Lipid concentration and winterization of acetone / petroleum ether extracts from hash

[Paracelsus]

Hello Guys!

I'm new here and I pretty much wanted to start off by asking some questions, which maybe some of you can answer that know about this topic or dealt with similar or even the same extracts.
Before I start, I want to say that I'm from germany and that english isn't my first language, so if my syntax or the choice of words seems a little off sometimes, that's why. :D

About a year ago I started getting into extracts after just smoking bud and hash the past 6-7 years prior. I had very bad smokers cough from smoking pure hash through the bong daily, so I hoped It would make a difference.
Also due to the fact that I was being trained as a pharmaceutical laboratory assistant at the time (which I now finished!!!), I was more comfortable about working with chemicals, having learned standart lab safety protocols and investing in helpful additions for my home-lab l like an extraction hood.

I started making my first extracts from weed using ethanol, but quickly went on to using only hash (less lipids than plant material) and acetone for a long time, due to the quick extraction time, low boiling point and quick evap with water bath, as well as less safety concerns than butane, which I never felt comfortable working with.

I always filtered with a double paper filter and the end product looked like this, dark amber color, clear and texture like very sticky wax - and was smokable with good taste through a titanium nail - all without winterization.

And a few weeks ago, I started playing around using petroleum ether on hash, filtered with double paper filter and evaporated on the balcony using a double sieve on top, over a few days.

The product was a bit brighter, also very clear (less chlorophyll which makes sense) as well as very strong and tasty, although I had the impression the petroleum ether was pulling more lipids than the acetone it still evaporated very smooth on my titanium nail. Its also a bit harder than the acetone extract, but still has a similar texture.

Both extracts pretty much evaporate completely on the top of the nail but still build up a bit of residue on the inside over time, which i clean like twice a week so it doesn't build up and to keep the taste as good as possible.

That's also why I was wondering If I should generally be winterizing all my extracts? I heard they should vaporize without any leftover residue?
They always look and tasted very clean, and I thought hash doesn't has as much lipids as plant material, but I wasn't sure how much of a difference it would make, which would be the best way and if winterization is even needed in these circumstances?

I initially started because of my bong cough and it really made a difference, and due to the fact that I don't smoke cigarettes as well it's pretty completely gone, my breath and lung feels better than ever and I have my stamina back - but ofc I still want to make improvements when I can.
I don't know the best way to winterize, but I have 96,4% ethanol on my hands. I have 4 plants in the garden, and sooner or later I also want to start making extracts from this as well, so I probably should know how to winterize if I need to, because they definetly will have way more lipids.

That is the reason why I wanted to ask some of you today, I hope I gave enough information and and made clear what I'm trying to ask of you even when my english is really improveable.

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

 

[cronicoldguy]

As far as winterizing goes, I recommend it. It does yield a cleaner, smoother, and tastier concentrate.

I have only used isopropyl and ethanol to extract. Only one BHO extraction ever.

I have winterized two different ways. Both work. Sub zero extraction had best results, but yielded slightly less in quantity than room temp extraction.

Originally, I wanted to pull all I could from the plant. So I would do extractions at room temperature. Filter the solution down to 10um, and then freeze the solution inside a separatory funnel. The fats and lipids become insoluable and fall out, collecting on bottom of the funnel. Over 48 hrs, I would drain this off the bottom. After satisfied I removed all I could, bring solution up to room temp, and then colour remediation with carbon and DE.

Winterizing after room temp extraction

For sub zero extraction, everything is frozen seperately to at least -20C prior to extraction. Ground dried flower frozen inside extraction vessel. Once everything has been in freezer for at least 24hrs, I quickly add the sub zero solvent to the sub zero flower, seal, and soak. I give mine a long soak time as apposed to QuickWash.
I also have a Buchner funnel prepared with DE in the freezer. Wrapped in a towel for insulation. After soaking, I filter thru the DE with a 1.5um filter paper to remove plant particulate and residual fats, lipids, and waxes.
Bring solution to room temp and then do colour remediation with carbon, and then evaporation with a rotovap.

Room temp extraction takes a bit more work to clean up the concentrate, but still yields a nice product. Sub zero is cleaner, easier to remediate, and tastier.


EDIT: FILTERING:
Filtering is everything when it comes to a clean and flavorful concentrate. I have found that I could filter the solution all day long thru 0.45um filter membrane, but still have shit in the concentrate.
What I have found that works for me is this: Filter down as low as possible prior to evaporation. Once solution has become very concentrated, I then do a final filter pass thru 0.45um membrane. This results in very clean and clear extract

I hope that helps.

 

[mistertea]

Petroleum ether would be interesting on frozen fresh material, since, like butane, it shouldn't pull all the chlorophyll that is obvious from the picture in the post above.

Your extracts from hash look nice and clean anyway so probably won't improve much from winterising, but why not carry out the extraction and winterising in the same step by putting the ether and hash in the freezer before extraction, then extract and filter at sub-zero?