7/9/2019 Extractos de cannabis - Comprender los métodos de extracción - Clearleaf Labs

A medida que la legalización del cannabis y los extractos de cannabis continúan

extendiéndose en un número cada vez mayor de mercados, salen más datos que ilustran
cómo se usa y se consume el cannabis. Un número creciente de informes muestra que los
extractos y concentrados de cannabis están superando rápidamente las ventas de ores
secas.

Estamos viendo que los extractos y concentrados de cannabis se utilizan como ingredientes
en una gran cantidad de alimentos, bebidas, productos de belleza, salud y suplementos.
Además de su papel como aditivos e ingredientes, los extractos de cannabis se están
utilizando como productos independientes en forma de aceites vapables, píldoras y cápsulas,
tinturas, aceites de cocina, productos tópicos y más.

The bene ts of cannabis extracts over dried owers are many, including; more accurate
dosing, tailored cannabinoid pro les and blends, convenient and discrete usage and storage,
safer means of consumption (when compared to smoking dried ower), longer and more
stable shelf-life, as well as numerous other factors. Given these points, it is no wonder why
cannabis extract sales are outpacing those of dried owers.

Despite the popularity of cannabis extracts and cannabis infused products, the vast majority
of consumers are in the dark as to how all the proverbial ‘good stuff’ ie. the cannabinoids,
avonoids and terpenes, are extracted from the plant.

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7/9/2019 Extractos de cannabis - Comprender los métodos de extracción - Clearleaf Labs

In this post, we will look at some of the most common cannabis extraction methods and how
the processes differ in terms of quality, purity, safety and so on. There are two main forms of
extraction, solvent and solventless. As you may have guessed, one uses a solvent the other
does not.

Solvent extraction is more ef cient in terms of getting as much of the desired compound out
of the plant as possible, and in some cases allows more precise ltering and separation of
components. Solvent extraction requires a higher level of knowledge as well as specialized
equipment. Hydrocarbon solvents such butane, propane, ethanol and isopropyl to name a
few, are combustible and can be toxic if not properly purged from the extract. As such, these
extraction methods come with their own safety hazards.

Hydrocarbons are by far the most selective for target compound extraction, and almost 100%
recyclable. The Southern California and Colorado markets are dominated by hydrocarbon
extraction. Many Butane/Propane blends are in common use. Hydrocarbon extraction is the
preferred method for extracting THCa. This type of extract is used to process pure crystalline
THCa.

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7/9/2019 Extractos de cannabis - Comprender los métodos de extracción - Clearleaf Labs

Solventless extraction is generally safer, at least compared to hydrocarbon solvents. Many

feel that the end product is more avorful and dynamic. However, this form of cannabis
extraction limits the amount of puri cation that can be achieved, and typically procures lower
concentrations of cannabinoids as well as a lower overall yield.

Now that we have a basic understanding of the two main categories of extraction, let’s have
a look at some of the different methods, starting with solventless methods.

Hand rub hash aka nger

hash is probably one of
the oldest and simplest
forms of creating cannabis
concentrates. The name
pretty much gives away
the technique. When
handling cannabis plants,
the sticky trichomes will
often transfer from the
plant to one’s hands. All
that is left is to rub one’s
hands together until the
resin balls-up into hash. There will undoubtedly be higher levels of plant material and other
matter, which makes its way into the concentrate during the process, and thus the
concentrate will be the least pure of the bunch. But it requires zero equipment and is a
completely natural means of creating cannabis concentrate.

Dry-sieve or dry-sift is also solventless extraction method. Trichome crystals are shaken loose
from the plant matter and are ltered through a mesh screen. The crystaline powder
produced is called kief. A very simple and safe process, but on the low end of the return rate.

Rosin is yet another solventless extraction method. It is a relatively new method of extraction
but is becoming very popular. It involves simultaneously applying heat and pressure to
cannabis buds or keif, quite literally squeezing out trichome rich resin. This is a relatively quick
method of extraction, and if done correctly, preserves much of the terpene pro le while
yielding high concentrations of cannabinoids. Although commercial entities use industrial
grade rosin press machines, there are many DIY tutorials that allow you to achieve similar
results at home with just parchment paper, a clamp and a hair straightener.

