating protocols, and adheres to the applicable laws of Canada and foreign jurisdictions. For more information, visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com

About Northern Vine Canada Inc.

Northern Vine Labstm is licensed by Health Canada (Dealers License) for the possession of Cannabis and related active ingredients, as well as the production of extracts for the purpose of analysis. Northern Vine Labstm product certification and quality assurances programs incorporate global best practices and procedures for application in the legal Canadian cannabis market.

About Mr. Frank Zhu

Over the past 20 years Mr. Zhu has focused on the development of proprietary methods and processes for applications in nutraceuticals, bioceuticals, botanicals and other derivatives from biomass on a commercial scale and industrial scale. He led a team of over 1,600 scientists at the Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering. He represents his team of engineers and technologists who had successfully built over thirty mass production lines to extract high purity ingredients such as Ginkgo Biloba, Coenzyme Q10, Stevia, Ginseng, Paclitaxel, EGCG and other extracts for use in commercial nutraceuticals, functional foods and cosmetics. Mr. Zhu and his team are currently constructing a 600 ton industrial hemp extraction facility, which will produce approx. 150 tons of pure CBD isolate destined for the European, Asian and Australian market.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
ABATTIS BIOCEUTICALS CORP,

"Rob Abenante"
Robert Abenante, President & CEO

For more information, please visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com or www.northernvinelabs.com

For inquiries, please contact the Company at (604) 336-0881 or at [email protected]. 

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION 
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "intends", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the expected outcome of its business relationship with Frank Zhu; the increase in the volume of services it can provide; the success of its extraction efforts; the success of the marketing and sales of the machines; the bioavailability and product efficacy; and, the impact of the extraction technology on the business plan of the Company.   Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including that the extraction technology may not work as expected or at all, and the technology may not be competitive in the market.  Other risks of  the Company include the possibility that it will not be able to execute its proposed business plan in the time required or at all due to regulatory, financial or other issues, that the Company's competitors may develop competing technologies, changes in regulatory requirements may affect the Company as well as other factors beyond the Company's control. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements are made as at the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, where because of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.