Study Finds Colder BHO Extraction Produces Cleaner Cannabis Concentrates
New research from Abstrax suggests that extraction temperature may be one of the most important process controls for producing cleaner hydrocarbon cannabis extracts. The peer-reviewed study found that colder butane extraction significantly reduced the levels of wax-derived hydrocarbons in the final concentrate while preserving cannabinoids and terpenes. The researchers also identified the long-chain n-alkanes that make up the industry’s “fats and waxes” fraction and found that many of them transfer into the aerosol produced during vaporization.
Published in ACS Omega, the study examined n-butane extracts from two cannabis cultivars produced at temperatures ranging from approximately -46°C to -9°C. Using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry, the researchers measured how extraction temperature affected the levels of wax-derived hydrocarbons, cannabinoids, and terpenes.
The study found that warmer extraction temperatures pulled significantly more wax-derived hydrocarbons into the extract. Colder temperatures reduced their presence while preserving cannabinoid potency and terpene profiles.
The researchers also vaporized the concentrates to determine whether the hydrocarbons remained in the oil or transferred into the inhaled aerosol. They found that many readily transferred during vaporization, suggesting extraction conditions can directly influence the composition of the aerosol consumers inhale.
In addition, the study observed that concentrates containing higher levels of these compounds tended to be more viscous. While viscosity alone cannot identify wax content, the findings suggest it may serve as a useful indicator during production.
The findings highlight extraction temperature as a manufacturing parameter that could inform future best practices and industry standards. Rather than relying on post-processing techniques such as winterization to remove unwanted compounds, processors may be able to reduce wax carryover during extraction while preserving cannabinoids and terpenes.
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