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  1. These Wiki pages
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  3. Research: Distilling Vendors' Whitepapers

Cannabis Distillation Guide - Compiled by JMP

Introduction

Cannabis distillation is a relatively new technique that has emerged as the cannabis industry transitions from a black market to a legal market, and requires advanced equipment and safety measures. However, distillation itself is an ancient process that has been used for centuries to produce alcohol, essential oils, perfumes, and medicines. Distillation is the final process for making cannabis oil. It is a purification process that uses heat, steam, and vacuum pressure to separate all the chemical compounds in the concentrate and produce a concentrated cannabinoid distillate. During distillation, terpenes and flavonoids are removed from the mixture for a pure cannabinoid.

The most common method of cannabis distillation is short-path distillation, which involves heating the purified oil to vaporize the individual compounds and then condensing them back into a liquid in separate fractions. The fractions are collected based on their boiling points, which are lowered by the vacuum pressure. The result is a highly pure and potent distillate that can be used for various products.

Cannabis distillation has several advantages over other methods of extraction, such as:

  • It can achieve high purity and potency of the desired compound by lowering the boiling point and minimizing the loss of material.
  • It can remove unwanted impurities, such as waxes, lipids, chlorophyll, and residual solvents.
  • It can isolate specific cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD, for targeted effects.
  • It can produce a clear and transparent oil that is suitable for various applications.

However, cannabis distillation also has some drawbacks, such as:

  • It requires expensive and sophisticated equipment and safety measures.
  • It removes the natural terpenes and flavonoids that give cannabis its flavor and aroma.
  • t may reduce the entourage effect of the cannabinoids, which is the synergistic interaction of all the compounds in the plant.

Therefore, some manufacturers add terpenes or other additives to the distillate to enhance its properties.

Cannabis Extraction Methods

Cannabis extraction methods are the techniques used to separate the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids from the cannabis plant and turn them into a concentrated form that can be used for various purposes, such as edibles, vape cartridges, tinctures, topicals, and dabbing. Cannabis extraction methods can be classified into two main categories: solvent-based and solventless. Solvent-based methods use chemical liquids, such as ethanol, CO2, butane, or propane, to dissolve the cannabis compounds and then remove the solvent to obtain the oil. Solventless methods use heat, pressure, or ice water to separate the trichomes from the plant material without using any chemicals. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages regarding yield, potency, quality, flavor, equipment, and safety. In this chapter, we will compare and contrast the different methods of extracting cannabis oil from the plant material, such as sieving, butane, CO2, ethanol, and rosin.

Sieving

Sieving is one of the oldest and simplest methods of cannabis extraction. It involves rubbing or shaking the dried cannabis plant over a fine mesh screen to collect the kief, which is the powdery and sticky resin glands that contain most of the cannabinoids and terpenes. The kief can then be compressed into hash or used as it is. Sieving is a solventless method that does not require any equipment or safety measures. However, it also produces a low yield and potency of cannabis oil compared to other methods. The quality and flavor of the oil depend on the quality of the plant material and the size of the screen.

Butane

Butane is one of the most popular solvents used for cannabis extraction. It involves passing liquid butane through a tube filled with cannabis plant material to extract the oil. The butane is then evaporated using heat or vacuum to leave behind a thick and sticky oil known as butane hash oil (BHO). BHO can have various consistencies depending on the temperature and pressure used during extraction and purging, such as shatter, crumble, budder, wax, or honeycomb. Butane is a highly flammable and explosive solvent that requires specialized equipment and safety measures. It can produce a high yield and potency of cannabis oil with a wide range of terpenes and flavors. However, it can also leave behind residual solvents that can be harmful to health if not properly purged.

CO2

CO2 is another common solvent used for cannabis extraction. It involves using supercritical CO2 (a state where CO2 behaves like both a liquid and a gas) to extract the oil from the cannabis plant material in a closed-loop system. The CO2 is then separated from the oil by lowering the pressure or temperature. CO2 extraction produces a clear and pure oil that can be further refined into different products, such as distillate or isolate. CO2 is a non-flammable and non-toxic solvent that does not leave behind any residual solvents. It can produce a high yield and potency of cannabis oil with minimal degradation of terpenes and flavors. However, it also requires expensive and sophisticated equipment and trained operators.

Ethanol

Ethanol is another solvent used for cannabis extraction. It involves soaking the cannabis plant material in ethanol (a type of alcohol) to extract the oil. The ethanol is then evaporated using heat or vacuum to leave behind a dark and viscous oil known as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO). RSO can be used as it is or further refined into different products, such as tinctures or edibles. Ethanol is a relatively safe and cheap solvent that does not require specialized equipment or safety measures. It can produce a high yield and potency of cannabis oil with a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. However, it can also extract unwanted impurities, such as chlorophyll, waxes, lipids, and sugars that can affect the quality and flavor of the oil.

Rosin

Rosin is one of the newest and most popular methods of cannabis extraction. It involves applying heat and pressure to the cannabis plant material (such as flower or bubble hash) to squeeze out the oil. The oil is then collected on a parchment paper or a silicone mat. Rosin is a solventless method that does not require any equipment or safety measures other than a rosin press (a device that applies heat and pressure). It can produce a high yield and potency of cannabis oil with a rich terpene profile and flavor. However, it can also degrade some of the cannabinoids and terpenes due to high temperatures.


Cannabis Purification Methods

Cannabis purification methods are the techniques used to further refine the crude cannabis oil after extraction to remove impurities, such as waxes, lipids, chlorophyll, and residual solvents. These impurities can affect the quality, flavor, and potency of the oil, as well as its stability and appearance. Cannabis purification methods can improve the purity and potency of the oil by removing unwanted compounds and activating the cannabinoids. In this chapter, we will describe the steps of winterization, filtration, and decarboxylation, and explain how these methods affect the oil.

