Phoenix Tear Oil Tested with low THC

[canaguy27]

This batch was based off of some plants that were taken a few weeks early. It was decarbed and then did a quick wash with grain alcohol, which was boiled off.

The oil tested and it only came back at 28% thc. I assume this was because the plants were taken early, but what else is making up the other 72%? Any thing else that would create this result other than being taken early?

 

[Graywolf]

My thought is process. Too much heat converts the THC to CBN.

I have watched well intended associates cook their THC away, under the best intentions, but with less than optimal process.

BS abounds on the net, and needs dictate process, what are you trying to acomplish?

 

[jump]

Any thing else that would create this result other than being taken early?

Duration of wash in ethanol probably was too short.
Right said GrayWolf, "the process".

 

[NaturalTherapy]

It was decarbed and then did a quick wash with grain alcohol, which was boiled off.

Why are you doing a heating process twice?
Precooking the leaf is redundant if you are boiling the oil to remove the last of the solvent

 

[jump]

Perhaps to increase the extraction efficiency.
The solubility of THC is better than THCA.

 

[squiggly]

Perhaps to increase the extraction efficiency.
The solubility of THC is better than THCA.

Very true, and where water washing is of concern--THC-A is significantly more water soluble than THC.

For highest THC yield, best to decarb prior to extraction. Decarboxylation proceeds on its own at room temperature. Very little heat needs to be applied to speed the process--my feeling is the lower the better. Somewhere along the lines of 2hrs @80-100F should be more than enough. Doing this in a pyrex desiccator over silica gel (or another desiccant) will speed it along even further.

 

[NaturalTherapy]

Perhaps to increase the extraction efficiency.
The solubility of THC is better than THCA.

Very true, and where water washing is of concern--THC-A is significantly more water soluble than THC.

For highest THC yield, best to decarb prior to extraction. Decarboxylation proceeds on its own at room temperature. Very little heat needs to be applied to speed the process--my feeling is the lower the better. Somewhere along the lines of 2hrs @80-100F should be more than enough. Doing this in a pyrex desiccator over silica gel (or another desiccant) will speed it along even further.

Words from the brothers who know! Not so redundant after all. Thanks for the informations!!

Still curious though... If you're extracting the essential oils from a plant, how does applying heat to starting material beneficially affect the quality of THC content of the oil in a way that heating oil alone does not?

 

[squiggly]

Words from the brothers who know! Not so redundant after all. Thanks for the informations!!

Still curious though... If you're extracting the essential oils from a plant, how does applying heat to starting material beneficially affect the quality of THC content of the oil in a way that heating oil alone does not?

Quality is only affected insomuch as extraction may not go to completion with THC-a due to its lower solubility--this is more a concern for quick-run type extractions. With long-run extractions THC-a is likely to be fully extracted and thus the quality will be independent of pre-heating (assuming you still decarboxylate the oil).

Water washing a crude extract may pull out some THCA thereby reducing THC yield.

Side note:

There are acid-base extractions which depend on THC-a's water solubility under basic conditions which allow the molecule to be solubilized and precipitated back out as pure THCA--which can then be converted to THC.

 

[kuz]

Cannaguy, how did you decarboxylate, and how long of a soak?

 

[canaguy27]

Few things.

Still don't have the official results, but the CBN was around 10% and the CBD was less than 1%. It was put on a cookie sheet and put in over at 300 degrees F for a few minutes. It smoked a tiny bit.

There was a gallon jar that was full of trim that sat for 4+ months in everclear. That material was frozen after cut and then put in jar to soak. The rest (75% of total product for this test) was frozen, then allowed to dry. Then it was decarbed in an oven according to directions above then quickly soaked for a few mins. It was then strained and put on stove until everclear boiled off. The result was the 28%.