Several factors determine whether to use solvent in an extraction process, and which solvent to use. Factors like reaction controls, target compounds, and finished product present tradeoffs all decisionmakers must balance, so it’s important to keep this in mind when judging concentrate yields.
On one hand, Ethanol and CO2 extraction methods, the techniques involved in distillation labs, run close to 10-20% yields from dry-cured flower and yield near-pure cannabinoid compounds, allowing for extremely precise and consistent formulation of downstream products like vapes and edibles. They do, however, often require more extensive post-processing than hydrocarbon or solventless extraction methods.
On the other hand, ‘live’ and ‘solventless’ processes tend to extract a broader spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds of interest. Accordingly, their value is increased commensurate with their sometimes-lower yields and often higher levels of expertise and labor in production. Again, the end product dictates a significant amount of process, from input product quality, to handling, to post-extraction processing, and more.
There are also safety and budgetary considerations. Solventless extraction generally has a lower threshold to entry on every metric except, arguably, expertise. The equipment costs less, the processing costs less, and post-processing is moderately efficient in terms of space and time. Conversely, solvent-based extraction methods can be more adaptable to input material quality and target product type, providing a more versatile production apparatus with broader opportunities for ancillary revenue through remediation services, white-glove extraction contracts, and more, at the cost of greater capital investment and generally increased oversight and regulatory complexity.
When deciding whether to pursue a solvent-based technique, a solventless method, or any mix of techniques, in your lab, there’s a lot to consider. Let Fire Business Strategies help you plan for every eventuality, whether you’re blasting live resin and wax, sifting high-grade dry kif, or producing competition-grade live rosin, Fire can help you maximize your extraction lab’s potential through robust QA/QC, advanced SOP development, facility and product planning, and more.
Contact us now to book your free initial consultation.
