February 22, 2019 Ethanol Extraction for Botanicals - Why 200 Proof Ethanol is Needed for Botanical ExtractionThe industry of botanical extraction is rapidly changing due to increasing legality, regulation, and a shift in consumer demand. Mature markets show a decrease in price for high-quality flower product due to a flooding availability of high-quality strains coupled with consumer demand for pure extract. In light of these demands, emerging market leaders are searching for the lowest-priced and most efficient botanical extraction techniques to ensure sustained profit while meeting requirements set by regulators. As the demand for extraction technologies has increased, the solvent of choice for industry leaders is Ethanol. NuGenTec is ready to meet extraction and regulatory needs with 200 Proof Ethanol at the lowest price.What is Ethanol?Ethanol, also called Ethyl Alcohol, is the chemical name for the alcohol that is found in alcoholic beverages and is also referred to as grain alcohol. The chemical formula for Ethanol is C2H5OH, meaning that it contains a small carbon chain and an alcohol group. The combination of a small, non-polar carbon chain and a polar alcohol group makes Ethanol a polar solvent, meaning that it can dissolve both water and oils, making it a perfect candidate for botanical extractions.
Solvents are used to extract the compounds of botanical products desired by consumers. Ethanol is ideal for extractions because it is FDA approved and is safer than the legacy solvent of choice, butane, and uses less expensive processes than supercritical CO2. Ethanol extractions can either be performed in heated conditions for increased efficiency or cold conditions for the highest purity. Both heated and cold ethanol extractions can be performed using a wide variety of mechanisms, with emerging technologies providing solutions for operations of any size and price range. |