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What is cold ethanol extraction?
Ethanol exists as a liquid at room temperature and is most widely known as the intoxicating chemical in all alcoholic beverages, but that's not all it's used for. In modern times, the use of ethanol as a solvent for the manufacture of cannabis and cannabis derivatives has increased. In fact, ethanol has become one of the most popular solvents used for the large-scale extraction of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD in this booming and emerging industry.
Is "cold" ethanol extraction the same as "low temperature" ethanol extraction?
In the cannabis extraction industry, the term "cold ethanol extraction" is often used to simply describe what cold ethanol extraction is. The term is widely used colloquially in the cannabis industry, but it is scientifically incorrect to refer to cold extraction as "cryogenic".
Temperature is a key factor when using ethanol to extract cannabinoids. Too hot and you may extract unwanted and unneeded compounds. Too cold, and your efficiency and profitability may be greatly reduced. Therefore, cold ethanol extraction is usually the preferred method, with an optimal temperature range between -30°C (-22°F) and -40°C (-40°F).
(*Note that ethanol extraction of cannabinoids can also be performed at ambient or room temperature, but additional post-treatment steps may need to be performed to ensure positive results, thus incurring costs. Learn more about the differences between cold extraction and room temperature extraction. )