Winterization

Winterization is a process of freezing the extract and then removing the plant material by filtration. It is also known as dewaxing or de-fatting. Winterization is necessary to remove the waxes and lipids that are present in the crude oil after extraction. These waxes and lipids are fatty acids that cause the oil to be waxier, softer, and cloudier. They can also interfere with the distillation process and lower the purity and potency of the oil. Winterization involves dissolving the crude oil in a polar solvent, such as ethanol or isopropanol, and then placing the solution in a freezer at sub-zero temperatures for 24-48 hours¹². This causes the waxes and lipids to solidify and separate from the cannabinoids and terpenes. The solution is then filtered through a paper or metal filter to remove the solidified waxes and lipids. The solvent is then evaporated using heat or vacuum to leave behind a winterized oil that is more clear and transparent.

Filtration

Filtration is a process of passing the extract through a filter to remove the plant material. It is also known as clarification or polishing. Filtration is necessary to remove any remaining solids or particles that are present in the crude or winterized oil after extraction. These solids or particles can include plant fibers, dust, dirt, or residual solvents. They can also affect the quality, flavor, and potency of the oil, as well as its stability and appearance. Filtration involves using a vacuum or a pump to send the oil through one or more layers of filters with different pore sizes. The filters can be made of paper, metal, or ceramic materials²³. The filters trap the solids or particles while allowing the oil to pass through. The result is a filtered oil that is more pure and refined.

Decarboxylation

Decarboxylation is a process of heating the extract to activate the compounds. It is also known as decarb or activation. Decarboxylation is necessary to convert the acidic forms of cannabinoids, such as THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and CBDA (cannabidiolic acid), into their neutral forms, such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). The acidic forms of cannabinoids are not psychoactive or bioavailable, meaning they do not produce any effects or interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body. The neutral forms of cannabinoids are psychoactive or bioavailable, meaning they produce various effects and interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body. Decarboxylation involves heating the crude or winterized oil at a specific temperature and time to cause a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group (COOH) from the cannabinoids¹⁴. The temperature and time vary depending on the type and amount of cannabinoids in the oil, but generally range from 100-150°C for 30-60 minutes¹⁴. The result is a decarboxylated oil that is more potent and effective.


Cannabis Distillation Methods

Cannabis Distillation Methods Cannabis distillation methods are the techniques used to isolate specific cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD, from the cannabis oil after extraction and purification. Cannabis distillation methods can produce a highly pure and potent distillate that can be used for various products, such as edibles, vape cartridges, tinctures, topicals, and dabbing. Cannabis distillation methods can also remove unwanted impurities, such as waxes, lipids, chlorophyll, and residual solvents, from the oil. The most common method of cannabis distillation is Short Path Distillation , which involves heating the purified oil to vaporize the individual compounds and then condensing them back into a liquid in separate fractions.

Short path distillation vs Fractional distillation

Short Path Distillation and fractional distillation are two methods used to purify and separate compounds based on their boiling points. Both methods involve heating a mixture to vaporize the individual compounds and then condensing the vapor back into a liquid. The main difference between the two methods is the distance that the vapor travels before it is condensed. In Short Path Distillation, the vapor travels a very short distance (typically just a few centimeters) before it is condensed. This short path length reduces the amount of distillate that is lost during the process and makes it more efficient for distilling small quantities of material. The main advantage of this technique is that it can achieve high purity and potency of the desired compound by lowering the boiling point and minimizing the loss of material. It is often used for compounds that are unstable at high temperatures or to purify small amounts of material.


Glossary

  • Cannabinoids: The chemical compounds found in cannabis that interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body and produce various effects, such as euphoria, relaxation, pain relief, anti-inflammation, etc. The most common cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is psychoactive, and CBD (cannabidiol), which is non-psychoactive.
  • Distillation: The process of separating and refining the cannabinoids based on their boiling points. This involves heating the purified oil to vaporize the individual compounds and then condensing them back into a liquid in separate fractions. The result is a highly pure and potent distillate that can be used for various products.
  • Extraction: The process of separating the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material using a solvent. There are different methods of extraction, such as sieving, butane, CO2, ethanol, and rosin, each with its own pros and cons regarding yield, potency, quality, flavor, equipment, and safety.
  • Fractional distillation: involves a longer path length than short path for the vapor to travel. The mixture is heated in a flask and the vapor rises up a fractionating column before it is condensed. The fractionating column contains packing material that provides a large surface area for the vapor to condense on. As the vapor condenses and re-vaporizes on its way up the column, it becomes increasingly enriched in the lower boiling point compound.
  • Purification: The process of removing impurities from the crude cannabis oil after extraction, such as waxes, lipids, chlorophyll, and residual solvents. This involves steps such as winterization (freezing the oil to separate the fats), filtration (passing the oil through a filter to remove solids), and decarboxylation (heating the oil to activate the cannabinoids).
  • Short Path Distillation:A distillation technique that involves the distillate traveling a short distance, often only a few centimeters, and is normally done at reduced pressure. This technique involves heating the cannabis extract to vaporize the THC and CBD, then bringing the vapor into a cooling system for consolidation and eventual collection into beakers. A form of fractional distillation used to separate an oleoresin into its active compounds: essential oils, resin, and more. It creates a "distillate," or pure compound in the form of a clear-golden liquid with little to no taste or color.
  • Solvent: The chemical liquids that dissolve the cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant during extraction. Common solvents used for cannabis extraction are ethanol, CO2, butane, and propane.
  • Terpene The aromatic compounds found in cannabis and other plants that give them their distinctive smell and taste. Terpenes also have therapeutic benefits and may modulate the effects of cannabinoids.

Resources; recommendations for further learning

Publications

Websites

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