Solvents are often used in the manufacturing process of certain types of cannabis products by removing plant products from concentrates, leaving just cannabinoids and terpenes behind. But what are solvents, and are they necessary in the manufacturing process of concentrates? More importantly, what is the difference between solventless and solvent-free cannabis products? We hear your questions and have the answers, so keep reading.
What Are Solvents, and What Do They Have to Do With Cannabis Concentrates?
If you frequently use cannabis, you have probably already heard of cannabis concentrates. If you didn’t already know, concentrates are the concentrated terpenes and cannabinoids from the marijuana flower. Extracting concentrates from the plant is a process that can be done in several ways.
One common way to extract concentrates is to use solvents. A solvent is generally a liquid that dissolves other substances. When making concentrates with solvents, a hydrocarbon solvent is used to dissolve the plant material. What is left is just cannabinoids and terpenes.
The most common solvents used to extract concentrates are ethanol, butane, and propane. Each solvent has its pros and cons when it comes to extracting concentrates. Butane and propane, for example, require extra steps to ensure no residual solvents are present in a process called purging.
Ethanol does not require as many steps during the purging process, but some cannabis enjoyers say they can tell the difference between the used solvents. Overall the solvent used does not make much difference in the final product, as each is an efficient and essential method of creating concentrates.
What Is the Difference Between Solvent-Free and Solventless Cannabis?
Solvent-free cannabis products are products where all the solvents have been carefully removed in the purging process. Even though the label says “solvent-free,” the product will have still been made with solvents removed from the product before it hits the shelves.
Solventless products are different from solvent-free products because they do not use solvents at all in the extraction process. While solvent-free cannabis products are rigorously tested to ensure no solvents are present before they are sold, some users prefer solventless products because they feel more comfortable knowing that the product has never touched a solvent. There are two main ways that concentrates are extracted when using solventless methods.
Cannabis Distillate
Cannabis distillates can be made from various extraction processes, but one of the most popular is to use cold ethanol. After using ethanol in extraction, it is purged using a distillation process to ensure the ethanol is properly removed from the final product. Cannabis distillates are very versatile and are often used in products like vape cartridges and extracts.
Hash
Hashish, or hash, is a solventless marijuana concentrate that has been around for centuries. Making hash can be quite complicated and takes a long time. Early versions of hash involved rubbing marijuana buds between the fingers, but faster methods have been made. The concentrates are pressed into hash bricks.
Solventless Live Rosin
Another way to make solventless concentrates is to freeze marijuana flower in ice water as soon as it is harvested, removing the resinous concentrates from the unwanted plant material and creating a product known as hash slurry. The hash slurry is then dried and pressed using heat and pressure to finish the extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Solvent-Free Cannabis Products
Several types of solvent-free cannabis concentrate products are available on the market, such as distillate, shatter, and crumble. Each has its advantages and ways of using it, so finding the right one for you can take some trial and error.
Shop the Best Cannabis Distillate Products
If you’re ready to try solvent-free cannabis distillate products, check out FLUENT. We are a premium medical cannabis dispensary serving customers consistent and essential products. We spare nothing to develop and deliver our products. We invest time, effort, knowledge, passion, pride, and a meticulous process to guarantee the best user experience possible.
To purchase our solvent-free vape cartridges and extracts, visit our website to choose from our high-quality products. We have locations across Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Should you have any questions about our products, don’t hesitate to contact us, and one of our representatives will reach out to you as soon as possible.
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