Ethanol: Why It’s Great for Cannabis Extraction
By Jillian Jastrzembski
Cannabis is among the oldest cultivated plants. Ethanol is among the oldest known solvents. It’s no wonder that ethanol has been used for cannabis extraction for a long time. What may be more surprising is that it’s still a top choice today – despite the multitude of newer solvent options.
If you’re a business beginning to delve into cannabis extraction, you may be wondering about the pros and cons of ethanol for cannabis extraction. How does it stand up to other solvents? In this article, we’ll explain how cannabis extraction works, and why ethanol is still among the most ideal solvents for botanical extraction.
What is cannabis?
The cannabis plant is also known as marijuana or hemp. Hemp is the name used if the concentration of the psychotropic component, THC, is less than 0.3%.
Cannabis is valued for the multitude of special compounds it contains. Specifically, cannabis contains an entire class of compounds called cannabinoids – named for the plant itself. THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most famous cannabinoid, because it is responsible for the psychotropic effects of cannabis. However, it’s not the only cannabinoid – there are probably upwards of 50 or so cannabinoids naturally occurring in the cannabis plant.
One of these is called CBD, or cannabidiol. While not psychotropic, CBD nonetheless is well-studied for its calming, anti-inflammatory, and otherwise therapeutic effects. There are others too. Some are derivatives of THC which share similar psychotropic abilities. Others contribute to the overall effect of the plant via synergistic effects.
Besides cannabinoids, there are other compound classes present in cannabis which may also contribute to therapeutic and recreational benefits. Among these are terpenes, which are primarily responsible for the unique flavor and aroma of cannabis.
What is cannabis extraction?
While it is possible to dry and heat the entire plant to access the valuable compounds in cannabis, another useful technology involves extracting specific cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. During extraction, we use chemical principles to “pull” desired compounds out of the plant. The result is a cleaner, more concentrated sample, with a simpler matrix.
Cannabis extraction is the process of extracting desirable compounds, like THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, as well as aromatic terpenes and flavor compounds, from cannabis. This technology allows companies to make liquid extracts, candies, topicals, and other products that are more convenient to the consumer.
Why use ethanol for cannabis extraction?
Anytime we are performing an extraction, we look to the basic chemistry principle known as “like dissolves like.” This is the best way to design an efficient extraction protocol.
“Like dissolves like” is an easy way to remember that you should always choose a solvent that has similar chemistry to the compound of interest. In other words, if we are looking to extract cannabinoids from a plant, we need to choose a solvent that is of similar polarity and size.
Ethanol is a polar molecule – though less so compared to water, thanks to the additional methyl group. This intermediate polarity means that ethanol is often a good choice for biologically active compounds.
Actually, cannabinoids like CBD tend more towards hydrophobicity. In other words, they are considerably less polar compared to ethanol. Water would be by far a worse choice, but a more hydrophobic solvent might be more efficient. For example, while ethanol may extract cannabinoids from cannabis, it is also likely to bring hydrophilic molecules along with it. This includes compounds like chlorophylls, which give the extract an undesirable green hue. Ethanol certainly works for cannabis extraction – but it does have its pitfalls.
So why is ethanol still such a popular choice after all? There are several reasons. Remember that most cannabis extracts are intended for human consumption – whether that be direct ingestion, or topical application. That means that toxicity is a top priority. Ethanol is among the safest compounds for consumers and for manufacturers. It’s also among the greenest solvents for the environment.
The inefficiencies encountered during ethanol extraction of cannabis can be resolved with some thoughtful extraction protocols. For example, manipulating the extraction temperature can change the solubility of the compounds in the sample. Raising the extraction temperature will make compounds like CBD more soluble in ethanol. Longer, colder extraction can be used to reduce the solubility of chlorophylls and waxes. Additional steps, such as winterization, can also help to clean up the sample following extraction.
Where to buy ethanol for cannabis extraction
At Lab Alley, we know that every business has values to uphold. Whether your consumers are looking for certified Vegan, Kosher, Halal, or Organic cannabis extracts, we have the food grade ethanol for you. We are pleased to provide you with the highest quality solvents for your cannabis extraction.
