How to Use Food Grade Ethanol For CBD & Hemp Extraction

Ethanol Extraction Uses Ethanol As A Solvent To Soak The Hemp Plant

In cannabis, hemp and CBD extraction, 190 proof and 200 proof food grade ethanol are mixed with the cannabis plant to quickly and efficiently extract and dissolve cannabinoids, chlorophyll and terpenes.

Lab Alley Brand Food Grade Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) products are extremely pure, non-denatured, do not contain additives and are safe for human consumption. Organic food grade ethanol is pure USDA certified ethyl alcohol. Ethanol can be certified as organic by the Soil Association, USDA and ECO.

Food grade alcohol, otherwise referred to in the industry as “food grade ethanol”, “non-denatured alcohol”, “grain alcohol”, “food grade EtOH”, or “anhydrous ethanol”, is an ethyl alcohol that is deemed safe for consumption as opposed to denatured alcohol which contains toxic additives that make it unsuitable for human ingestion.

Food grade ethanol is a colorless and odorless liquid that can be used in several applications such as extraction of hemp and cannnabis, baking, perfume making, tinctures, disinfectants, and cleaning. Because the uses of food grade ethanol are used for human consumption, it is important to choose a high proof, quality grade ethanol that will yield the best results for the end product.

How And Why Food Grade Ethanol Is Used In CBD Extraction

Ethanol has long been used as a means of extracting oil from plant materials. It is also widely used to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis or hemp resin.

There are a variety of extraction techniques using ethanol and the best one will depend on several factors.

Extraction methods using warm ethanol begins by boiling ethanol, condensing it, and allowing the condensate to drip through the plant whereby stripping the cannabinoids and terpenes. This method is advantageous in that it is time efficient and requires a low ratio of solvent to feed. Conversely, use of warm ethanol also extracts chlorophyll/waxes and decarboxylates the cannabinoids. Because of this, additional dewaxing steps may be required.

Using ethanol at room temperature or cooler conditions as a means of extraction are more commonly used since it does not decarboxylate the cannabinoids, which can then be used to manufacture THCA crystals or THCA-rich formulations.

Regardless of the type of extraction method used, the required amount of ethanol for the extraction process is estimated to be somewhere between 0.5 to 0.6 gallons per pound of feed. To extract the solutes from the plant material, ethanol must fully saturate the plant which requires a significant amount of ethanol to be used. Lab Alley currently offers 190 proof food grade ethanol, 200 proof food grade ethanol, organic 190 proof food grade ethanol and organic 200 proof food grade ethanol in bulk 1 gallon, 5 gallon and 55 gallon sizes.

How And Why Food Grade Ethanol Is Used In Tinctures

Tinctures are highly concentrated herbal extracts in liquid form produced by soaking the herbs in ethanol solvent. They serve as an alternative for those who choose to consume cannabis rather than inhaling it. Since they are relatively easy to make and have a long shelf life, they are great for those who want to make them at home.

The process begins by grinding the marijuana or hemp plant, decarboxylating the plant by heating it in an oven, and soaking the decarboxylated flower in a food grade ethanol. The soaked flower is then stored in a cool, dark, dry place and filtered out. You can buy food grade ethanol for tinctures online.

Tinctures are used for a variety of reasons such as pain relief, nausea, reduction of anxiety, etc and can be consumed directly or mixed into foods. For this reason, using a high proof and high quality food grade alcohol is vital.

Where to Buy Food Grade Ethanol

Pure non-denatured food grade ethanol used as a culinary solvent for food processing is sold online at LabAlley.com. This high purity, specially formulated product is used by professional and hobbyists alike for extraction of CBD oil or tinctures. If you want to use organic food grade ethanol for CBD and hemp extraction, you can order it here.

Additionally, ethyl alcohol 190 proof and 200 proof are certified as FCC grades, and can be purchased here. The Food Chemical Codex (F.C.C) is a standard used to verify the characteristics and purity of food ingredients and was assumed by USP, a nonprofit science based organization with a purpose of setting public standards for safety and quality. All of the products mentioned here can be purchased through LabAlley.com or by phone 512-668-9918. You can buy Food Grade Ethanol (200, 190 & 140 Proof, 100%, 95%, 70% & Organic) online, here.