Making a solventless extract requires careful consideration of several factors, including end-product characteristics. Cannabinoids are extracted for solventless concentrate Bay Area under neutral or acidic conditions with lower pressure or heat required to preserve terpenes. In addition to safety concerns, this method protects the environment. Nevertheless, there are still some concerns to be resolved before implementing the solventless extraction method. Below are some important factors to consider.
Ice
So you’ve decided to make your cannabis concentrates. But how do you go about making a solventless extract? Firstly, you need pure water and ice. It is best to get reverse osmosis-treated ice, but tap water ice will do just fine. However, you should not completely submerge the flower in water, as this could damage the cannabis profile.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, solventless extraction can be a safer work environment for the extraction technician. Since solvents aren’t involved, there’s no need to worry about potential fires or explosions. In addition, the products produced are just as high-quality as hydrocarbons. However, solventless production does have its own set of temperature-control requirements. Scaled operations require large volumes of cold water or ice; you will need specialized equipment to ensure your safety.
Pressure
One of the most important benefits of a solventless extract is the safety factor. While solvents are less flammable and can be used on a small scale, there is still a fire risk, and the solvents must be handled properly. Solventless extractions are more flexible. Another advantage of solvent-less extraction is the preservation of plant material. Instead of dissolving the plant matter in a solvent, the live material is extracted from the cannabis flower using pressure and heat. Heavy industrial presses and hair irons are used for this process. These machines can exert up to 30 tons of pressure. Rosin is a popular solventless extract as it can preserve all the terpenes in the cannabis flower.
Rosin Press
A rosin press is a great way to prepare your solventless hemp extract. However, it is important to keep in mind that pressing hemp repeatedly will reduce the final product’s yield and quality, though it can still produce a good amount of extract. As a general rule, a higher pressure will cause the rosin to be less pure and can introduce lipids, chlorophyll, and fats, which will lower the final quality of the solventless extract.
Rosin is a naturally occurring substance similar to solvent extracts but contains no impurities. It can be clear or dark in color and has the consistency of thick, viscous sap. Because rosin is produced naturally, no chemicals or other contaminants need to be added to the extract. The rosin press costs a few hundred dollars for a simple machine but can cost thousands if you want to make an industrial-size set-up.