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7/9/2019 Extractos de cannabis - Comprender los métodos de extracción - Clearleaf Labs

Next Level Dab Making: Rosin Presses

Now that we have looked at some common solventless extraction methods, let’s look at
solvent extractions. In all of the following, a solvent is used to assist in separating the
trichomes and resin from the plant matter. Typically, solvent extractions procure 10-40%
higher concentrated extract than solventless extraction methods. With the exception of water
hash, these methods should only be attempted by experienced and trained individuals.
Especially with hydrocarbon solvents, catastrophic events can occur if not properly
handled. Furthermore, if hydrocarbon solvents are not fully evaporated from the
concentrate, the residuals can be toxic. The following descriptions are for educational
purposes only.

Water hash aka bubble hash, is a solvent extraction method. It is similar to the dry-sieve
process, but uses cold water (the solvent) combined with agitation in order to assist in the
separation of trichomes from the plant. The process is often repeated numerous times with
different sized screening, producing varying grades of concentrate. This improves the rate of
return but is also more time intensive than the dry-sieve method.

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7/9/2019 Extractos de cannabis - Comprender los métodos de extracción - Clearleaf Labs

MAKING HASH: TURNING SHAKY TRIM INTO BUBBL…

BUBBL…

Alcohol extraction is typically done with Isopropyl (ISO) or the preferred/safer Ethanol.
Cannabis is combined with the hydrocarbon alcohol solvent for a short period of time and
then the two are separated. The alcohol/extract mixture is then evaporated, assisted by heat
and/or a vacuum.

Once the alcohol has been removed, you are left with your concentrated oil. The longer
cannabis is left in the alcohol mix, the more undesirable materials such as chlorophyll, lipids
and waxes, end up in the nal product. As with most of the solvent methods, the process is
typically repeated several times with the same batch of plant material, each concurrent run
delivering a slightly lower grade extract.

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7/9/2019 Extractos de cannabis - Comprender los métodos de extracción - Clearleaf Labs

Butane hash oil (BHO) or Propane hash oil

(PHO), as you probably guessed, uses
Butane or Propane or a combination of the
two as the hydrocarbon solvent. This method
involves loading cannabis into a cylinder with
a valve on one end and a lter on the other.
Butane or Propane is then introduced
through one end and out the opposing
ltered end comes a mixture of solvent and
cannabis extract. The solvent is then
removed either via heat and/or vacuum
assisted evaporation.

As with any solvent extraction, the removal of the solvent is critical in ensuring a safe nal
product. Depending on the process used, the nal concentrate can range from a glass like
solid, to smooth butter or even viscous oil.

CO2 or Carbon Dioxide extraction is said to be the cleanest and safest form of solvent
extraction, as there is practically no chance of toxic residuals. CO2 is naturally found all
around us and is produced by our own bodies, therefor it is viewed as a much safer
alternative to other solvents. CO2 is a solvent only when in super-critical phase.

Supercritical uid CO2 extraction generally requires extensive post-processing to remove non
target compounds such as wax. CO2 extraction is the most expensive of all current methods.
Its popularity is largely due to the fact that the CO2 can be readily and safely removed from
the extract due to it’s extremely low sublimation temperature (-78C). Another factor that
makes CO2 a preferable solvent to work with is that the temperature required for CO2 to
change from a uid to a supercritical state doesn’t exceed 33°C, which means there is less
risk of damaging the compounds found in cannabis.

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7/9/2019 Extractos de cannabis - Comprender los métodos de extracción - Clearleaf Labs

CO2 extraction can include both sub-critical and super-critical processes. Sub-critical CO2 is
just as viable an extraction method as super-critical, be it more time consuming and more
selective. Advanced technicians perform both processes on the same batch and collect
different fractions.

CO2 extraction requires that the CO2 is rst subjected to the correct pressure and a
temperature of approximately -57°C in order to transform it into a liquid state. The uid is
then transferred through a chamber containing cannabis, at which point the CO2 strips the
desired compounds from the plant. The extracted uid then transfers to another chamber
where the temperature and pressure are once again altered separating the cannabinoids and
terpenes, which are then collected. Finally, the CO2 uid is converted back into gas, and is
either released into the atmosphere or recycled back through the system for the next run.

That about sums up the most common methods of extraction being used by the cannabis
industry and enthusiasts. We intend to publish more articles in the coming months that
further delve into the science of cannabis extraction. Interested in learning about a speci c
method? Have a question about what you’ve read in this article? Let us know.

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