Regular cannabis flower, those same sticky green buds we all grew up with, is still the plant’s most popular form. THC extracts and marijuana concentrates, on the other hand, are rapidly gaining popularity.
Hash oils and other potent extracts like wax dabs have captured a major portion of the cannabis market share, thanks to high THC percentages that occasionally surpass 90% and the added convenience of disposable vape cartridges. This trend isn’t going away, and as the business advances technologically, more users will likely start incorporating concentrates into their cannabis usage on a daily basis.
The first step for companies and cultivators intending to enter the concentrate business is determining which kind of concentrates are most appealing to manufacture. With so many possibilities, making this crucial decision can be difficult. Today, we’ll take a look at PHO (propane hash oil), one of the more recent types of extract, and see how it compares to other popular cannabis concentrates.
What is the process of producing propane hash oil?
Propane hash oil, or “PHO,” is prepared with only propane as a solvent, which has a boiling point of -43.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When compared to other solvents like butane, propane’s extremely low boiling point allows extraction professionals to separate more of marijuana’s terpenes during concentrate extraction and eliminate more of the solvent when purged.
PHO extracts come in a variety of consistency, but most have a budder-like consistency. Cannabis budder is a concentrate with a creamy, malleable quality that makes it simple to dab. PHO can be found in a variety of concentrate forms, however consumers are more likely to find softer PHO consistency. PHO can be smoked, smoked with a dab rig, smoked with a dab pen, or smoked in a joint or blunt.
Is it possible to make shatter with propane?
Let’s take a moment to note shatter’s ascent over the last decade or two before we get into the solventless part. When people talk about shatter, they usually mean a product that was made using butane, propane, or other hydrocarbon mixtures.
Shatter has long been favored over other types of concentrates such as wax due to its potency and texture. Shatter is a sheet-like substance that resembles amber or yellowish glass and gets its name from its look and consistency. It comes true to its name, shattering like a pane of glass with ease. Cannabis shatter’s texture and resilience make it excellent for dabbing, since it melts rapidly and efficiently onto a rig’s heated nail. Its tremendous strength, which typically reaches or exceeds 80 percent THC when made by competent growers, adds to its popularity.
Traditional shatter is made from cannabis plant material and extracted using a solvent like butane or propane, as previously stated. This approach has been and continues to be popular among extractors because it produces a consistency that is easy to package and dab. However, there are also disadvantages, such as the loss of terpenes, as solvents can remove many of the most valuable components from the source material.
However, this is not the case with solventless extraction. Consumers can enjoy the all-natural terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids that are preserved from the beginning material when solvents are not used. While some solventless extraction methods do not always produce the same yields as solvent-based procedures, the gap is closing with each new development. Breeders attempting to develop cannabis with resin-abundant trichomes, specifically for solventless hash manufacturing, are known as resin/trichome farmers. Solventless concentrates, like BHO (butane hash oil) or any other solvent-based extract, can reach above 80% THC with the correct starting material, equipment, and experience.
Solventless shatter is comparable to typical shatter in that it is extracted without the use of solvents. The key difference is how it’s made, which involves no chemicals at any point in the process. In recent years, the solventless approach has gained popularity among both manufacturers and extract fans.
In addition, safety is a major consideration in the manufacturing process. While it is unlikely that any compliance enterprises will be affected, the risk element linked with solvents persists. DIY extraction laboratories have resulted in horrific explosions in distant locations and residential areas, resulting in death, injury, and property loss. With solventless, this isn’t the case. When compared to methods that use combustible substances like butane, propane, or ethanol, the risk of an explosion is virtually non-existent. As a result, solvent-based enterprises must spend more money to guarantee that their facility is safe and capable of containing any potentially catastrophic effects, which in most cases necessitates blast-proof C1D1 rooms.
For a long time, extractors and businesses have been aware of the differences in procedures and products, while customers are gradually learning about the benefits of solventless.
When people learn what solventless shatter is, they usually see the appeal right away. Thousands of people have shown a preference for all-natural products in recent years. Solventless products make the most sense for these people. During any portion of the extraction and production process, solventless shatter, ice-water hash, and other rosin products require no chemicals or dangerous pollutants. As a result, the consumer inhales no residuals and enjoys a superior product with natural terpenes and flavors originating from the parent material.
Consider a chemical-free extraction procedure instead of blasting your cannabis blossoms with chemicals to obtain shatter afterwards. This procedure produces a solventless oil using only ice, water, heat, and pressure. Instead of using chemical solvents, heat and pressure are used to drive cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids out of the plant’s trichomes. More about that in the following section.
