Solvent

In cannabis processing, a solvent refers to a liquid or gaseous chemical substance used to selectively dissolve and separate the many beneficial trichome oil compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids away from unwanted residual plant material via extraction. Some common solvents utilized include relatively potent hydrocarbons like butane, propane, hexane and heptane, or less toxic solvents like ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and supercritical CO2. Under carefully controlled conditions, solvents allow efficiently stripping the most desirable components from cannabis plants in order to produce a wide range of highly concentrated and purified oils, waxes, shatters, crystallines and other solvent-based extract products. However, extensive safety precautions must be taken during any solvent extraction process to avoid considerable risks of combustion, explosion and exposure. When purchasing already manufactured solvent-based concentrates from licensed producers, lab testing results showing non-detectable residual solvent levels provides assurance that all traces have been fully purged to acceptable safety limits for human consumption.