Cannabis resin extractions are an essential part of the industry, as they allow cannabinoids and terpenes – and of course all their properties – to be concentrated into high-potency, high-quality products. To achieve maximum purity, laboratories must follow strict protocols that include the proper choice of extraction method, temperature and pressure control, or the complete elimination of solvents or impurities.
Have you ever wondered what protocols and practices are followed in professional laboratories? Do you want to improve your extractions? In today’s article, we will explain how to achieve maximum purity in your resin concentrates by guiding you through some of the most common practices in laboratories around the world.
High-quality cannabis resin concentrates are an essential process to obtain more concentrated and potent products, ideal for both recreational and medicinal use. Resin, which contains the main active compounds of cannabis, such as cannabinoids (THC, CBD) and terpenes, is extracted using various methods, which determine the purity and potency of the final product.
There are two main approaches to performing these extractions: solvent and solventless. In solvent extractions, such as BHO (Butane Hash Oil), QWET, or CO₂, chemicals are used to dissolve the resin from the plant’s trichomes, and then the solvents are removed to obtain a clean and potent concentrate. These methods require careful handling, as poor processing can leave harmful residues in the final extract, affecting its safety and purity. In contrast, solventless extractions, such as hash and rosin, involve more mechanical or physical methods, such as applying heat or pressure, avoiding using chemicals, and resulting in 100% natural concentrates.
How to use a Hydraulic Rosin Press
As rosin gains more popularity as an easy, safe and clean extraction technique, so the hardware being used has improved in leaps and bounds, and a wide range of purpose-built Rosin presses are available on the market. In this comprehensive article we outline the basic operation of a simple hydraulic press with heated plates, and suggest a few handy tips and tricks to help you make the highest quality cannabis concentrates.
The secret to obtaining the highest quality resin extractions lies in several crucial factors:
- Selection of raw material: Cannabis genetics with a high trichome content are essential. The state of the plant, its maturity, and the cultivation method greatly influence the quality of the resin. In addition, its genetics will also be of great importance when it comes to achieving the best quality.
- Precise extraction techniques: For solvent extractions, it is essential to use high-purity solvents and strictly follow laboratory safety protocols. For solventless techniques such as Rosin, temperature and pressure control during the extraction process is vital to keep terpenes volatile and maximize yield without burning off active compounds.
- Purification of the product: Once the extraction has been carried out, it is necessary to purify and refine the extract to eliminate any contaminants or impurities. This step, especially in solvent extractions, must be carried out using precise purges or filtrations to ensure a product free of solvent residues.
- Proper storage: Finally, to preserve the quality and profile of terpenes and cannabinoids, the extract must be stored in optimal conditions, protected from light, heat, and oxygen, which can degrade its properties.
The result of these practices is an extraction that stands out not only for its purity and potency, but also for the complete terpene profile, which directly influences the user experience, offering more refined and potent flavors, aromas, and effects. High-quality resin extractions represent the pinnacle of meticulous work and well-executed processing in the cannabis industry.
Laboratory protocols for performing cannabis extractions involve rigorous steps that guarantee high-quality and pure concentrates. Procedures vary depending on the extraction method used, with the most common being:
- Butane or propane (BHO): The plant material is subjected to these gases, which extract the cannabinoids and terpenes. The solvent is then purged to obtain a clean concentrate.
- Supercritical CO₂: Uses CO₂ in a supercritical state, combining the properties of gas and liquid to extract the desired compounds without leaving toxic residues.
- QWET, QWISO: Alcohols such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol are used as a solvent, which must subsequently be purged as in the case of BHO.
- Bubble Hash Extraction: Cold water and ice are used to separate the glandular heads from the flowers. The material is filtered and dried, resulting in a concentrated hashish form. Extraction bags are required, and an automatic washing machine is recommended.
- Rosin tech: Heat and pressure are applied to the plant material to extract the resin without the need for chemical solvents. Rosin presses of various pressure levels are used.
- Dry Sift: This is the most basic system, which basically uses only gravity and a slight movement of the buds to release the resin glands. Devices such as Pollinator or Secret Box are often used.
