Solvent recovery

Solvent recovery systems allow professional cannabis processors to recapture and reuse solvents like butane, propane, and food-grade ethanol that were used during extraction to strip away essential oils and compounds from raw plant biomass. First, solvents dissolve trichomes and terpenes from the marijuana flower into a potent concentrate mixture. After the initial extraction concludes, the spent solvents can then be reclaimed through secondary distillation methods using multi-step systems combining vacuum ovens and distillation columns. Recovering and recycling solvents post-extraction saves money compared to continually purchasing costly new solvent for each production run. Closed loop solvent recovery also dramatically reduces unnecessary waste, energy expenditures, and the overall carbon footprint of concentrate manufacturing. However, given the inherent risks when handling highly flammable solvents in liquid and vapor forms, proper ventilation controls and comprehensive safety protocols remain critically important when reusing and storing recycled solvents.