How Cannabis Oil Is Made
Ethanol Extraction in a High-Quality Lab
e29 Labs specializes in sourcing high-purity cannabis oil, primarily produced using an ethanol extraction method. This technique preserves the delicate cannabinoids and terpenes that contribute to the effects and flavors of the All Day and All Night products. We'll walk you through the steps involved in transforming harvested cannabis plants into refined oil.
Step-by-Step: From Harvest to High-Purity Cannabis Oil
1. Harvesting and Preparation
The journey begins with the careful harvesting of mature cannabis plants. While many oil producers use lower quality plants for their extractions (saving their highest quality plants to sell as flower), we take care to source our oil from producers who extract from high quality plants with dense buds and rich thc profiles. To preserve the integrity of cannabinoids and terpenes, the harvested flowers are promptly dried and ground into a uniform consistency. This increases the surface area, facilitating more efficient extraction.
2. Chilling the Ethanol
Certified, food-grade ethanol is chilled to subzero temperatures, typically around -40°C. This cold ethanol is less likely to extract unwanted compounds like chlorophyll, resulting in cleaner oil.
3. Extraction Process
The ground cannabis is placed into a mesh bag or basket and submerged in the chilled ethanol within an extraction chamber. The ethanol dissolves the desired cannabinoids and terpenes. After a set period, the solution is separated from the plant material.
4. Winterization
The ethanol-extract solution then undergoes “winterization”, a process where it's cooled to precipitate out fats, waxes, and lipids. These unwanted compounds are removed through filtration, resulting in a purer extract.
5. Solvent Recovery
The next step involves removing the ethanol from the extract. This is typically achieved using rotary evaporators or falling film evaporators, which gently heat the solution to evaporate the ethanol without degrading the cannabinoids. The recovered ethanol can be reused in future extractions. All e29 products are tested by certified, third-party laboratories to ensure that any residual solvents are removed from the oil.
6. Distillation
To further purify the extract, it undergoes distillation. This process separates cannabinoids from any remaining impurities, resulting in a high-potency, clear oil suitable for our vape products.
Why Choose Ethanol Extraction?
Safety: Using certified food-grade ethanol ensures a safer extraction process compared to other extraction methods.
Purity: When performed correctly, ethanol extraction yields a clean, high-quality oil.