Diamonds are the quintessential gems that have been guarding their antiquity for ages. Their crystal form is prized for both their luminous property and unbreakable strength. This passion for carbon diamonds is what marks the rise of THCA or live diamonds. As the latest trend in cannabis extraction, it makes every dispensary’s shelf resemble the display at a jewelry store. But why extract?
Need for Cannabis Extraction
With medical marijuana crossing the boundaries of modern medicine, cannabis extraction has become vital for removing the social stigma. Extraction is necessary for selective access, purification, and concentration of unique compounds from the cannabis plant.
This way, you can preserve the natural ratios, eliminate impurities, which will otherwise hurt the user’s experience. Ultimately, rightly done extraction results in obtaining full-spectrum, natural extracts, or pure and isolated compounds.
Best Methods for Extraction
Alcohol-Based Extraction
A solvent like alcohol, mostly ethanol, finds its use in the extraction of common cannabis forms. They are first soaked, followed by the removal of plant material. The evaporation process later removes the traces of alcohol. Here, there is careful temperature control happening with the entire process being performed at atmospheric pressure.
Now, ethanol is highly flammable, which is why it needs extreme caution. While the process takes time, it does not leave any toxic residual chemicals in the final extract.
CO2 Extraction
Carbon dioxide becomes a supercritical liquid when it is pressurized under high temperatures. This type of solvent possesses the properties of both gas and liquid. As such, when used in cannabis extraction, supercritical CO2 can penetrate trichomes, thaw terpenes, and cannabinoids and move them into the solution.
This extract now contains the desired components and CO2, which is then subjected to varying temperatures and pressure to facilitate the conversion of CO2 to a gaseous state. The gas is now residue-free and moves through a condenser. Here, it is again transformed into a liquid state for reuse. It is one of the cost-effective ways of extraction with a reduced need for waste disposal.
Best Practices of Extraction
Solvent Selection
Selecting the right kind of solvent for live diamonds is crucial since some varieties are considered safe for consumption, while others are not. Generally, only those solvents that are easy to remove from a solution are preferred.
Extraction Preparation
It is possible to obtain the purest extract when cannabis is grown under strict quality control. You can have the best extraction beginning when the plants are protected from physical damage occurring during processing and storage. It is also necessary to grind the plant matter uniformly and have a flat surface area for extraction. This setup allows the solvent to extract every drop of oil and fetch you the highest yield.
Winterization and Post-Processing Techniques
Your choice of extraction method influences the degree of post-processing needed for producing live diamonds. In solvent-based extractions, winterization is commonly implemented for refinement purposes. Here, cold ethanol dissolves the extracts and sever unwanted waxes and lipids away from the extract. The ethanol is later boiled-off, leaving behind only purified oil.
Extraction techniques help to separate cannabis components from the plant matrix. This process is chemistry, involving analytical methods, skills, and lab equipment for proper and safe execution. The result, however, is undoubtedly a safe product for human consumption.