Blasting

In cannabis extraction, blasting refers to using pressurized liquid solvents like butane, propane or isobutane to aggressively strip essential cannabinoid and terpene oils away from plant material within tightly sealed containment chambers. The extreme pressure forces solvents deep into plant cells, dissolving and concentrating selective compounds like THC, CBD, and terpenes into a highly potent cannabis oil while leaving behind unwanted fibrous plant residues and cellular debris. Some of the most common blasting solvents favored by extraction artists include butane, ethanol, propane, and isobutane, which all have different solubility affinities. When performed properly under controlled conditions, blasting allows cannabis artisans to produce small-batch extracts and concentrates with purity levels and aromatic terpene retention simply not possible using traditional methods. However, blasting does require extensive safety precautions and hazard mitigation efforts due to the substantial flammability of the volatile pressurized solvents used as well as risk of explosions from residual gases.