Cold Ethanol Extraction: How it Works?

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    Ethanol, which exists as a liquid at room temperature, is most widely known as the intoxicating chemical in all alcoholic beverages, but that is not all it is used for. In modern times, the use of ethanol as a solvent for the manufacture of cannabis and cannabis derivatives has increased. In fact, in this booming new industry, ethanol has become one of the most popular solvents used for the large-scale extraction of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD.

     

    The extraction centrifuge is a centrifugal extractor. The system is fast and versatile, allowing different specifications for temperature, rotation speed and retention time to achieve the best combination of control and ease of use.

    Extraction centrifuge ensures the safe removal of ethanol extracts from cannabis, hemp and cbd, and the removal of residual ethanol in the second step before processing. So it is also called ethanol extraction centrifuge, ethanol extraction machine, cannabis extraction centrifuge, extraction equipment for cannabis, cannabis extraction equipment, hemp extraction centrifuge, etc., and is designed for medium to large-scale capacity.

    Ethanol Extraction Centrifuge

    Ethanol Extraction Centrifuge

    Is "cold" ethanol extraction the same as "low temperature" ethanol extraction?

    In the cannabis extraction industry, the term "cold ethanol extraction" is often used to simply describe what cold ethanol extraction is. The term is widely used colloquially in the cannabis industry, but it is scientifically incorrect to refer to cold extraction as "cryogenic".

    Temperature is a key factor when using ethanol to extract cannabinoids. Too hot and you may extract unwanted and unneeded compounds. Too cold and your efficiency and profitability may be greatly reduced. Therefore, cold ethanol extraction is usually the preferred method, with an optimal temperature range between -30˚C (-22˚F) and -40˚C (-40˚F).

     

    (*Note that ethanol extraction of cannabinoids can also be carried out at ambient or room temperature, but additional post-treatment steps may need to be performed to ensure positive results, thus incurring costs. Learn more about the differences between cold extraction and room temperature extraction. )

     

    The term cold extraction refers to any extraction carried out between -153°C (-243.4°F) and absolute zero or -273°C (-523.4°F), which is too cold for ethanol extraction. In fact, the freezing point of ethanol is -114.1°C (-173.5°F), so it cannot be used as an extraction solvent at these temperatures.

     

    The term 'cryogenic' is defined as the production and behaviour of the material at very low temperatures.

     

    Obviously, as the name suggests, the biggest difference is that we will cool the ethanol to approximately -40˚ (Celsius or Fahrenheit, it doesn't matter as both scales are the same at this temperature) prior to extraction and then ensure that it doesn't fall below -30˚C during extraction. The real advantage comes after the extraction, when your filtration step is negligible beyond simple particle filtration.

     

    It should be noted that in order to properly maintain a low temperature during the extraction process, operators are advised not only to cool the ethanol to -40˚C prior to extraction, but - equally important - they should pre-chill the biomass in preparation for extraction extraction and jacket their extraction vessel with a cooler.

    Both lipids and chlorophyll are chemicals that you definitely do not want to ingest by inhalation. They also significantly reduce the overall quality of the final distillate (especially visually). However, they can both be easily eliminated by the cold ethanol extraction process.

     

    The source is from here.