DoseCraft
VapeHeatLabEthanol Extraction
A cannabis extraction process using food-grade ethanol as a solvent to pull cannabinoids and terpenes from plant material.
Ethanol extraction uses food-grade ethanol (grain alcohol) as a solvent to dissolve and collect cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plant material. It is one of the most scalable extraction methods and is widely used by large-scale producers for both cannabis and hemp processing.
How It Works
Cannabis is soaked in cold ethanol (often at temperatures below negative 40 degrees F to minimize chlorophyll extraction), which dissolves cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds. The ethanol-extract mixture is then filtered to remove plant material and the ethanol is evaporated using rotary evaporation or falling film equipment. The recovered ethanol can be reused, making the process efficient and cost-effective. Cold ethanol extraction produces a cleaner product than room-temperature methods, which tend to pull more chlorophyll and waxes.
Advantages and Products
Ethanol extraction is valued for its efficiency, safety, and scalability. Ethanol is GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the FDA, non-explosive under normal conditions, and easier to work with than butane. The method is particularly efficient for large-volume processing, making it the backbone of many CBD and hemp extraction operations. Products made from ethanol extraction include tinctures, distillates, RSO, edible oils, and topicals. When properly processed, ethanol-extracted products contain no detectible residual solvent.