Complete Guide to Solventless/Non-solvent Cannabis Concentrates
While being a traditional product used for centuries, the evolution of solventless (also called non-olvent) cannabis resin concentrates during the past years has been astounding. From the very first charas ever made to the most modern THC-A separation techniques, this type of extracts have skyrocketed in popularity lately. In this article we explain the details of each type of solventless concentrate and take you to a trip through the evolution of this product.
Purification and final steps
- Decarboxylation: Extracts are often decarboxylated by heating to activate the cannabinoids into their psychoactive form. Another way is to pre-decarboxylate the plant material, although this is often much more cumbersome.
- Filtering and purging: If solvents are used, the concentrate is purged to remove any remaining chemicals, ensuring the safety and quality of the final product.
The laboratory must have high safety standards, including temperature control, pressure, and adequate ventilation systems to avoid accidents, something really important in the case of solvent extractions, even more so if butane gas is being used. Let’s now see what you can do to improve the space where you carry out your extractions so that it looks as much like a professional laboratory as possible.
A cleanroom is a space designed to control the concentration of particles in the air and maintain a controlled environment in terms of temperature, humidity, and pressure. It is used in industrial and scientific processes that require a sterile or extremely clean environment, such as the manufacturing of electronic devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
Main characteristics of clean rooms:
- Particle control: Air filtration with HEPA filters.
- Positive pressure: Prevents the entry of contaminants.
- Specialized clothing: Use of personal protective equipment. Gowns, gloves, protective glasses, etc. Gowns that do not release fibers and latex or nitrile gloves are highly recommended.
- Smooth surfaces: Easy to clean and disinfect. They usually have curved baseboards to facilitate cleaning of floors and walls, for which vacuum cleaners are used first and then mops.
- Airflow system: In some cases, air flows in a unidirectional manner to minimize particle dispersion. Air is typically introduced at the top of the room and expelled at floor level.
We don’t mean to say that you need a clean room to make high-quality concentrates, but rather we want to “inspire” you to improve your current workspace and methodology to make it as similar as possible to one. Sometimes the contaminants we find in resin concentrates do not come from the plant material itself, but from particles that have been deposited on them during the extraction, processing, or drying process.
When performing cannabis resin extractions in a laboratory, several specific protocols are helpful to ensure the highest quality and purity of the product. These include:
- Temperature control: Maintain optimal temperatures throughout the process to prevent the degradation of cannabinoids and terpenes. To summarise: the lower the temperature of the plant material, the instruments, the solvents, and the environment, the better. For this reason, many extractors work mainly in winter, or with air conditioning units operating at the lowest possible temperature, even inside refrigerated chambers (this is especially important with hashish).
- Use of protective equipment: Gowns, gloves, shoe covers, and masks to prevent contamination of the material. As we have already mentioned, gowns and gloves are almost essential to ensure minimal contamination.
- Clean, filtered air: Work in environments with laminar flow or HEPA filters to minimize the presence of airborne particles. If these are not available, simply try to work in a completely closed room, without air flows; close the room, wait about 10 minutes for all airborne particles to settle, clean all surfaces thoroughly with a cloth that does not release fibers and you can start working.
- Cleaning equipment: Disinfect and clean all equipment thoroughly before and after each extraction. In the laboratory, very hot water and soap are usually used, followed by an alcohol bath and finally, the pieces are dried in an oven or, failing that, in the air.
- Washing the flowers: It is becoming more common to wash the buds before extracting in order to obtain extracts with far fewer contaminants from the plant matter, especially in the case of hashish.
- Use safe solvents: Use food grade or pharmaceutical grade solvents (if solvent extraction) and ensure proper purging to remove residue. If you use butane gas, make sure it is of the highest quality, such as Atomic Zero gas or Colibrí gas.
- Proper storage: Keep samples and products in optimal conditions (controlled temperature, darkness) to preserve the quality of the resin obtained. The refrigerator is an ideal place to store your concentrates. Put them in a glass jar with an airtight seal and store them in the refrigerator.
- Sampling and quality control: Analyzing samples for contaminants, impurities, solvent residues, or even cannabinoid and terpene content, ensuring the purity of the final product. If you’re a hobbyist, you probably won’t be analyzing your concentrates, so you should be particularly careful when purging solvents and do so slowly and properly. You don’t want to consume BHO with traces of gas or mercaptans!
By following these protocols, you can ensure a high quality and purity product, suitable for safe and effective consumption.
