Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, cannabis offers several health benefits with no adverse effects, Advancements in technology allow manufacturers to extract a variety of products infused with cannabis like extracts, edibles, concentrates, and so on. Industrial hemp extraction is now the most popular method for cannabis extraction, and for good reason.
Ethanol extraction basically forms one of the three extraction modes. The other two being butane and CO2. While most producers utilize different methods of extraction based on efficiency and expenses, the number of extractors that use the ethanol extraction method has increased significantly.
Ethanol works as a solvent. It helps to eliminate cannabis material from its chemical compounds. In today’s guide, we’re going to explain everything you should know about cannabis extraction and what makes ethanol the best extraction method in 2020.
Ethanol Cannabis Extraction — Explained!
Ethanol is a grain of ethyl or alcohol that is a colorless, volatile flammable liquid. If you’ve ever had the chance to consume beer, wine, or any other spirit, odds are ethanol is already in your system. It is applicable in terms of distilling chemical compounds of the botanicals, e.g., cannabis, which explains why it is so effective when it comes to cannabis extraction.
The Process
When performing the ethanol extraction method, manufacturers operate either under warm or cold temperatures. Through the Soxhlet technique’s application, the ethanol undergoes three different stages: condensation, boiling, and cooling.
After that, the ethanol seamlessly soaks into the flower material through a process that doesn’t leave any residue. This method is particularly useful when making small batches of industrial cannabis oil. Also, it helps in the conversion of THCA to THC, which feeds the activation of marijuana’s chemical compounds.
Ethanol is crucial to eliminate cannabinoids and terpenes. It acts as a polar solvent, one that can effortlessly dissolve in cannabinoids, as well as water-soluble molecules like chlorophyll. Once the extraction is done, the process to eliminate water via the evaporation method leaves just cannabis oil. It’s also worth noting that the product should undergo post-processing in order to ensure the extract is meticulously-refined from the material plant.
The Next Steps
After extraction, CBD must undergo the following additional post-processing steps before it’s ready for use.
Decarboxylation
This is a chemical process that serves in the activation of CBD oil. Decarboxylation is crucial as before the process, the naturally occurring CBD does not exist in the hemp plant. Instead, it exists in the form of Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) or phytocannabinoids. Through decarboxylation, the inactive CBD components shift to the active component, thereby resulting in high-quality cannabis products.
Winterization
This is the process of eliminating unwanted terpenoids, chlorophyll, cannabinoids, fatty acids, and plant materials found in CBD extracts. Through winterization, non-popular elements (e.g., hash oil) dissolve, creating a polar substance in cold temperatures. This drives the waxes and lipids from the crude extracts to grow in the combination, allowing easy removal via the winterization method.
Why Ethanol Extraction Works
The ethanol cannabis extraction method is highly efficient as it eliminates all the residual solvents that would otherwise be in the cannabis or CBD product. It offers producers to extract all cannabinoids and terpenes in the most effective possible and create a variety of healthy products. Here’s why it works so well.
Cost-Efficient
Ethanol extraction is cheap when it comes to cannabis extraction methods. It makes the best bang for the buck for manufacturers seeking to cut the additional costs.
When compared with alternative extraction methods, ethanol extraction remains one of the only processes that offer a reduced start-up cost in regards to the labor and equipment required. It also enables the use of state-of-the-heart equipment for cannabis extraction, which can easily be automated and controlled via a digital interface under little intervention.
Ethanol extraction utilizes closed-loop systems, ensuring no solvent leaks and therefore preventing fire hazards.
Solid Boiling Properties
The extraction method can also effectively boil terpenes and similar matters, leaving odorless, potent cannabis oil. This oil type is suitable for an edible or tincture infusion to eliminate cannabis taste, which can be unpleasant to some users.
Ethanol extraction is the best method due to its efficiency in the formation of safe and pure cannabis products. Within a regulated setting, ethanol can be an affordable and solid solvent that creates highly potent extracts. These potent cannabinoid extracts then transform into cartridges, edibles, tinctures, topicals, all of which are common CBD products out there.
Higher Purity
The final product of the ethanol extraction method is top-notch CBD oil, offering up to 99 percent purity. Using ethanol extraction can be a highly adaptable technique to squeeze cannabinoid extract from the plant material.
On a variety of extractions, ethanol works seamlessly as a universal solvent because it is capable of dissolving chlorophyll and similar plant matter, not to mention cannabinoids and terpenes.
Wrapping Up
In an ever-evolving cannabis industry, extraction companies play an integral role in the production of high-quality CBD Products. While there are many different methods of cannabis extraction, each has its fair share of pros and cons.
Explained in this post is how ethanol extraction works so well in cannabis extraction and why the majority of manufacturers prefer this method over others. Ethanol stands above all as it can create cannabis oils at a higher purity level, which means better quality products always end up at your local stores.
Make sure to leave a comment down below if you have any questions or thoughts.