MedicateOH presents our new series highlighting the science and safety surrounding industrial cannabis extraction. We hope you’ll gain insights from our guest column by Alex Sandorf, Lab Director/CSO at Eastlake, Ohio processor Lighthouse Sciences. He’ll also lead an online presentation and discussion on extraction techniques at our free community event on February 19th in Cincinnati.
Distillation is Dead… Long Live Liquid Diamonds
Cannabis distillate has long been a contentious topic within the industry. Its rise to prominence as the go-to product formulation base is not surprising, as it satisfies the demand for a versatile ingredient that can be used in everything from brownies to potent vape blends.
Extracted easily from trim or other biomass, crude extract undergoes several refining steps: filtration, winterization (which removes waxes and lipids), decarboxylation, and finally distillation.
Distillate is relatively cheap to produce at scale, and the distillation process removes impurities, enabling operators to convert low-quality biomass into high-grade distillate. However, because distillate is often made from lower-grade inputs (with terpenes destroyed or lost during processing), it has earned a reputation among patients and consumers as the “hotdog water” of the industry. While more discerning consumers have long criticized “disty carts” in favor of premium extracts, a shift is now underway driven by demand for premium cannabis products.
None of this is new though, “diamond carts” have been around for years, so why am I predicting the end for distillate products?
In short? Isolation Systems. Unlike the traditional crude-to-distillate process, which yields only distillate, Isolate Technology produces two distinct outputs: THCa isolate and a terpene fraction.
How to Make Liquid Diamonds
The process itself is fairly simple and can be easily (and fairly cheaply, especially when compared with the cost of a wiped film distillation system!) retrofitted into existing extraction setups with a fairly simple add-on piece of equipment.
The extracted slurry is chilled to around -45°C and then agitated to encourage the precipitation of THCa from the solution. This THCa slurry is suspended in a mixture of the extraction solvent and terpenes. After passing through a filter, you’re left with clean, crystalline THCa isolate powder and small diamonds that can be used for various processes. The remaining liquid is your high-terpene extract (HTE), also called “sauce” which is recovered separately. The separate collection of the Sauce is one of the largest advantages to this process, as operators have been literally throwing away money (in the form of valuable cannabis terpenes) for years!
Decarboxylating THCa Isolate
By decarboxylating the THCa isolate, you create a near-water-clear, 100% pure Delta-9 base, which can be recombined with terpenes to make vape blends. This process retains all the advantages of distillation but without the loss of terpenes.
The decarbed isolate, often referred to as “liquid diamonds,” has almost no taste and doesn’t undergo the high-heat degradation typical of cannabinoids in the distillation process.
Most importantly for processors, this method captures flavorful and valuable HTE without losing those fragile compounds to the decarboxylation and devolatilization steps involved in traditional distillation. Don’t worry about the micro-cannabinoids either, those don’t crash out of solution like the THCa does, so when it’s combined they go right back into the mix, producing a full spectrum live or cured resin vape.
The quality difference between decarbed isolate and distillate is significant. When made properly, the decarbed isolate is near water-clear, with none of the characteristic “disty” taste. It’s the THC equivalent of 200-proof ethanol.
Decarb Only One Potential Use
Of course, decarboxylation is only one potential use of the isolate, this refined output is perfect for use in crystallization to produce beautiful ‘diamonds’ which again, can be recombined with the HTE for diamonds and sauce.
Membrane Filtration
Another promising technology currently in development is membrane filtration. Companies like Sciphy Systems and Molecular Forces Consulting are working on filtration systems that operate similarly to reverse osmosis, specifically designed for hydrocarbon and CO2 extraction.
These systems would allow for the inline separation of terpenes and THCa during extraction, facilitating the processing of older or lower-grade materials. While still in development, this approach highlights the future direction of cannabis processing, and the recognized need for distillation alternatives, which equipment providers are rapidly working to address. Two years ago these systems were just being discussed and unveiled, and as of now there are roughly 12 different commercial isolation systems available.
The demand is clearly there. Isolation technology is rapidly changing the landscape of cannabis extraction, offering a more efficient and high-quality alternative to traditional distillation.
Is Distillate Dying as New Tech Emerges?
As new technologies continue to emerge, operators who fail to adapt will find themselves stuck with yesterday’s methods, while those embracing innovations like Isolation Reactors and membrane filtration will shape the future of the industry, meeting the demand for cleaner and better tasting products.
Distillate of course isn’t fully dead (yet!) but consider this a first draft of its obituary, and for the consumer I consider this a clear win.
Have a question for Alex or a suggestion for a future article topic? Email us to let us know!
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