Before you start making concentrates, make sure you have the right equipment. To make rosin or solventless shatter, some people use household items like a hair straightener with clamps. While this method can work, it does not produce consistent results and is inefficient. Instead, go with a machine like the Helix rosin press, which can be used at home or in a commercial setting. A press is more expensive than a hair iron, but it is much less expensive than a solvent-based extraction lab with a C1D1 room. More importantly, it’s a lot safer method that results in a higher-quality product. A rosin press, unlike a hair straightener, was designed to complete the task.
Is it possible to extract with propane?
Butane is a type of hydrocarbon solvent that is commonly used for extraction. However, because it is a highly flammable gas, it is incredibly dangerous!
Butane is compressed to make it into a liquid, which is then poured over cannabis to extract the chemicals. The liquid combination is then heated/vacuumed to evaporate and remove any remaining butane.
Despite the fact that butane is often connected with lighters, there are no hazards associated with consuming cannabis extracted with it because it is totally eliminated during evaporation.
Because butane is non-polar, it does not extract unwanted substances such as chlorophyll and plant alkaloids, making it one of the cleanest and most powerful extraction processes available.
Ethanol is a type of alcohol that can potentially be used as a food preservative. Ethanol is a safer method of extraction than some others because it is suitable for human consumption, although it does not give the purest results.
Because ethanol is a polar solvent, when it is rinsed with cannabis, the water in the ethanol clings to the chlorophyll and extracts it. This can result in a product with a dark color and a grassy flavor.
Freezing the wash will paralyze anything water-based, which is one approach to avoid picking up undesirables. To isolate the cannabinoids and terpenes, all that is required is a little soak. The longer the plant is soaked, the more it dissolves. After the wash is removed, the ethanol is removed by filtering and evaporated.
The extraction of propane is identical to that of butane. When propane is compressed, it transforms into a liquid and is injected into the cannabis. Propane, which is commonly used to heat homes or fuel barbecues, is a highly flammable gas that must be purified with heat or vacuum before use. Propane has a lower boiling point than butane, making it easier to get rid of any residual solvent.
Butane and propane differ primarily in that propane operates at higher pressures. This makes it easier to remove bigger plant compounds, resulting in reduced residue and increased terpene levels.
High pressures are applied to carbon dioxide until it becomes a supercritical fluid. CO2, like hydrocarbons (such as butane and propane), depletes the cannabis of key nutrients while also destroying mold and germs.
CO2 is safer than butane and propane since it is non-flammable and contains no chemical solvents. Because the final product is free of hazardous residues and toxicity, it can be consumed without purging.
This procedure necessitates precision when it comes to maintaining the proper CO2 pressure levels, which necessitates the use of expensive apparatus. On the bright side, the gear can be tweaked to extract more cannabinoids and terpenes while removing less unwanted material.
These are only a few extraction methods for separating cannabis’ therapeutic chemicals, but they all necessitate trial and error. According to experts, the beginning material (i.e. solvent and strain) is more significant than the final output because variables may be changed to modify it. Because certain methods are exceedingly harmful and may cause hurt or damage, it’s better to leave the dirty work to the professionals.
Is Pho superior to BHO?
In many aspects, PHO and BHO are comparable. To extract cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis, they both need hydrocarbons as a solvent. Terpenes are aromatic oils that influence the fragrance and flavor of the plant, whereas cannabinoids are chemicals like THC and CBD.
THC is responsible for the conventional marijuana ‘high,’ whereas CBD is linked to a wide range of health benefits. Terpenes are also thought to have a variety of advantages, and when mixed with cannabinoids, they may help to create the ‘entourage effect.’
Both PHO and BHO have been shown to successfully extract cannabinoids without harming the plant’s terpenes. Because the compounds in weed are known to operate better in combination than in isolation, this method is advantageous.
However, because PHO is made under higher pressure, it may preserve even more terpenes than BHO. As a result, PHO not only tastes better than BHO, but it also has the potential to provide additional health benefits.
Another benefit of utilizing propane instead of butane to extract cannabis is that the leftover solvent is easier to remove at the conclusion of the procedure. This means there’s a lower risk of contamination and a product that’s both safe and pure.
Finally, propane is less expensive than butane, allowing businesses to produce an identical product at a lower cost. In principle, these savings should trickle down to consumers, making cannabis concentrates more inexpensive in the long run.
Which butane is better for BHO?
