Which Is the Better Extraction Method: Solvent or Solventless?
Both solvent-based and solventless extraction methods have their defenders and detractors. For now, methods that use hydrocarbons like butane, propane, and ethanol are the most common, with advocates saying they provide efficiency at scale, are more versatile, and produce a purer product. But the hydrocarbons, also called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are toxic and require purging with heat, which can destroy terpenes. They’re also flammable and can be dangerous in inexperienced or careless hands. Commercial extractors large and small say commonly used solvents may have bad reputations, but modern closed-loop extraction systems make them much safer than they were twenty years ago. Hydrocarbons also make business sense: Butane and propane extraction are less expensive than other methods. The substances’ low boiling point preserves more of the hemp and cannabis compounds while effectively separating cannabinoids from the biomass. Carbon dioxide, also a solvent, is non-toxic, non-...