It’s also true that ethanol extraction will lose Terpene and volatile modulating compounds during recovery as well. Due to the heat needed and azeotropes formed, those compounds are lost quickly. This is far from ideal for a dabbable extract but is fine when used for distillation
This is why Gasses are used industry wide for smoking extracts and ethanol is used for crude extracts. Yes you can make shatter with ethanol, even diamonds, but it’s far from ideal as stated. Work smarter, not harder as they say.
I hear what you are saying, for sure. I’ve made a name for myself making quality products out of ethanol. It will always have a warm spot in my heart. But, in reality I’m solvent agnostic. I think each of the major solvent platforms have strengths and weaknesses. I agree 100% that ethanol is not a great vehicle for terps but I also know that there is a lot more to a good dab than a super high terpene count. Ethanol dabs are a different experience than BHO. Different isn’t necessarily good or bad, just another option for the consumer.
I’ve run ethanol and CO2 so far. I’m about to bring a brand new MEP online in MA, so my butane days are fast approaching. Looking forward to having all three major solvent platforms under my belt and beginning out there best of what they are have to offer.
I appreciate your insight, my man. You’re a smart dude and I enjoyed the exchange.
It’s all a balance and the end goal varies for everyone based on numerous personal factors. With attention to detail, good products can be made many ways. Recognizing weaknesses allows one to minimize their impact and reveal more of the strengths of any process.
As always, it all starts with the cultivar and the grower. Some cultivars do better with some methods while some rooms, greenhouses, or outdoor plots also see similar variation.
I don’t disagree but we have other facilities in other states that are making fire concentrates from ethanol so it’s not impossible and there are a few people on here that use ethanol as well
I was giving my opinion on why you are seeing Decarb, stuff in the crude will catalyze the reaction while in solution, the longer in solution, the more you see Decarb.
Most compositions will see negligible Decarb rates in solution but some will go super quick
No. 1 because it’s cost a bit to get it third party testing so until my ppm is testing under 5000 they won’t send it out yet. But that should be this week it should be below. But I’ve Had our analytics do pretty constant tests threw out
There is much more to a profile then Terpenes, that are being lost. Yes with some cultivars you can end up with a decent dabble product with ethanol, just as stated it’s not ideal, it still can make a perfectly good product.
Partially Decarbed terp rich material is perfect for carts though which is what I would do with it.
We do, but we use our co2 machines for our vape carts and normally use the ethanol for distillate. Owners are trying to avoid bho so we’re trying to work with what we got. I’d like to play more with the co2 oil than ethanol but I gotta follow the rules lol