Experts believe that laboratory grade n-butane is the cleanest and most effective solvent for extracting concentrates from cannabis when it comes to butane hash oil. This gas was previously only accessible in bulk cylinders from speciality gas suppliers or in portable cans imported from abroad. However, Puretane, a new American-made n-butane, has been produced exclusively for the demands of BHO manufacturers.
What is the purpose of using propane as an extraction solvent?
In general, hydrocarbon extraction is particularly advantageous for large-scale production, whether you utilize butane or propane. Not only can large volumes of plant material be extracted at once, but these solvents also have low boiling points, allowing them to be distilled fast and at low temperatures. This prevents the deterioration of your product. Use it to make full-plant extracts and a variety of consistency variations.
What is the best way to manufacture high-quality shatter?
The extractor should have a small hole on one end and a cover with multiple holes and an internal filter on the other. Filters are included with store-bought extractors, although coffee filters can also be used. Spray the butane through the top hole slowly and carefully until the canister is emptied to make your concentrated marijuana. A thick green-gray-brown oil should drop from the bottom openings into your Pyrex container.
Listen up if you want to learn how to produce marijuana wax without wrecking your house in the process. This section is extremely necessary: Spray the butane outside, away from any buildings, automobiles, or other potential ignition sources, with plenty of ventilation. Even a hidden pilot light could cause an explosion, something you don’t want to happen.
Step 3.Evaporate off the butane
The next phase in the process of producing shatter can be quite hazardous. Fill your double boiler with water and place it on top of a hot electric stove. Make sure it’s electric: Using a gas stove will almost certainly result in a fire. Place the Pyrex container on top of the boiler and let the liquid to evaporate. The butane is progressively removed, leaving you with real shatter.
When making shatter, make sure you boil off all of the solvent, otherwise you’ll end up smoking a product that’s still tainted with butane, which is hazardous for your lungs and potentially explosive. When the shatter stops bubbling, you’ve completed the process.
Step 4.Purge remaining butane
You’re left with a thick, amber shatter with trace levels of butane at this point, and many people believe the solvent should be purged further before ingestion. A pressurized vac pump can be used for this, and our grower’s procedure is as follows.
“To remove any lingering remnants of liquid butane, we vacuum purge all concentrations.”
We use a one-stage vac pump with a flow rate of 3 cfm (don’t spend your time with two-stage pumps). The BHO is spread thinly on a glass dish inside the chamber, and air and butane are drawn out via the pump. To avoid burning the oil, you’ll need a gauge that gives you the temperature inside the chamber.
You will have removed practically all traces of butane from your cannabis oil after the vacuum purge procedure, leaving you with a pure, flavorful product.
Step 5.Scrape and store
Finally, scrape the potent concentrations from the bottom of the jar with a razor blade and set it on parchment paper to cool. Because full-extract cannabis oil can become frustratingly sticky, you may need more than one razor to scrape it up.
In a nutshell, that’s how you manufacture THC wax. Now all that’s left to do is smoke it!
Is it possible to make shatter without butane?
Is it possible to make shatter without butane? Yes, there are several ways to make shatter without the use of butane. As previously said, you can make one with kief. Some folks enjoy making shatter with alcohol as well.
Butane or propane: which is more environmentally friendly?
While it’s evident that propane has a long list of advantages, butane is also a viable option for usage as a BBQ gas.
Butane has a long list of advantages, including:
- Quick and efficient Burn Butane ignites promptly and quickly reaches maximum heat output, so there’s no need to wait for it to warm up. This is an excellent quality for anyone who wants to light up their grill.
- The Most Economical Option
- Despite the fact that propane and butane are derived in the same way, butane is slightly less expensive than propane.
- Toxicity is low.
- If you’re concerned about the environment, butane could be the ideal gas for you. When compared to propane, butane burns cleaner because it produces just carbon dioxide when ignited.
- Energy-conserving
- When the same volume of each gas is burned, butane typically produces roughly 12 percent more energy than propane. Butane is especially appealing to individuals who use their barbecue a few times a week.
- Simple to Operate
- Butane is quite simple to use with BBQs; simply connect the gas and let it to run into your cooker; then simply ignite the BBQ and begin cooking your food.
- In Warm Weather, Extremely Efficient
- When it comes to cooking efficiency in warmer temperatures, butane is the obvious victor. However, it should be remembered that when the temperature is cold, butane gas will not flow.
So there you have it; you now know everything there is to know about butane and propane gas, allowing you to make an informed decision the next time you need gas for your grill.
If you’re looking for butane or propane gas for your barbecue, check out our selection for some of the greatest deals around. We’ve been offering specialist bottled gas in and around Kent for over 25 years, so you can trust that the gases we offer are of the greatest quality.